Staff & Governors

St John’s Beaumont is a vibrant community of teaching, boarding, support and administrative professionals who are committed to providing an exceptional environment for your child to learn and grow.

Senior Leadership Team

Mr P Barr MA FCCT

Headteacher
Mr Barr’s teaching career began at a comprehensive state school, where he initially served as the Head of Mathematics before transitioning to Claremont Fan Court School, a co-educational 3-18 day school in 2000. Mr Barr returns to St John’s Beaumont, where he held the position of Deputy Headmaster before serving as the Headteacher at Donhead Preparatory School in Wimbledon. Mr Barr comes to St John’s with a wealth of academic, pastoral and sporting experience. His unwavering passion for school sports is evident, and he actively contributes as the Sports Coordinator for IAPS, showcasing his commitment to fostering a well-rounded educational experience. Beyond his school-based contributions, Mr. Barr serves as the Chair of Governors at a local Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), demonstrating his commitment to the broader educational community.

Mr G Williams BComm, HDE

Deputy Head (Academic)
Mr Williams began his career in education in South Africa, teaching and coaching rugby in some of the countries most prestigious schools. He has been at St John's Beaumont for more than a decade, during which time he has been Head of Geography and now Deputy Head Academic. Mr Williams has a passion for adventure and is an integral part of the team that organises trips to Iceland, skiing and beyond.

Miss C Murphy

Head of Upper School
Miss Murphy undertook a degree in Upper Primary and Lower Secondary Education with a specialisation in Maths, She joined St John's as Head of Maths nearly a decade ago and has most recently taken up the position of Head of Upper School, providing support and pastoral care to our pupils in Years 6, 7 and 8. Miss Murphy has two sons at St John's in Pre-Prep and Upper School and hidden talent for Lego!

Mrs P Powell-Harper ADCE, EYD

Head of EYFS & Pre-Prep
Mrs Powell-Harper joined St John's in 2013 following an early years' career that has spanned from Scotland, Australia and USA. Prior to her arrival at St John's Mrs Powell-Harper was the Headteacher at a kindergarten in Eton and Pre-School Deputy Headteacher in London. She is Montessori and Forest School trained and has a passion for all creatures - she is currently training reading support dog, Gilbert, who will hopefully join the Pre-Prep in a year or so!

Mr S Hutchinson-Lawson BEd

Head of Boarding
Originally from South Africa, Mr Hutchinson-Lawson has been at St John’s for more than 10 years and lives on the school estate with his wife, Mrs Hutchinson-Lawson (Deputy SENDco) and their three children. As well as his position of Head of Boarding, Mr Hutch as he is affectionately known, also teachers Geography and is responsible for overseeing all the wonderful school trips on offer at St John's. He and his family regularly host the boarders for family-style meals and join in weekend activities, allowing the boarders to truly feel a part of an extended family.

Mr P Hennessy

Director of Sport and Co-curricular

Mr J Bell

Bursar
Mr Bell has spent most of his career in education in a variety of roles, including teaching overseas. In the UK, his experience covers Higher Education, independent and state schools and in recent years he has held various COO, Bursar and Finance Director roles in the sector. Within his local community, he is a school governor and has been involved in scouting, coaching football and rugby, and served for many years as a Parish Councillor. Mr Bell has a passion for reading, writing, drama, football and other sports. His wife and two children share many of these interests, along with a love of the Great Outdoors.

THE GOVERNORS

Mr Andrew Johnson

Chair of Governors
Mr Johnson is Head of St Benedict's School 2016 to date and was Head of Stonyhurst College 2006 to 2016. He has over 20 years' experience of senior leadership in independent schools. Mr Johnson has led a Jesuit School for 10 years.

FR MICHAEL HOLMAN

DEPUTY CHAIR OF GOVERNORS, RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CHAPLAINCY
Fr Holman is a Jesuit priest and former Head of Wimbledon College, from 1995-2004. He was also principal of Heythrop College, University of London, from 2012 to 2017 and between the two Provincial of the Jesuits in Britain. As provincial of the Jesuits in Britain, Fr Holman was chairman of the trustees of the school. He has been a Governor at St John's since September 2021.

Mr Matthew Fogg

Safeguarding Governor
Mr Fogg is currently the Deputy Head Pastoral at The Oratory School in Reading.

DR ROBIN MELLOWS

STAFF WELLFARE
Dr Mellows qualified as a doctor from Westminster Medical School in 1980. He is now a GP and have been in practice in Berkshire since 1984. He was brought up in the evangelical Church of England, and became Catholic in 1991, and states "It felt as if I had come home". His children were educated at St John's and Stonyhurst, and at St Mary's Ascot. When approached to be a Governor at St Johns a few years ago, Dr Mellows felt it was an opportunity to repay some of the debt that he felt he owed to those schools. Dr Mellows had 3 sons at St Johns between 1998 and 2005, and they all went on to Stonyhurst. Dr Mellows states "They would all still say that they went to the best schools in the world. Indeed one of them teaches at Stonyhurst now. Our experience of the Jesuits that we have met - and have had a lot of contact in the years since our boys started at St John's - is that they are people of great humility (however great their standing) who serve other people. Teaching young people to be "men and women for others" is the strength of Jesuit education".

MR BENEDICT SHAW

EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND BOARDING
Mr Shaw attended a Catholic Prep School in Worcestershire as a full boarder before joining Haberdasher’s Monmouth School for Boys. He went on to read Classics at Lincoln College, Oxford (First Class Honours). He worked in the theatre and completed an MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History at Trinity College Cambridge before joining Harrow in 1999, where he has been a theatre director, cricket and rugby coach, Assistant House Master, Examinations Officer, Head of Classics, Senior Head of Subject and, since 2014, a House Master. His translation of Euripides’ Hippolytus was published by Cambridge University Press. Mr Shaw is married with three children. His two sons, now 13 and 16, attended Edge Grove School (near Watford). Mr Shaw has also been House Master to three St John's boys in recent years.

MS JEAN O'BRIEN

Co-education Governor

MR CRAIG WILKS

SEND Governor
Mr Wilks is the Director of Teaching and Learning at St. Benedict's Senior School in Ealing, West London.

In cases of need, the Chairman of the Governors can be contacted via the Clerk to Governors at (bursar@sjb.email) or in writing:

Mr A Johnson
Chairman of the Governors,
St John’s Beaumont Preparatory School,
Old Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 2JN.

You may also contact the school office to arrange a meeting by telephoning 01784 432428.

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