Alex became Chair of the Governing Body in July 2025.

He is currently a barrister practising from 4 New Square Chambers, specialising in commercial and public law. Prior to that, Alex was the judicial assistant to Lord Leggatt at the UK Supreme Court, where he worked on a series of high-profile cases.

He started his career as a corporate lawyer, first at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and then at Allen & Overy LLP, where his practice focused on financial services regulation. Alex is passionate about ensuring that students receive a broad and rounded education underpinned by a strong community and shared values.

Melanie Worthington was elected as a parent governor in 2023. She was previously a governor at Eliot Bank primary school. Her son joined Forest Hill school in 2022 and has benefited from the strong music and drama provision that the school offers.

Melanie qualified as a solicitor in 2003 and has worked in private practice in criminal and family law in London’s East End. She worked at the London Borough of Southwark in their child protection team for 7 years before joining her current role at the Government Legal Department where she is based within the Department for Education.

She is particularly interested in social mobility and works closely with the Law Society to improve diversity in the legal profession.

Michael Sullivan has been a Governor and Headteacher at Forest Hill School since November 2014.

Prior to that he was Deputy Headteacher with responsibility for student outcomes. Michael’s career has been entirely in all ability community schools.

He has a passionate belief in the power of education to transform the lives of pupils from every background and this is at the core of his commitment to Forest Hill School. His belief in the school is reflected in the fact that his son was a student for seven years before going on to university.

Jonathan has one child in Year 8 and another joining the school in September 2025. He has a strong interest in education: he has participated in STEM events throughout his career and is a Trustee of the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe.

His 20-year career has been in public affairs and stakeholder engagement on major projects, including thirteen years on the Elizabeth line. He is currently TfL’s Community Partnerships Lead for South London.

With over 25 years’ teaching experience in Lewisham, Greenwich and Southwark, Eleanor has served as a SENCO and is now Headteacher of a Southwark primary, bringing expertise in inclusion and safeguarding.

A local resident, she enjoys the area’s cultural life and time with her family. She is committed to supporting the school and contributing her skills to its ongoing success.

Tim Shorland-Ball has a son at Forest Hill School and two daughters at other schools in the area. He believes that the broadest possible education is a foundation that all children deserve to allow them to deliver on their potential.

He is also a strong supporter of sport within schools and the benefits it can bring to young people, both for their own health and for their personal development.

An armed forces veteran, Tim has worked in finance for the last 20 years, specialising in strategic transformation and operational effectiveness.

Lara le Court de Billot joined the Governing Body in March 2025 and has previously served as a staff governor at St Peter’s Eaton Square Primary School. Lara works as a senior policy advisor at the Department for Education within the Digital Strategy Division, with her work focusing on supporting schools and colleges to have safe and reliable technology infrastructure in place.

Prior to joining the Department for Education, Lara worked as a teacher for almost a decade in primary, independent and secondary schools. Her subject specialism is science but she is also passionate about all learners receiving a broad and balanced curriculum, underpinned by a strong school ethos.

Jessica was previously a primary school governor in Croydon and has two teenage sons who attended Lambeth secondary schools.

Jessica has worked in sixth form education for nearly thirty years and is an Associate Assistant Principal in a South London sixth form college, where she works on the pastoral side.

She also teaches A Level History and Politics and is committed to ensuring that all young people can access a broad education, including the arts.

As SEND link governor, she brings personal experience as a parent of children with special needs, eight years as a governor at Eliot Bank Primary, and her background as a secondary English teacher.

Since 2016, when her eldest joined FHS, Katie has been a founding member of Friends of FHS, raising funds, strengthening the parent community, and organising events such as the annual comedy night.

She is passionate about education and ensuring equality of opportunity for all children.

Mihiri Seneviratne joined the governing body in March 2025 as a Co-opted Governor.  She is a senior economist and civil servant in the Department for Health and Social Care, where she currently leads Mental Health policy analysis.

Mihiri brings broad experience across strategy, policy and analysis in central government and the charity sector. She lives locally and has previously served on the governing body of two multi-academy trust primary schools in Southwark.

Bridie is our local authority governor. She lives locally and has two boys of primary school age.

Bridie is a senior civil servant in the Department for Education currently responsible for digital, data and technology strategy and brings experience in finance, government policy-making, strategy and project delivery. Prior to working at DfE Bridie was a management consultant at PwC.

Samuel Addo joined the Governing Body in January 2023. He is a Mathematics teacher and a Co-NEU Rep at Forest Hill School, where he has worked for almost 20 years. His overall teaching experience spans 35 years in three different countries.

Samuel is also a CIMA (UK) qualified management accountant with nine years practising experience.

Samuel currently serves on two school committees: Health and Safety and Staff Wellbeing. He has a son and daughter, both of whom attended Forest Hill School/SFH6.