Leadership Team

Simon Everson was appointed Head Master of Merchant Taylors’ School in 2013. His previous headship was of Skinners’ School; he currently has 19 years of experience in the role.  He was born in Hertfordshire and educated at Solihull School, Fitzwilliam College Cambridge and Nottingham University.  He has a degree in English Literature, a Masters in English Literature, a PGCE, the NPQH Headship qualification and a Masters in Philosophy.

After graduating from Cambridge in 1987, Simon then returned to Fitzwilliam College to take his teaching qualification.  He trained in inner city Coventry and at Bretton Woods Community Comprehensive in Peterborough, where he went on to work as an English teacher for the first three years of his career.  He then worked in Japan for a year as a teacher in a remote village in the mountains near Nagano.  On his return, Simon took a post as an English teacher at Nottingham High School for Boys. Simon has experience of education in comprehensive schools, independent schools, grammar schools and education abroad.

Whilst at Skinners’ School, Simon took over a local failing comprehensive. Within 18 months, the school was judged by Ofsted to be ‘Outstanding’ in all aspects.  It is now thriving as Skinners’ Kent Academy. Simon also worked with others to set up the Grammar Schools Heads Association to represent leadership in the sector; he was an early chair of the organisation.

At Merchant Taylors’ School, Simon has overseen a huge expansion in facilities, with the addition of a Design Centre, Geography Building, History Building and Cricket Centre. Further, the school has been extensively refurbished. The school gained a Prep School in 2015, merging with Northwood Prep to create Merchant Taylors’ Prep.  The school is a national leader in VEX Robotics and cricket; it holds many national and international awards. Since 2013, the relationship with Middlesex Country Cricket Club has burgeoned.  MCCC use the school as a main training site and play 1st class cricket at the school.  The school has also hosted numerous international sides.

Simon is married to Ginny, a former psychotherapist specialising in the support of children in foster care and in schools.

Ian has been the Bursar of Merchant Taylors’ since 2012, covering the functions of CFO and Company Secretary. His responsibilities include financial strategy, infrastructure project planning and leadership of the Support Staff.

During 30 years of service in the British Army, Ian was educated at Sandhurst, the German Staff College in Hamburg and the Australian Staff College in Canberra. He saw operational service in Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo, trained in Belize, Norway and Canada and completed both P Company and the Commando Course.

A former state school pupil educated in North Wales, Ian has a first class degree in Business Studies and an MBA.

Outside work, Ian is a White Water Kayak and Canoe Leader, who enjoys supporting the School Kayak Club and the Combined Cadet Force as an adult volunteer. He is a Governor at the Royal Masonic School for Girls and on the Board of the Independent School Bursars Association.

Michael Husbands is Second Master at MTS where he has worked for over 25 years.

He joined as a Classics Teacher teaching Latin and Greek, became Head of Department, then Head of Upper School, then Second Master, which initially involved overseeing all pastoral and safeguarding at the School.

Responsibilities now include deputising for the Head Master, operational management, emergency procedures, policies and inspection, and aspects of whole school routines and events. Michael is also an ISI Team Inspector.

Jane Evans joined Merchant Taylors’ in September 2024 from King Edward’s Birmingham where she was Deputy Head Academic for four years.

Prior to this she taught Biology at Westminster School for a decade, also serving as a Head of Year, and then Head of Department for her final five years.

Before teaching Jane completed a PhD in Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience at UCL and spent a further three years as a Post-Doctoral researcher in the same lab. It was this that sparked her lifelong interest in Genetics and Evolution, and she continues to indulge her love of Biology by being a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.

Clare Harrison joined Merchant Taylors’ School in 2020, as Head of Upper School, and has been Deputy Head (Pastoral) and the Designated Safeguarding Lead since 2023.

Having completed her degree in Biochemistry at University College London and her PhD with Cancer Research UK, Clare embarked on a career in medical publishing, working for Springer Nature in Boston and Los Angeles. The birth of her first daughter convinced her to move back to the UK and pursue her childhood ambition of becoming a teacher. She retrained and worked in local state and private schools, including five years as a Housemaster at Haberdasher’s Boys’; School. Clare is married to James, who is Deputy Head Academic at a local girls’ school.

They have five children and in what little spare time they have, enjoy watersports, mountain climbing and wild camping. Clare is a Governor at The Royal Masonic School for Girls.

After completing a BSc and PGCE at Bristol University, Tristan Greenaway began his teaching career at Merchant Taylors’ and has been here ever since.

A Biology teacher by training, he has held a number of roles across the school, including Head of House, 1st XV Coach, Director of PHAB, Head of Lower School, Head of Wellbeing, and now Deputy Head with responsibility for the Co-Curriculum.

He maintains a strong interest in sport and outdoor pursuits, both as a participant and an enthusiast.

Laura Smith is Deputy Head, Staff Development at Merchant Taylors’. She joined the school in 2008 after spending four years at Queen Elizabeth’s Boys’ School. Throughout her tenure, Laura has embraced a variety of roles, including English Teacher, Second in English, Head of House for six years, Director of Teaching & Learning & Coaching, and Assistant Head of Teaching, Learning & Innovation.

Laura is deeply passionate about fostering continuous professional development for staff at every stage of their teaching careers. She firmly believes in a strong culture of lifelong learning for both staff and pupils. Laura holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and is a CTI-trained coach at ACC level.

Under her leadership, a robust Teaching & Learning culture has flourished at Merchant Taylors’ with research-based enquiry and instructional coaching partnerships at the centre. In addition, Laura and her coaching team have trained over 300 staff members across the prep and senior schools to become coaches.

Outside of her professional life, Laura is married with two children and is a keen triathlete. When she’s not looking after her children, cooking, reading or walking the dog, she’s training for her third Ironman.

Adam has taught Physics at Merchant Taylors’ since 2001. Outside the classroom, he was Assistant Director of Studies for 9 years and since 2013 he has been the School Lead for IT Systems.

In 2023 he was appointed as Senior Master which is a strongly Administrative role.

Prior to arriving at Sandy Lodge, Adam taught for 4 years at Haberdashers’ Boy’s School after completing both his first degree and Doctorate at the University of Oxford. He is married and has one grown up daughter. As a keen Cricket follower, he has coached School teams throughout his teaching career.

David is the Director of Studies

Nick joined Merchant Taylors’ in 2011 as the Director of Development and Alumni Relations, bringing with him experience from New College Oxford, where he served as the Associate Director of Development for three years. He began his career in Development at his alma mater, the University of Birmingham, where he studied Law.

At Merchant Taylors’, Nick has led the Development team with an emphasis on fostering strong relationships within the School’s community, which includes pupils, Old Merchant Taylors (OMTs), parents, and friends, all for the collective benefit. He has strengthened the existing bond between the school and its alumni association, the Old Merchant Taylors’ Society, which comprises a vibrant and supportive network of over 6,000 engaged alumni who actively participate in the life of the School. Additionally, he has managed the School’s fundraising program, which aims to enhance facilities through capital projects while also increasing access to the school by raising funds for bursaries.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Nick is married and has two daughters who attend Eastbury Farm Primary School, where he has served as a Governor. After a career playing national league hockey was unfortunately cut short due to injury, he has developed a passion for road cycling.

Joining Merchant Taylors’ School in September 2023, Anneliese took on the new role of Director of Admissions and Marketing, having previously worked at Claires Court School in Maidenhead.

A University of Bristol graduate with a degree in Modern Languages (French and Spanish), Anneliese spent almost twenty years in the airline industry, where she honed her skills in brand development, communications and customer engagement at Air France and American Airlines, before moving into the independent education sector.

Anneliese is dedicated to ensuring that every aspect of the school’s marketing reflects its values and mission, while fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for new students and their families.

Outside of work, Anneliese enjoys trips to the theatre, walking in the Bucks countryside and the occasional game of tennis. She is passionate about languages and enjoys using her French during family holidays in France.

Mike Herring joined Merchant Taylors’ in 2018 as a teacher in our History Department and EPQ Coordinator; he took on the running of the Upper School in 2023.

He read History at Brasenose College, Oxford, and trained as a solicitor before seeing the light and turning to teaching. He returned to his alma mater and taught History and Politics at Bedford School where he was also tried his hand at, among other things, running tennis, Oxbridge admissions and assisting in one of the boarding houses.

He lives in London with his partner, Daisy and their extremely angry cat, Agnes. Mike’s interests, in no particular order, include hockey, ticking off Wainwrights, reading, wine, his Peloton, the poems of TS Eliot and Ogden Nash, grammar, Lancashire CCC and English cricket, and videos of cats.

As a supporter of Manchester City from ‘before’, he finds dealing with sporting success baffling.

Rollo Hesketh joined Merchant Taylors’ in 2022 as Head of Lower School and as a teacher in our History Department. He became Head of Middle School in 2025.

He began his career in advertising before moving into education, teaching at Wellington College, Sydney Grammar School, Australia and St Swithun’s School.

He holds an MA from the University of St Andrews, a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Melbourne, and a PhD from the University of Sydney.

Ellie Lemoine has been at Merchant Taylors’ since 2015. During this time, she has served as Head of Raphael House and is currently Head of Lower School. Prior to this, she worked at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School and, before that Magdalen College School, Oxford.

A graduate of UCL in Geography and Anthropology, Ellie worked in television and at the Royal Albert Hall before completing her teacher training. She was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and grew up in several places including Kuwait and Buckinghamshire! Well-travelled, Ellie enjoys teaching Geography and sharing her experiences with pupils.

When not in the classroom, she might be playing guitar in our Staff Band (the 1561s) or enjoying a good book. She is married to OMT Piers, and a son (who attends Merchant Taylors’) and a daughter. Holidays are often spent in Devon, walking the coastal path.

James joined Merchant Taylors’ in 2012 after an earlier career in publishing. He grew up and still lives locally in Ruislip and remembers winter nights in the old MTS indoor cricket nets when he was in primary school in the early 90s. After his time at Cardinal Vaughan Catholic School, he took a break from Metroland to study at the University of York where he completed his MA in Romantic Literature.

He is an English teacher by trade but says that he enjoys the great variety of school life. He was Head of Mulcaster House for seven years before becoming the Head of Middle School. In 2025, he became Lower Master – the pastoral lead for the school’s new annual intake.

He has also worn various other hats, which he has enjoyed just as much as these roles such as: managing the Cross Country team; passing on poetry on the Battlefields and Lake District trips; editing the boys’ satirical newspaper ‘The Dependent’; leading London walking tours on the school’s early history; and nurdling the ball just off the square for the staff cricket team.

His would be interests are reading, writing, running and football. But he and his wife Anna have five young children – Albert, Jack, Nancy, and twins Ron and Len – so these are not always possible at the moment!