Governors

Edward Oatley MBE   Edward was educated at Aldenham School and became Assistant Head of Winchester House Prep School in 1968 where he gained his teaching qualification through the IAPS.  He became Head of Sevenoaks Prep in 1977 and founded Sackville School, Hildenborough in 1987.  Edward and his wife Janet retired from Sevenoaks Prep in 2005 and he became Chairman of Governors in 2006.  He was awarded the MBE in 2006 for services to education and to the community in Kent.  Edward has also been Chairman of Governors of Steephill School, Fawkham since 1990, is Vice Chairman of Seal Parish Council and Chairman of Sevenoaks Sports Council.  He is Vice Chairman of the Sevenoaks 3 Arts Festival.  He is Chairman of Governors at St John's Primary School and a member of Sevenoaks Amherst Rotary Club.  Edward has been on many charity cycle rides throughout the world raising a considerable amount of money for national and local charities and is a Watford FC season ticket holder.

Sally-Anne Huang MA, PGCE Sally-Anne was educated at Bolton School Girl’s Division and read Classics and English at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.  She began her teaching career at Sevenoaks School where she was also a boarding Housemistress.  She moved to Roedean in 2000 where she was in charge of a sixth form boarding house before becoming Deputy Head.  Sally-Anne has been Headmistress of Kent College, Pembury since January 2008.  She has also been a governor of St Bede’s school since 2004.  Married to Alexis, she has two sons of prep school age.

Christopher Sutton-Mattocks Barrister and Assistant Coroner for NW Kent.   He was educated at Oxford University (MA Jurisprudence) where he played cricket for the University, captained the Real Tennis Team and was a rackets blue.  He has practiced at the Criminal Bar since 1976.  He stood for Parliament in 1987 in Maidstone.  He is a member of the Seal Parish Council and a member of the St. Lawrence Village Hall committee.  He is married with 3 children, the eldest, Julia, studied Russian at Bristol University before doing a PGCE at Cambridge and is now working in Oxford, Patrick, the older of his two sons is studying Italian and Portuguese, also at Bristol, and his younger son, Robert, a former pupil at the Prep, is in his last year at Sevenoaks School.  Chris and his wife, Helen, live on Seal Chart.

Nicholas Robinson   Born in Sri Lanka, grew up in South Africa and eventually arrived in England in 1987.  Edward Oatley was one of the first people he met.  His two sons, Matthew and Daniel, attended the Prep and then went on to Tonbridge. Matthew is now a Captain in the Light Dragoons and Daniel works at an internet marketing firm in London.  He works with his wife, Claire, running a small commodity-trading business based in Tonbridge trading tea and coffee internationally.  He also serves as a magistrate in Dartford.

Mrs Jan Berry   QPM BA FRSA. joined the governing body in September 2009.  Jan is the former Chairman of the Police Federation of England & Wales, having joined Kent County Constabulary as a Cadet in 1971, retiring 37 years later as a Chief Inspector.  Jan’s work in policing was recognised in 2006 when she received the Queens Police Medal. In 2008 she took up an independent government appointment to reduce bureaucracy in policing.  Both Jan’s children (Matthew & Hannah) benefitted from the uniqueness of the Prep during the 1990’s , she is delighted to have the opportunity to repay the debt by ensuring future pupils have the same opportunities.

Tim Dickinson   As a former Sevenoaks Prep pupil Tim has lived in Kent all his life his mother taught at 'The Prep' for almost 20 years and saw 2 of her 5 grandchildren enjoy their education at the school whilst delighting at the consistent development of the facilities on offer as well as 'The Prep' ethos.  He has enjoyed a career in sales and marketing initially with Cadbury Schweppes in the UK & Africa and latterly running his own business.  He and his wife Eileen, have been fortunate to bring up our 5 children in Plaxtol where they are actively involved with a variety of local organisations and junior sports clubs.