1st September 2024 - N/A

Appointed by Ex-Officio

Matthew Thompson is Principal at Launceston College.  He is passionate about ensuring all students have an exceptional education and for Launceston College to become an exceptional school.

17th April 2023 - 17th April 2027

Appointed by Local Governing Body

Trudy has spent the majority of her life in Cornwall, with her early childhood being spent in Saltash before moving away for a few years when her father was promoted to head of a SEN department in a Wiltshire school. After leaving school, she worked as an Assistant Scientific Officer at CDE, Porton Down, researching and developing protective clothing for use by the forces in the event of nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare. Later, she married a farmer and moved back to Cornwall in 1975.

Besides teaching piano, Trudy qualified with a Diploma in Music Education when implementing music in Primary Schools curriculum became a statutory requirement. She worked for 11 schools in the Launceston area for several years before being approached by the Cornwall Music Service to work for them, offering six weeks of free classroom music to all primary schools across North and S.E Cornwall. She continued to do so until retirement. Trudy has raised six children and has two grandchildren at Launceston College.

Despite being retired, Trudy still maintains a strong passion for enabling children of all abilities to receive a broad and inspiring education.

12th May 2023 - 12th May 2027

Appointed by Local Governing Body

Elected Chair - 3rd October 2024

Hollie Thomas is a Senior Project Management Consultant with experience of helping to deliver major projects across the Public Sector. Hollie is currently working with a long-term client, The Gambling Commission, supporting delivery of the 4th National Lottery Licence Competition Programme, which is now in its transition phase.

Hollie lives in Launceston with her fiancée and daughter and is passionate about supporting the community in which she lives. In her hometown of Swansea, Hollie has previously volunteered as a Disability Sports Coordinator and Choir Manager.

10th October 2023 - 10th October 2027

Appointed by Local Governing Body

Bio to follow.

10th October 2023 - 10th October 2027

Appointed by Local Governing Body

Estelle is originally from south Manchester and Cheshire where she spent her formative years.  She studied for a degree at Teesside University 1984 and 1987 she gained a 2:1 BA (hons) in  Three-Dimensional Design (Interior Design). She was employed as an Interior designer from  1987 to 1993 designing and creating for several major international companies and clients  working on commercial and corporate interior projects in Manchester and London. 
She decided on a change in direction in 1993-1994 and was awarded a PGCE in Art and Design at the University of Brighton. She started her art teaching career at Saltash Community college 1994.

In 2001 she was promoted to the position of head of art at Launceston College. Estelle has led the art department over the last 23 years where it has grown to include A level photography as well as A level art and become consistently the most successful department in the college.

21st March 2024 - 21st March 2028

Appointed by Parents

Sylvia Lennard is a local business owner who enjoys spending her days amongst her dogs, cats, ducks, hens, geese, and visiting sheep. Sylvia has a great passion for health and fitness and is an experienced rollerblader, having completed two marathons, so far and skated in over 6 countries, after first becoming hooked on the sport in Cape Town, her mum’s home town.

Growing up, Sylvia was a keen campanologist for many years, before completing her BA in German and latterly a PGCE, which led her to teach in Germany, London, Sussex and Surrey. She has also spent four years working for a FTSE 100 company, on a graduate management scheme, gaining experience working in various sectors, finishing as a product manager in a marketing department.

20th May 2024 - 20th May 2028

Appointed by Parents

Bio to follow.

4th March 2025 - 4th March 2029

Appointed by Local Governing Body

As Finance Director of Multi Academy Trusts, I oversee and manage financial operations, ensuring regulatory compliance and developing strategic financial plans to support the sustainable growth and scale integrity of the trusts.

I am ACCA qualified and began my career in the industry working for an IT outsourcing company.

Having attended Launceston College and with children attending both primary and secondary schools in the area, I am deeply committed to ensuring our resources are utilised effectively to provide the best possible educational environment for our students. This enables us to invest in top-quality teaching, innovative programs, and state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring all children receive an outstanding education.

4th November 2021 - 4th November 2025

Appointed by Local Governing Body

End Date: 24th May 2024

Anna qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 2000. Since this time, Anna has worked with children and families in NHS and independent sectors. Currently, Anna has clinical responsibilities to the Family Courts across the South West, and a therapeutic caseload with looked after children.

Anna has a keen interest in promoting child emotional health across primary and secondary schools. This includes the identification of natural school-based opportunities to promote resilience, as well as achieving a clear home-school link to create a safe network around children so that they can reach their potential.

Anna has a daughter in Launceston College. In her spare time, she can be found running or cycling.

30th September 2021 - 30th September 2025

Appointed by Local Governing Body

End Date: 11th June 2024

Originally from the North East of England, James has been a local resident for 20 years and lives just outside of South Petherwin, where he has been a Governor at the Primary School since 2016.

James has been in teaching since 1991 and has held a number of positions – first becoming a subject leader of Art at a school in Burmantofts, Leeds. In 1998 James qualified as an Advanced Skills Teacher and became involved in coaching and supporting others in the teaching profession locally and across the authority. After to moving to Cornwall, James has been an Expressive Arts Coordinator at Coombe Dean School in Devon and he has been involved in the Plymouth Teaching School Alliance since 2018, when he led the curation of the Art and Design Teachers Conference on behalf of the Plymouth Art Hub.

James is currently developing his curriculum focused role while seconded into the Senior Leadership Team at Coombe Dean School. He is an advocate for the Arts and research informed practice in education and James is keen to invest time in his local community with a role at Launceston College.

6th January 2020 - N/A

Appointed by Ex-Officio

End Date: 31st August 2024

Jenn joined Launceston College in September 2009 as Assistant Principal Key Stage 5 and, after more than a decade of successful senior leadership in this role, she secured a permanent appointment as Principal in March 2020.

Born in Scotland, Jenn studied at Glasgow University from 1987-91, achieving an MA in History and Politics. She completed her teaching qualification in secondary education at Jordanhill College of Education, 1991-92, before relocating to Cornwall to start her teaching career at St Austell College in September 1992, teaching A level History, Philosophy and Ethics. Jenn worked her way up to a leadership position in the Further Education sector and after 10 successful years of A level teaching, she made the unusual move across to secondary education, joining Wadebridge School as Head of Sixth Form in June 2003. During her time at Wadebridge she developed a passion for teaching A level Psychology and she welcomed the opportunity to continue to teach Psychology today in her role as Principal.

Jenn's vision for Launceston College as it expands successfully into the 2020’s is to lead a College that inspires and enables everyone, whatever their starting point, to achieve their best and to become the very best version of themselves that they can be. Her vision is to ensure that all students aspire to excellence and appreciate the importance and the value of their education.

10th October 2023 - 10th October 2027

Appointed by Local Governing Body

End Date: 13th September 2024

Helen joined the governing body in November 2015 having taught at the college since 2001. She has lived in Cornwall for over twenty years and has always been proud of the education available in the county. Helen teaches business studies and ICT and hopes that she can pass on to the students the knowledge she gained through working in the ICT industry for over twenty years before moving to Cornwall and retraining as a teacher. As deputy head of the College Sixth Form, she is keen to promote post-16 education at the College and feels that as a governor she can share her insight in this area to help in the governance of the College.

16th September 2021 - 16th September 2025

Appointed by Local Governing Body

End Date: 15th January 2025

Steve Jolly attended Launceston College from 1997 until 2002, having been brought up just outside the town as well as in the Middle East for a few years. 

He studied politics in London and Exeter and then went to work in political campaigning until 2015. He now is a Director in a communications consultancy based in Launceston, specialising in planning and development on projects both in Cornwall and across the UK.

Steve has been an Enterprise Advisor for the College since 2019, helping the College on their careers advice, and has also volunteered for a number of charities advising them on communications and fundraising, as well training political campaigning techniques overseas.