Governors

Doctor Mary Short, BA (Lond), Ph.D (Cantab) joined the Governing Body in 2015 and is now Chair.  She was Headmistress of St Helen’s School until her retirement in 2019.

She began her career teaching History at Francis Holland School (Regent’s Park) before moving to  City of London (Boys) School. Having led the history department at St Paul’s Girls’ School for nine years, she moved to Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls as Pastoral Deputy Head before taking up the headship at St Helen’s in 2011.

As well as being a co-opted member of the Education Committee, Mary is a governor of the Francis Holland Schools Trust  and Chair of the NFL Trust as well as being a Fellow of the Girls’ School Association.  Mary’s interests include modern literature, bookbinding, and gardening.

Mary can be contacted via the Clerk to the Governors at the school address.

Colin Hayfield, BSc(Econ) FCA joined the Governing Body in 1999 and was Chairman from 2007 to 2022.He is a chartered accountant with over thirty five years’ experience in the financial management of preparatory schools.

Colin has been Chairman of Governors at High March School in Beaconsfield since 2011 and is a Governor of Licensed Victualler’ School in Ascot ; he was formerly Chairman of Governors at John Hampden Grammar School in High Wycombe and Deputy Chairman of The Aldenham Foundation.

Colin is a director of Keen & Toms Holdings Limited, the Hypnos bed group, and Treasurer of The Pace Centre in Aylesbury.

Michael Andrews, BSc (Hons) MRICS is a qualified Chartered Surveyor and is married with a daughter and a son who both attended Orley Farm.

He gained his degree at Reading University and has worked and held various roles in the property industry for over 30 years.  He is now Head of Commercial Property at the Duchy of Lancaster.

He is a keen sportsman who regularly cycles and enjoys watching rugby, cricket and football when not spending time with the family.

Carol Cliffe, BEd, taught Maths in both Prep schools and Senior schools for over 30 years as well as having a period in industry as a Systems Analyst.

Having recently retired after 12 years at Orley Farm School (Assistant Head Academic), Carol is now a volunteer in London museums.

She has three grown up children who still keep her busy from afar. Passionate about all sport, she plays netball regularly and follows Liverpool FC avidly. Other interests include travel, reading and theatre.

Alastair Land, Head Master of Harrow School, read Natural Sciences at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was President of the College’s Students Union.

After completing his PGCE at Cambridge, he began his career at Eton as a teacher of Biology. There he became a Deputy House Master and held several extra-curricular responsibilities. Alastair then spent nine years at Winchester, where he became Master in College and a member of the Senior Management Team.

Alastair was Deputy Head Master at Harrow for three years from 2012, before he moved to Repton as Headmaster. He returned to Harrow as Head Master in April 2019.

Alan Smith,  BSc. MBA FCA is a senior banking executive at HSBC.  Prior to HSBC he worked for KPMG in London where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

He did his MBA in Finance at the Cass Business School, City University, London as a UK Commonwealth Scholar.  He read for his undergraduate degree at the University of the West Indies.

He is passionate about cricket – he is a playing member of the MCC and an ECB qualified Level 3 cricket coach; and about education – the son and grandson of headmasters, he is a qualified Teach First Coach.

Alan is a past Orley Farm parent.  His son moved on from OFS to Harrow School as an Academic Scholar and is now studying at McGill University in Canada.

Anil Sofat is an on Old Orleyan, who went on to Merchant Taylors’ School and then read Management Sciences at UMIST.

He is a Commercial Director in his family owned Tour Operation business specialising in holidays to Africa and India.

He is married with a son and a daughter, who both attended Orley Farm, and have now moved on to leading senior schools.  Anil enjoys watching and playing sports, especially cricket and squash.

Raj Raithatha, BA(Hons), MBA, FCA  Raj is married with two daughters who both attended Orley Farm School and now attend a leading girls school.

Following his bachelor’s degree, he spent a year in the USA before completing his MBA with distinction at Nottingham university.  After working for a top 10 accounting firm, Raj moved into the banking sector, where he has been for the past 17 years and is a managing director at a large investment bank.

In his spare time Raj enjoys keeping fit and is an avid squash player.

Leena Malde, BA (Hons), is married with two children who both attended Orley Farm School and now attend leading schools.

Leena is Executive Chair of Wealmoor Ltd, a privately owned family business, where she is responsible for strategic growth and development.  In 2016, the business was ranked the fifteenth largest fresh produce supplier in the UK and employs over 900 UK based employees.

Leena is also a designate partner in various farming partnerships, Managing Director for Radville Farms Ltd in the Gambia, and Director for COLEACP – a not-for-profit association whose main purpose is to support the development of sustainable and competitive agriculture and agribusiness.

Leena enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, travelling and exploring philosophy, culture and values.

Anjali Kothari, FCCA, DChA, qualified as an accountant in 1997 with Macintyres who were specialists in advising and auditing charities and independent schools.

She is currently one of 63 partners at Kingston Smith, a top 20 Accountancy Practice based in the City of London where she has continued that specialism for almost 20 years in the same firm.

She has a particular affiliation to the independent school sector having attended Haberdashers Askes School for Girls and continues to be involved with her former school as an Old Girl Committee member.

In addition, Anjali sits on the Executive Board for Kingston Smith and is an executive member and treasurer of the Charity Law Association.

Anjali’s family life also keeps her exceptionally busy; being a mother to a teenage girl and twins means that there is never a dull moment.  Her interests outside of work are dominated by sports including running and swimming.

Tulsi Rajkumar (BA) is a local resident who has been part of the Orley family for over 13 years. She is married with two boys, both of whom attended Orley Farm School.

As Chairperson of the OFA, and a Form Rep, Tulsi worked closely with the school community. She currently volunteers in local schools as a Reading Helper through Coram Beanstalk, a literacy charity.

In the past, she spent 13 years as a Financial Analyst, and a Global Initiatives Manager for GE Capital. Tulsi enjoys the outdoors, is part of two book clubs and is most likely to be found by a cricket pitch watching her boys play.

Sarah Labram (BA) read Classics at King’s College London. She began her career at St James Senior Girls’ School as a teacher of Classics, subsequently becoming Deputy Head (Academic) in 2007 and Headmistress in 2014.

She is married with four grown-up daughters and step-sons and her interests include theatre, classical music, walking, travel and art history.