Meet the Governors

I am delighted to be Chair of Corporation at Cirencester College where I have been a governor since 2021.

My professional background includes 25 years as a military intelligence officer in the Army, including service in Bosnia, Cyprus, Iraq, Afghanistan, United States, Germany and various locations across the UK. After the Army, I moved to Cirencester and into business, establishing a career change consultancy based in Farm 491, co-located with the Cirencester Growth Hub. More recently, I have been working with Buckinghamshire New University, which places great emphasis on providing educational pathways to under-represented sectors of our national community, to develop and deliver a technical degree in Intelligence, Security and Resilience. I am also a proud “REACT Responder” answering the call when floods and other emergencies threaten the welfare of affected communities across the UK. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Contemporary East European Affairs and Masters degrees in Defence Studies and Rural Land Management.

I had long wanted to be a governor at this excellent and inspiring college, having previously served as Chair of Governors at a service school overseas and then as a Focus Governor at a school in Swindon. I have seen what a positive impact an active and committed board can have when working with dedicated staff and students.

Every time I come into college, I am impressed anew with the passion of students and staff across the wide range of opportunities available. It is clear that our amazing new facilities are inspiring everyone to achieve even more. I believe strongly in the power of partnership, collaboration and cooperation and will continue to work with the community and local employers to deepen our connections for the benefit of all.

About me:
Alongside extensive public sector experience in local government, business and commercial knowledge were shaped early in my career through various roles in the private sector, including international banking. As Chief Executive of Cirencester Town Council, I have put the skills and knowledge I have to full benefit through effective corporate management, community partnerships and innovative youth projects, such as Ozone and Ideas into Action. I am currently involved with various projects, including neighbourhood planning, town centre master planning, waterways and environment and green spaces strategy.

In 2017, as part of an MBA and secondment with the National Association of Local Councils, I researched building capacity and capabilities at a local level to support the social, environmental, and economic well-being of town and parish communities. This led to a change in government policy relating to local government finance. Subsequently, I have undertaken various national policy advisory roles and supported all-party parliamentary groups on issues such as housing, planning and social isolation and loneliness.

I live in Cirencester and am married to a Head Chef of a local restaurant; we have two sons, both of whom attended Cirencester College.

My experience of being a Governor:
This is my first role as Governor of an education corporation, and I have been a Governor since September 2021. I have a broad range of strategic leadership and management skills and experience in other corporate governance roles as Clerk and Company Secretary to a charitable trust, Director Trustee of the Steadings Community Management Trust, and a former Non-Executive Director of SLCC Enterprises Ltd.

My experience of Cirencester College:
The success and culture of the College are built upon a foundation of strong senior leadership and corporate governance. It is a place in which every young person, whatever their background and wherever they are at now, is valued and can shape their life for the future. Our students also have an intrinsic part to play in the life of the College and wider community.

Focus Governor role:
I am Focus Governor for Apprenticeships.

A career in education is always changing, challenging, at times frustrating but exceptionally rewarding. Being part of a person’s discovery of learning is a privilege and one I have been lucky enough to experience in a long and extremely varied working life in the secondary, post-16 and adult sectors both in this country and abroad.

The last twenty-five years, until my retirement in 2018, I was fortunate to work at Cirencester Sixth Form College in roles ranging from curriculum development, pastoral care, customer service, middle and senior management. The opportunity to be part of the growth of a college which holds student progress and well-being as its central goal and, despite growth, maintains an outstanding caring and stimulating community ethos is priceless. I am very proud to be associated with Cirencester College, my daughter went to the College and demonstrated that this bridge between school and life is by far the best place for so many young people. Watching confidence flourish in our students has been an enduring pleasure. When the opportunity arose to join the Corporation, I was delighted to apply. I hope that I can continue in this supportive role for next, exciting phase of the College’s growth. With a specific focus on Safeguarding, student well-being and student voice, I hope to put my experience in these areas to good use.

For over twenty years, I have served on the Board of Trustees at Cirencester Kingshill and I thoroughly enjoy my involvement in this 11-16 comprehensive school, keeping my knowledge of this sector current and being able to specialise in curriculum, pastoral, staffing and student well-being, my areas of greatest interest. I am looking forward to combining these roles to continue my involvement and passion for education.

I have over 18 years of experience working in international business, marketing and strategy development, mainly in the university sector. I’ve held senior roles at University of Gloucestershire, Staffordshire University, INTO, and worked closely with organisations like the British Council and UCAS. I’m passionate about education and bringing a global perspective to the table. I became a school governor because I believe in the power of education to transform lives, and I want to use my experience to support young people, help shape their opportunities, and give something back to the community.

About me: I moved to Cirencester in 2013, when I started working in the UK electric power industry, after a stint at Honda UK. Having studied in various countries, including doing a Master's degree in Sweden, a place renowned for its diversity, I wish to be a role model for students at the college.

Focus governor role for Corporation: HSE Focus Governor; member of the newly formed College Sustainability Committee; committee member of the Corporation’s Renumeration Committee

Served as a governor since: November 2023

Reasons for being a governor: The self-satisfaction of serving my local community that nominated me for Cirencester community “Hero “in October 2023; the avalanche of talents at disposal during our corporation meetings is second to none; I am blessed to be part of this wonderful team via things I learn. Having been a student governor in my university days, being a Governor has now given me the opportunity to put the missing jigsaw puzzles into place that will benefit not just the students but the entire college community in most aspects of learning regardless of the enriching diverse atmosphere we work. Estate Management is a new skill I am learning as a Governor at Cirencester College, strategically overlooking HSE.

My business experience is outside the education sector in corporate finance and employee benefits. As a qualified actuary, I provided advice to companies and pension trustees on all aspects of pension schemes, particularly financing and investment, and broader employee benefits. Latterly, I held a number of senior roles in the financial sector.

After retiring from my professional career, my aim has been to use my knowledge and experience where it was of use in the voluntary sector, including the Citizens Advice Bureau as a debt specialist, and I currently chair a local community charity.

I became a governor of the College in August 2024 with a finance focus and I have taken on the role with the desire to make a positive difference in all aspects of the financial management of the College.

Matt Reynolds is the Principal of Cirencester College. Matt has worked in the FE sector for over 30 years from the early days of teaching A Level Archaeology and developing special programmes for high needs learners, to writing degree programmes and developing T Levels. Matt has a passion for educational reform, teaching and learning, and particular interests in assessment and learner behaviours. His latest paper, Interdisciplinary at Level 2, was recently published in the SFCA Sixth Form Matters collection. Matt believes that high standards of delivery always lead to greater learner motivation, and this results in better attendance and improved progression. “Get it right in the classroom”, he says, “and everything else falls into place.”

I have worked at the college for over a decade, and my department has insight or oversight of a number of key areas. I hope this gives me a unique insight that will be useful to contribute to the Corporation when considering future strategic goals of the college. As a cross-college manager, I work with most staff at some point in the cycle of events and am in a strong position to represent their views. I am passionate about young people reaching their potential. I learnt this initially as a tutor, then as leading a team of tutors as a Pastoral Manager at the college, and now as the head of the department.