Term of office from 21 November 2023 to 20 November 2027

Antonia Lythgoe was bought up in London before coming to Bristol to train to be a secondary school teacher, having completed her Geography degree at the University of Manchester. Following several years in the classroom teaching Geography to secondary school pupils, she became a curriculum support teacher for the Local Education Authority in Bristol, supporting the introduction of Citizenship into the National Curriculum. She moved to the University of Bristol to run the Citizenship PGCE programme in 2007 before becoming the Programme Director for the Teach First Programme at the School of Education. Antonia has worked in education for 25 years and has a passion and commitment to addressing educational inequalities and helping to ensure that children are able to reach their full potential, whatever their socio-economic background. She has spent time in many classrooms in the most challenging schools in Bristol and understands some of the obstacles some schools face in terms of helping their pupils reach their full potential. Her current role is as Undergraduate Portfolio Director in the School of Education and Senior Lecturer on the Education Studies programme. Additionally, she has an expertise in student wellbeing and pastoral support as a result of all of her education roles, but most recently as Senior Tutor in the School of Education. Antonia is a mother to two boys and enjoys amongst other things cooking, going to the opera and singing with the Bristol choir, the Exultate Singers.

Term of office from 23 June 2020 to 31 Jul 2025.

Stephen became a Governor of BCS in 2002 and Chairman of Governors in 2004.He led the school’s transition from a fee-charging school (Bristol Cathedral School) to an Academy (Bristol Cathedral Choir School) in 2008. He welcomed the opening of Cathedral Primary School in September 2013, which helps fulfil the vision for a first-class “all-through” educational institution within the shadow of Bristol Cathedral. In 2016 the Cathedral Schools Trust was formed and this MAT now includes 7 Schools [three secondary and four primary schools] and educates 4000 pupils. Stephen became a Deputy Lieutenant of the County & City of Bristol in 2010.He was Chair of Quartet Community Foundation[2009-2014], the LEP Social Enterprise Sector Group[2011-2016] and was Master of The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals [2009-2010]. He has been Chair of the Cathedral Trust since 2013. In 2019 Stephen was installed a Capitular Canon of Bristol Cathedral and is a member of Chapter.

Term of office from 2 February 2022 to 2 February 2026

Mandy is the Dean of Bristol, a role which combines leadership of the cathedral with a place on the Bishop’s staff as the senior priest in the diocese. Mandy comes to Bristol having been Director of Discipleship and Ministry in the Diocese of Southwark with responsibility for the training and professional development of clergy. She also held the role of Canon Chancellor in Southwark Cathedral with particular oversight of education in the cathedral.

Mandy  was brought up in Hong Kong in an army family and educated in Wiltshire. She studied fine art in London before training as a teacher in Exeter where she subsequently spent ten years teaching in the junior department of the Maynard School.

After the call to ordination, Mandy studied theology in Oxford and began her ministry on a deprived estate in Leicester city centre. During this time and her subsequent ministry on a mixed estate on the edge of the city Mandy retained her involvement in education and with children and young people, acting as a school governor and trustee of a number of charities working with excluded and vulnerable young people. Mandy’s partner, Anne, is a former primary school teacher. Together they enjoy theatre, live music and gardening.

Term of office from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2026

Hannah is a freelance content strategist with over 20 years’ experience in journalism and communications. Having lived in Bristol since finishing university, she is passionate about the diversity of the city’s community, and has a particular interest in marginalised communities. She regularly volunteers locally for an alcohol and drug treatment charity, and homeless charities. Hannah was elected to the BCCS Board of Governors in April 2019 and serves as the Careers link governor.

Term of office from 23 June 2020 to 31 July 2025

Merlyn is a senior Human Resources professional with over 20 years’ qualified experience working in both Advisory and Strategic capacities and with extensive experience primarily in the public sector. Merlyn has worked in the NHS, Local Government, Education and currently the Civil Service focusing on Change Management, Organisational Development and Design and people management at all levels of the organisation.

Merlyn is also Chair of the newly established CST Trinity Academy and a Trustee and Committee Chair of Quartet Community Foundation as well as being a Trustee and Committee Chair for Cathedral Schools Trust.

Term of office from 23 January 2025 to 31 January 2028

Paul is Associate Professor in Latin American Film and Visual Culture at the University of
Bristol. He moved to Bristol in 2017, having grown up in London and Surrey and then spent
several years living in Cambridge. He is passionate about reforming and widening access to
university education, and has acted as Director of Teaching for the Department of Hispanic,
Portuguese and Latin American Studies, and School Education Director for the School of
Modern Languages.
He previously served as a governor at Skinners' Academy in Hackney, where he was the
Safeguarding Link Governor and Chair of the Education and Wellbeing Subcommittee. He is
a trustee of the Society for Latin American Studies.
He enjoys exploring the beautiful South West with his wife Jamie and dog Holly, and singing
with the Bristol choir Exultate Singers.

Term of office 13 February 2023 to 12 February 2027

Air Commodore (Retd) Garry Porter is a former pupil of Bristol Cathedral School and currently chairman of its alumni, the Cathedralians Society.  A Food Science graduate of Queen Elizabeth College, London, he worked in industry before joining the Royal Air Force as a navigator. He subsequently enjoyed a number of operational command positions, including running a major air station and its associated budget; staff appointments also exposed Garry to the demands of Defence strategic financial planning. 

He was a school governor, focused on pupil premium, in Wiltshire for 6 years before joining the BCCS board in Summer 2019, where he has now shifted his focus to Behaviour and Attitudes.  

Term of office from 11 May 2023 to 10 May 2027

Barney is an independent consultant, Tribunal Representative and expert witness in Special Educational Needs and Disability who researches and writes on experiences of disability in childhood. Barney has years of leadership experience in alternate provision and Local Authority management, and was a SEN Co-Ordinator in Secondary schools for 15 years. Barney is autistic and occasionally speaks about identity and representation at conferences and in parent support groups.