Board of Governors

Mrs Flynn has enjoyed a career across a variety of educational settings, including comprehensive schools, adult education, pre-school nurseries and Lady Barn House School. Her experience as both a teacher and a parent at Lady Barn, together with her qualifications, including a degree in Modern Languages, a PGCE and a Master’s in Education, gives her a strong understanding of the school and the wider education sector.

Mrs Flynn continues to enjoy being part of the education world through her role as Chair of the Board of Governors. She believes it is a privilege to serve as part of a vibrant, forward-looking team, helping to promote the benefits of a Lady Barn education, which all three of her children were fortunate enough to experience.

As Chair of the Board, Mrs Flynn provides leadership and oversight to support the school’s continued development and long-term success. She is passionate about ensuring that Lady Barn continues to thrive as a leading standalone prep school in the North, with an excellent reputation as a primary education specialist. Above all, she is committed to helping the school create an environment where children are happy, confident and well prepared to take the next step in their educational journey, and, crucially, the right step for them.

The school’s Beyond Learning Bursary Fund and the establishment of the 2+ Nursery are among the developments that reflect Lady Barn’s commitment to opportunity and inclusion. Continuing to support the school’s vision and ethos and ensuring that a Lady Barn education remains accessible to future generations are high on Mrs Flynn’s priorities.

Outside her role as Chair of Governors, Mrs Flynn enjoys going to the cinema, reading, keeping fit and travelling, as well as spending time with her grandchildren.

Dr Perry has been a Governor at Lady Barn House School since early 2024, a role she greatly enjoys. She is a member of the Education Committee and serves as Lead Safeguarding Governor, providing oversight of safeguarding practice and helping to ensure that effective safeguarding arrangements remain a key priority across the school.

Dr Perry qualified as a doctor in 1990 and, after her first few years in hospital medicine, became a GP partner at a large practice in Macclesfield, where she worked for 22 years, ultimately becoming Senior Partner. During this time, she was a GP Trainer, contributing to GP education, and also served as the North West Deanery Safeguarding Lead GP.

Her main professional interests included diabetes, paediatrics and the management of general practice. Since 2023, Dr Perry has worked as a Prison Doctor at both HMP Manchester and HMP Risley, a role she finds particularly fulfilling.

Dr Perry and her husband, David, have three children, Sarah, Megan and Sam, who all attended Lady Barn House School before moving on to senior schools, including Withington Girls’ School and The Manchester Grammar School.

All three of her children had very happy times at Lady Barn and retain fond memories of the nurturing environment they experienced. This was one of the reasons Dr Perry was drawn to becoming a Governor, giving her the opportunity to give something back to a school that had given so much to her family. She is committed to contributing her experience, dedication and support to the continued success and wellbeing of the Lady Barn community.

Outside her professional life, Dr Perry enjoys sport, particularly cricket and tennis, and is also a keen football fan.

Dr Maxwell joined the Board of Governors in 2019. Her role is to provide medical advice and guidance to the Board and school where medical concerns arise. She is Lead Governor for Allergy and SEND and serves on the Education and Marketing & Development Committees.

Dr Maxwell was a GP in Poynton for 33 years before retiring in 2020. Her main professional interests included women’s health, paediatrics and safeguarding. During her career, she worked closely with members of the public and developed a strong understanding of the importance of confidentiality, communication and providing sensitive support.

Dr Maxwell has three sons, all of whom attended Lady Barn House School. Chris was Head Boy, Andrew was Sports Captain and Nick was Vice Sports Captain. They all thoroughly enjoyed their time at Lady Barn, gaining the knowledge and confidence to achieve their goals and go on to successful careers. They also made many valuable friendships that they continue to enjoy today.

Dr Maxwell is very grateful to Lady Barn for the opportunities it gave her sons, and it was her desire to give something back to the school that prompted her to become a Governor. She hopes to use her experience as a GP, together with her experience as a parent, to support the Governing Body and Headmistress in helping Lady Barn continue to thrive and achieve the best possible outcomes for its pupils.

Outside her professional life, Dr Maxwell enjoys gardening, hillwalking, golf and Pilates. She also enjoys travelling abroad and exploring different cultures around the world.

Mr Mayo heads KPMG’s Corporate Finance Technology Team in the North, advising a variety of private and public sector clients on disposals, acquisitions and fundraising, alongside his work in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity.

Mr Mayo is married with four daughters, two of whom attended Lady Barn House School, and has two Labradors. He chairs the Finance and General Purposes Committee, where he brings his professional experience to support the Board in overseeing the school’s financial management and long-term planning.

Mrs Alwan-Walker is a Director in Risk Management at KPMG and brings a broad range of skills and professional experience to her role as a Governor at Lady Barn House School.

She is firmly supportive of Lady Barn’s ethos and values, which were key attractions when she and her husband chose the school for their son. Her admiration and fondness for Lady Barn have grown ever since, giving her a strong personal connection to the school and its community.

Her background in Risk Management and Finance includes experience working with senior management and directors, alongside strong analytical, teamwork and leadership skills. She brings a constructive and considered approach to her role, including the ability to provide appropriate challenge and act as a “critical friend” to support the Board in making effective decisions.

Professor Aziz is a surgeon at The Christie Hospital and leads a team of researchers at the University of Manchester’s Academic Health Science Centre. He brings extensive clinical, research and healthcare leadership experience to his role as a Governor and member of the Education Committee.

He studied medicine and completed a PhD at Imperial College, working in north-west London for 13 years before moving to Manchester in 2014. His career has included leading a specialised national NHS clinical service, undertaking research that informs clinical care and healthcare policy, advising charities, and serving as Clinical Director for a medical device company.

Professor Aziz is married and has two children, both of whom currently attend independent schools in Manchester. He is passionate about education and is pleased to contribute his professional experience and perspective to the Board, supporting the continued development and success of Lady Barn House School.

Mr Kabbani was a pupil at Lady Barn House School from 1974 until 1981. After leaving Lady Barn, he attended The King’s School in Macclesfield before going on to study at Newcastle University.

Mr Kabbani has three daughters, all of whom attended Lady Barn House School, giving him a long-standing connection to the school both as a former pupil and a parent. He has served on the Board of Governors since 2012 and is a member of the Finance Committee, where he contributes to the Board’s oversight of the school’s financial affairs.

Having experienced Lady Barn both as a pupil and a parent, Mr Kabbani is committed to supporting the continued success and development of the school and its community.

Mrs Ledson is currently Chief Operating Officer of a Multi-Academy Trust in North Manchester. She holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature and an MSc in Human Resource Management. As part of the Trust Executive, she contributes to developing the Trust’s strategy for growth and, as Chief Operating Officer, oversees its operations and business functions.

Prior to joining the Trust, Mrs Ledson worked in a variety of management positions within the finance sector before moving into education 20 years ago. During her career in education, she has held a range of key HR, operational and leadership roles across both the independent and maintained sectors, including consultancy roles supporting schools across the region.

Mrs Ledson brings extensive experience in education, HR, operations and strategic leadership to her role as a Governor. She is married and has a very spoilt cat.