Meet the Team - UCC School Advisory Board Members

Jeannette Warner 

Chair of The School Advisory Board

I have lived in Rutland since 2015 and am married with two adult sons. I graduated from the University of Exeter with a BA (Hons) and began my professional career with a large national insurance company, working in its Personnel and Training Department, where I gained comprehensive experience across all areas of human resources. 

Following the birth of my sons, I took a career break before joining my husband in the family print business, producing magazines, brochures and catalogues. I am now a company director and have particular responsibility for the company’s corporate social responsibility activities, including the oversight of its charitable giving. 

I have a long-standing commitment to public service and the voluntary sector. I have the privilege of serving as Vice Lord-Lieutenant for the county of Rutland and am actively involved in a number of local charitable organisations. I am a member of the Board of Directors of Rutland First and serve as Chair of the fundraising group For Rutland. 

I am a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers and serve on the judging panel for the Stationers’ Warrant Award. 

In my spare time, I enjoy gardening, walking and cooking. 

Andrew Robinson

Vice Chair of The School Advisory Board

I have lived in Rutland for over 30 years. My 3 daughters went to school in Rutland. My wife, Kathy, and I have lived in Uppingham for 6 years.

I am retired from paid employment, but I am still a Director of the business (which I was CEO of for 16 years) that manufactures screens for cinemas worldwide.

I am a Cambridge Science MA and hold an MBA from Cranfield Business School.

I am a member of several local organisations and a trustee of a charity.

My leisure interests include cycling, gardening, bridge, politics, travel and restoring woven chair seats.

As well as being a member of UCC’s advisory board, I am also a member of Harington School’s LAB. As a scientist, I have a particular interest in promoting STEM subjects.

Fiona Borrows

I have a BSc in Pharmacy from Manchester University but, following working at a summer camp in America, I decided to try teaching, which I did for 37 years. My career involved 3 years teaching service children in Germany and a teacher exchange to America. Whilst Science was my subject, being a Head of Year was my passion, a role I had for 25 years at UCC. Helping a child is not just teaching them. I also spent a great deal of time running school trips, Don Bosco, ski trips, netball trips etc, giving students opportunities outside the classroom was another highlight of my teaching career, watching students making so many unique memories. After 31 years at UCC, age and a lack of energy told me it was time to retire, still loving the job.

As a governor, I will bring the perspective of what it is like to be a teacher at the whiteboard face and apply that experience to ensure decisions are made for the right reason, the child.

Tom Carlill

I am a recently retired parent of two children with special educational needs. Having navigated the education system firsthand, I am deeply committed to ensuring that children with special educational needs receive the support, resources, and opportunities they deserve.

Before retiring in August 2025, I served as a Product Manager at Caterpillar, where I was responsible for managing an annual budget in excess of £10 million and leading a team of more than 30 professionals. In this role, I oversaw the development of next-generation digital solutions, including mobile applications and AI-driven technologies. This experience has provided me with strong expertise in strategic leadership, financial oversight, team management, and the delivery of innovative, technology-enabled initiatives.

My aim as a Governor is to contribute my time and experience to help strengthen and support services for SEN students and their families.

Liz Clarke

I’ve lived in Uppingham since 2012, and have a long history with UCC, having had both a son and grandson as ‘old’ pupils, with two more now in school.  I was chair of governors at Uppingham C of E Primary for 6 years and still maintain a supporting role. I’m married to Nick, and we run a PR and Media consultancy mainly with Church of England clients, having both spent most of the last 20 years in church communications.

I’m a Town Councillor and have been both Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Community really matters to me, and I want to see young people feel fully included and valued in the places they live.

In 2021, I set up Uppingham Youth Space with the church youth support worker.  The journey of this group has been amazing, with it now being run by two paid leaders and several volunteers, financed largely by the National Lottery, under the banner of Rutland First. Young people from four schools attend the Town Hall every Wednesday, year round, mainly from UCC. There are also volunteers in school each Wednesday lunchtime.

The challenges facing our school, and all those in education, are great, particularly in the pastoral care and support of pupils, so I hope to ensure we are delivering the best we can in these areas as well as academic achievement.

Matthew Knight

I have a BSc (Hons) Degree in Science and the Environment. After graduating from Leicester Polytechnic, I was employed as a Research Assistant, to carry out postgraduate research in Freshwater Ecology. This gave me an early experience of teaching and a thorough grounding in systems analysis and computing. Later, I worked with Leicester City Council to write educational materials and to conduct community liaison in support of their urban wildlife projects. I then worked as an I.T. Instructor at a Leicestershire Community College, which confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in teaching.

After completing my PGCE from Leicester University School of Education. I started working at UCC in 1987. Initially I was employed to teach Maths, Science and to introduce Electronics as a new topic. However, as my career progressed, I went on to teach a much broader range of subjects: Systems & Control, ICT, and Design Technology.

When the College became a Specialist Technology College in 1995, I changed role to become the Director of Specialism, giving me the opportunity to work with staff across the school, and our community partners to develop a coherent approach to our use of Technology and secure future funding. My responsibilities included developing the staff IT skills and infrastructure, introducing new subjects and managing teaching staff and specialist support staff at the College.

I later joined the SLT as an Assistant Head to continue the College's development. In 2009 I gained the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers (NPQH).

Andrew Mankowski

I am an architect and a CDM Consultant (health, safety and risk management) and have been working in Central London for the last ten years on high-end projects including The Royal Opera House, The British Museum and Battersea Power Station development.

I was engaged by the organising committee through preparation for the London Olympic Games. I have designed and built a Further Education College and individual buildings at a High School.

I was appointed as CDM Consultant for a centre of London School, for extensions above three storeys on a demanding site while the school was engaged in full teaching activities. I have prepared papers for Health and Safety Policies, Fire Protection, Risk Assessments and many others, as well as reviews and inspections setting high standards.

I have taught sailing in school and been part of school training for White Water Rafting, Caving, Scuba Diving and others, and have driven to the other side of the world. My hobbies are sailing instructor, fell walking, running and cycling.

I am married with two sons with Phds. I have chaired the Professional Conduct Committee at the Royal Institute of British Architects and sit on the London branch of the Association of Project Safety, primarily driving the best in Health and Safety.

Amanda Steele

Our youngest son attended UCC from 2007. His experience at UCC was very positive, and he was given every encouragement to develop and thrive. My background is in Horticulture and I graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in Plantsmanship and Propagation, having also completed an industry placement with Garden Organic at its site in Ryton. The pursuit of my qualification gave me the inquisitiveness to question and analyse and the willingness to learn.

I am very grateful to UCC for the comprehensive education it gave our son and would now welcome the opportunity to make a contribution in return as SEND Governor.

Morag Topham

I have lived with my family in Manton since moving to Rutland in 2009. I have been an Appointed Governor at UCC since December 2011, and I was previously involved in governance from 2003 to 2009 at a school in Surrey. Both of my children were educated at UCC and school governance enabled me to remain involved in their education whilst they were here.

I completed 30 years of Police Service and, following retirement, I worked for Cambridgeshire County Council as an Education Welfare Officer and then in the Virtual School before changing roles to become a full-time L&D facilitator in the Civil Service. During my policing career, I gained extensive experience in Child Protection along with other specialist areas of investigation.

I have a BA (Hons) Degree in English Literature and Language and I enjoy live music, reading, art and travelling when I can. I am a trustee of Manton Village Hall.