Team

Sandra has eight children, the youngest of whom is a pupil at Carew Academy. Sandra has been around the education system for 23 years and has always been heavily involved with the schools her children attended –  chairing the Parent Teacher Association and focusing on fundraising and event management. The driving force behind Sandra’s decision to become a school governor was to be an advocate for parents and add an important parent voice to the governing body. Sandra also loves to travel, which is  where her career started many years ago, in both retail and business travel. This experience helps her with her  governing portfolio for Business Development and Marketing.

Clare left academia and lecturing in botany over twenty years ago because she realised that her vocation lay in the classroom, where she feels one has a greater opportunity and responsibility to influence learning and improve life chances. She has taught at international schools in South Africa, the Netherlands, France and is currently the Director of Science, Technology and Engineering at Wimbledon High School. She also has extensive experience in assessment and teacher training.

Rebecca is the Production Manager for a publisher specialising in science and engineering books in both French and English. She has a degree in French and German from the University of Exeter and a Diploma in Translation from the Institute of Linguists. In her spare time, Rebecca sings with an amateur choir based in Wimbledon and is also learning to play the piano.

Mandi is the Designated Safeguarding Lead at Thomas More Catholic School, a Good provider of Mainstream secondary education. She has worked in primary, secondary and Pupil Referral Units throughout London and Surrey before her latest role. Mandi started working with young people at Jigsaw4u as a volunteer grief support worker, which led to her being asked to assist in the training of new volunteers. The safeguarding element became apparent at this time and the navigation towards being a DSL began. She is passionate about ensuring children attend school to ensure their future outcomes and to keep them safe and supported while they learn. She is passionate about ensuring students have resilience against all that may come their way and that they invest in themselves and their future outcomes and see their importance.

Bio to follow

Rebecca has worked at Carew Academy for seven years and is a teacher, specialising in English and Humanities. Before undertaking her teacher training, she worked at Carew as EHCP Lead within the office team. Previously, Rebecca has worked in various roles within the finance, leisure and legal sectors. Rebecca has two children aged 18 and 14. In her spare time, Rebecca loves to travel with her family and spend as much time reading as possible!

Kelly has a child who has been attending Carew Academy for the past our years; and as a governor Kelly is very much looking forward to being able to give back to the school, embrace change and assist in helping make the school the best it can be. Kelly has had a broad variety of jobs across different industries including the NHS which has given her strong interpersonal skills, a keen analytical eye for details, and excellent communication skills that enables her to build strong relationships.

Alexis Holloway is currently the Assistant Headteacher at Cheam High School, has been teaching for nineteen years, and has seen a lot of change over those years. Alexis currently oversees Transition, Drama, Music, History, Government and Politics, Year 7 and is the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Alexis is really looking forward to being the Chair of Governors at Carew Academy and working with governor team.

Alex is the Director of Operations at Greenshaw High School and has worked in education for 18 years. He has an MBA in Educational Business Leadership and is experienced in leading all of the non teaching functions within the schools he has worked in.

I am currently serving my term as a governor and am very much looking forward to supporting Carew Academy in any way I can. With almost 25 years of experience in primary education, I have worked as both a teacher and an assistant headteacher responsible for teaching and learning. My career has been dedicated to schools within the London Borough of Sutton, where I have remained loyal to two schools, fostering deep connections and understanding of their communities.

Despite this focused experience, I have actively networked with colleagues across other London boroughs and beyond, broadening my perspective on education. I am deeply passionate about ensuring that every child receives the best, equitable education possible, regardless of the barriers they may face. I am excited to contribute my knowledge and skills to help Carew Academy continue to provide high-quality education and support its vision and values.

Fiona is currently the Schools HR Lead for Croydon Council and has worked in human resources for 26 years. She has a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and is a Chartered Member of the CIPD.

Fiona is a parent of a pupil who has attended Carew since 2019, who is currently attending sixth form. She has been a parent governor since December 2025 and is one of the link governors for human resources and employee relations.

In her spare time, she enjoys the gym, going to the cinema and concerts, long walks with her family and travel.

Byron Holloway was appointed Chair of Governors at Carew Academy in September 2026. As an experienced educational leader and Deputy Headteacher, he is passionate about ensuring that every young person receives the highest quality education, support and opportunities to succeed.

Byron is committed to upholding Carew Academy’s values of Ambition, Independence, Resilience and Care, and believes these are fundamental in preparing young people for successful and fulfilling futures. As Chair of Governors, he works closely with school leaders, staff, families and fellow governors to support the school’s vision of enabling every student to achieve their full potential in a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment