Meet the Great Missenden Governors

The Local Governing Board is responsible for the continued success of

Great Missenden CE Combined School

Paula Kitching-Rees

Role: (Acting Chair of Governors, SEND and Pupil Premium)

Paula Kitching (Rees) has two children at Great Missenden School and became a parent governor in 2019.  She is an historian and education consultant who has worked and works with charities, community groups, government departments and veterans’ organisations. In recent years she has helped to set up the GM school History Club and enjoys making history accessible to all. When not working in the heritage and charities sectors, she spends her time with her friends and family, especially her children in a variety of activities. She can be found on early morning walks around the Chilterns, often for a bit of foraging and investigating some local history.

Chris Marks

Chris joined the team of Governors in April 2022. He has worked in the education sector for over 20 years, having started as a secondary music teacher in Great Missenden. He has subsequently held several senior leadership roles within schools and is currently Director of Primary Education for a Trust based in Hertfordshire.

Steve Shingfield

Steve has two children attending Great Missenden CofE School. He is a big 4 trained Chartered Accountant with almost 20 years of experience, holding many permanent and advisory roles in the leisure and travel sector. He can be found on Tuesday nights throwing a rugby ball around on Prestwood common and on weekends on the side lines of a junior football pitch. Other than sport, Steve is passionate about the importance of personal finance education and supports it as part of the national curriculum.

Mike O'Farrel (Safeguarding Governor)

Mike is a local resident whose younger son, now 49, previously attended the school. He spent 37 years working for an American multinational company before transitioning into the healthcare sector in his late 50s. In 2011, he chose to return to full-time study, completing both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

He is actively involved with St Peter and St Paul Church nearby, and another of his interests is professional sport. He served as Chairman of Middlesex Cricket, based at Lord’s, for six years until 2023.

His background and previous roles have given him a strong appreciation of the importance of providing a safe and supportive working and learning environment at every level.

Staff Governors

Johnny Magee– (Ex Officio) Head Teacher

Johnny Magee became Head Teacher of Great Missenden School in September 2019. Before joining Great Missenden, he was Deputy Head Teacher at Bedgrove Junior School, where he was also a governor. Johnny is originally from Northern Ireland where he managed two large restaurants and studied music at University of Ulster. He spent a year after university leading a nursery at a children's home in South Africa.

The Revd. Malcolm Chalmers - (Ex Officio) Vicar 

 Vicar of the Benefice of Great Missenden with Ballinger and Little Hampden.