Chatsworth School's Leadership Team
ANITA GLEAVE
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Born and raised in Cheshire, I studied for my first degree in Theology and Education at Oxford. After University, I went on to teach at a Prep school in Hertford followed by teaching posts in London, before becoming the founding Head of The Grange (RGS Worcester) in 1996. Whilst at The Grange I also studied for my M.Ed. in Leadership and Management. In 2001 I took up a Headship in Bath followed by a Principalship in Yorkshire in 2004.
In 2008 I was promoted to a Head Office position at Alpha Plus Group and became Director of Operations two years later. I then added international education to my experience by moving to World Class Learning. In 2012 I became a founding partner and Director of Operations and Education for the International Schools Partnership which today owns forty-eight schools around the world.
I am passionate about creating outstanding futures for our children as well as learning spaces and cultures that allow and encourage all to thrive and be the best that they can be. I live with my husband, three dachshunds, Archie and a bonkers cat called Bertie, in the Cotswolds and France, and am often found careering around the countryside in my beloved Morgan!
FRED KNIPE
Chief Financial Officer
I grew up in rural Herefordshire and went to school in Malvern before graduating in Economics from Exeter University. After qualifying as an accountant with Ernst & Young, I went on to work in corporate finance, advising clients on private company transactions across a range of sectors. Further to this, I became Finance Director of a small recruitment company and learnt the Finance Director trade from the bottom up.
In 2014 I started working for International Schools Partnerships, a group of people with backgrounds in education and an aspiration to create a network of schools spanning various continents. During my time there we acquired 15 schools with 15,000 pupils across three continents. I live in London with my wife and young daughter, indulging myself in enjoying various sports, albeit nowadays as a spectator.
VIVIANNE THOMPSON
Director of Early Years
I have class taught all ages from 2 to 8 in independent schools around the UK, managed and opened school based early years and nursery departments; most recently completing seven years as Headmistress for The Minors Nursery School for the Alpha Plus Group.
I am well experienced within the EYFS and a passionate advocate for value of a solid foundation in the crucial younger years. I gained my BA Hons QTS in Education from Surrey University and enjoy the arts, theatre and baking as well as spending time with my family.
ANDREW GREENWAY
Director of Integrated Learning and Technology.
My interest in all things ‘technical’ as a young man led me to study Electronic Engineering at Liverpool University before joining the Royal Air Force as a Communication-Electronics Officer. I was able to spend many happy years in the military designing, developing and deploying engineering solutions around the world.Following the command of a military technical training school, my enthusiasm for teaching took me to a PGCE with an ICT specialism and appointments in prep schools across the country. I have implemented new technology, learning platforms and classroom developments across all age groups. Having spent 6 years at a school in The Lake District, I particularly enjoy using IT outside the classroom to support learning in and from the outdoors.When not in school, I enjoy running, kayaking and entertaining myself and onlookers with my attempts at stand-up paddle boarding.
JONATHAN RITCHIE
Director of Estates and Facilities
I’ve spent the past 19 years working operationally in the private sector with a strong focus on compliance, estates, facilities & health & safety throughout.
I started my career at a former AA Hotel of the Year Winner. Over 13 years & with my last 7 as Operations Manager, the no. of hospitality establishments we owned & operated grew by 500%!
Head hunted in 2015; I changed industries & moved into property & asset management; working for the 3rd largest managing agent in the UK. Responsible for £400m worth of assets, mainly for UBS; I focussed on residential property management & land & water estate management. After successful tenders for new management agreements; I moved into an area role where I then topped the company’s testimonial tally for 9 consecutive months. This lead to a senior regional role where I headed any feasibility study or section 20 consultation across the Midlands for clients such as Aviva, Standard Life, UBS, etc.
Since joining Chatsworth Schools in September 2019 my specific areas of expertise include buildings, capital works, catering, change management, compliance, contracts, estates, facilities, insurance, health & safety, maintenance, planning, people, procurement & project management.
Kevin Costello
Head of Estates & Compliance
Born and raised in Edinburgh my working life began with a large security company which specialized in the management & staging of large, live musical events across the country. Within a few years, I was promoted to Operations Manager and was personally responsible for the recruiting, training and assessing of personnel for many of the UK’s top music events including Glastonbury, Reading Festival, Party in the Park, O2. My previous role involved management of buildings, compliance, health & safety management, facilities and estates and planning & management of the Estates team.
When I am not at work, I put my skills towards renovating our 16th century cottage in the village of Warborough, Oxfordshire. Football has always been a passion of mine and I play for Oxford veterans. I am married with two step children, and an 18 year old son Theo. Our cockerpoo Reggie keeps us all on our toes!
ANDREW ELIAS
Director of Marketing and Communications
My journey in the world of sales and marketing started in retail 20 years ago. From then to now, my career has evolved and in recent years I have been fortunate enough to become a part of the education sector. I’ve worked with industry leading organisations in academic publishing, international school research, data and marketing services and school leadership magazine publishing.
More recently, I have had the privilege of working in the school marketing and admissions space directly and love helping schools identify and communicate what makes them unique and a great fit for prospective families considering their school. I am passionate about collaboration and the power of partnerships in education.
Away from work, I am a huge sports fan but spend most of my time learning about dinosaurs, trains, dancing and unicorns with my three young children!
JAMES THOMPSON
Head of Admissions
I grew up in Kent, going to Dulwich Prep and then Cranbrook Grammar before studying for my primary teaching degree at St Mary’s University College in Twickenham. Since graduating I have worked in London, Bath, Sussex and Oxfordshire at a variety of independent schools. Most recently I was Head of Royal Russell Junior School in Croydon for ten years and Head of St Hugh’s Prep School in Oxfordshire.
I live just outside Oxford with my wife, our mad spaniel ‘Ice’ and two teenage daughters who are boarders at Cheltenham College. I am a keen sportsman both in an armchair, on a golf course, cricket pitch or hockey astro and spend as much time as possible at our home in France.
NICK REES
Director of Enhanced Learning
I have lived and was educated in the UK, Singapore and West Germany. I obtained my first degree and PGCE both at Portsmouth. I started teaching in the early 1980s at a junior school in Bath moving after two years to an independent prep school. In 1987, having taught for a brief period in a British Forces school in Germany I returned to the UK and started teaching at Fairley House School where my interest in SpLD developed. In 2005 I was appointed Head of Abingdon House School, a new school for pupils with SpLD aged 4-13 in London. I retired (very early!!!) from headship in July 2013 and have since worked as an independent educational consultant with roles such as being part of DLB Leadership Associates Ltd, specialists in Leadership Development & Change Management and as an Associate Consultant to TES Prime.
CHRISTOPHER SANDERSON
Director of School Compliance and Policy
I grew up in West Yorkshire and studied Music and French at the universities of Birmingham and Bordeaux. I then worked as a school inspector for 20 years, leading inspections in Early Years, primary, secondary and international education in the UK and overseas. I have also worked as a School Improvement Partner and a GCSE examiner in French and maths.
My Yorkshire roots can still be seen in my interest in the fortunes of Halifax Town and Yorkshire Cricket; I play cricket at home in my Cambridgeshire village and for a club in Brittany. Outside school, my main interests are in music, sport and renovating an old farmhouse in Brittany.
