Orchard Hill College is an Outstanding Specialist College offering life-changing learning opportunities to students.
In this section you will be able to find everything you need to know about our College.
Following an assessment by college staff, students can study at one of our ten vibrant college centres across London and Surrey. Each centre is different but all have strong links with the community.
College CentresAll students are individual and each course is as unique as they are. Our courses are designed to support and empower each student to achieve their aspirations and goals.
This section provides information to help you apply for a place at Orchard Hill College. It provides dates for the Open Events where you can meet the teams, have a look at the College facilities and ask any questions you may have.
Our team of highly specialised therapists and nurses work across the college providing holistic support for students during their time with us.
At Orchard Hill College we understand that parents/carers need to be involved in their child’s education. Communication between the College and parents/carers plays a vital role in ensuring students successfully achieve their potential during their time with us.
In addition to his role at Orchard Hill College, Peter is Chair of the Student Loans Company which is a government owned organisation which enable people to invest in their futures through further and higher education by providing trusted, transparent, flexible and accessible student finance services.
He is also Chair of the Construction Industry Training Board, which works on behalf of employers to invest around £200m pa of a levy paid by 20,000 employers to improve training and skills in the construction sector.
He is also trustee of Educators International, a small third world development charity which specialises in developing and implementing community scale technology- based solutions to support classroom teaching in developing countries.
He has also been a non-executive director of Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, which runs one of four standalone children’s hospitals in the UK as well as child and mental health services and health visitor services. And he was Chair from 2018 to 2023 of Newcastle College Group, the largest group of colleges in the further education sector and the first to secure indefinite degree awarding powers for higher education.
Peter took on these roles following a 40-year career in the public sector, with a focus for most of that time on the funding and organisation of the education system and in particular the post 16 education and skills system, including higher education.
Date of Appointment: 01/09/2018
Term of office: 01/09/2022 – 31/07/2027
Simon Fryer joined the Department for Education in January 2013 as Deputy Director for Human Resources Strategy & Business Partners. In November 2014 he was appointed Director of Human Resources. Simon previously spent much of his career in human resources roles at Cabinet Office.
Date of Appointment: 02/07/2021
Term of office: 02/07/2021 – 31/07/2026
Tim Borrie is a highly accomplished and experienced Strategic and Operational Estates Director with over 15 years of successful experience in property asset management and the
construction industry. Throughout his career, he has operated in leadership roles and has a strong track record in delivering projects and programs within budget and on time. Tim has a wealth of experience in strategic asset planning, project management, and financial reporting. Tim believes in a collaborative working ethos and has demonstrated this
throughout his career, particularly in the NHS.
Tim’s successes include leading the estates response to the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccination program at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, where he implemented and managed social distancing measures and delivered seven vaccination centres, administering over one million vaccinations. He also led the “Ways of
Working” program, which introduced new ways of working and rationalisation of the office portfolio, resulting in savings of £3 million per annum.
Motivated by his personal experience as a parent of a child with special educational needs, Tim is passionate about creating inclusive and lifelong learning environments. He believes in the importance of public sector organisations that deliver essential services to the community. Tim is committed to applying his skills and experience to the role of Trustee at Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust to contribute to the shared strategic agenda and further the organisation’s vision.
Date of Appointment: 01/09/2023
Term of office: 01/09/2023 – 31/07/2028
David Dangana is Director of Quality and Compliance at Capital City Colleges Group in London. He has been involved in the education sector for over 20 years both in
the UK and in Nigeria, which is where he was born and brought up and where he has also had senior leadership experience as an education professional. His role at
Capital City Colleges Group is to ensure that Teaching and Learning performance remains excellent across all of the colleges.
In his role David works closely with local employers and supports vocational opportunities for learners by leveraging opportunities. In his college role, he works closely with a number of community organisations in South London.
David has previously worked as a School Leader in Nigeria where he was asked to lead a turnaround project on an independent school, which he did successfully and put in place
education and QA frameworks that secured the school’s outcomes for a number of years once he left to return to the UK. He brings valuable experience on quality and standards
from his education career and is very committed to learning more about special needs education through supporting Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust.
Date of Appointment: 01/09/2023
Term of office: 01/09/2023 – 31/07/2028
Angela O’Hara is a highly accomplished senior leader with extensive experience in finance roles. She has worked in various positions in organisations such as Johnson Matthey
and Vodafone, before taking time now to retire and consider consultancy projects. Angela’s professional background includes expertise in areas such as internal controls, risk
management, financial reporting, corporate governance and leading change and improvement initiatives.
Angela’s desire to become a Trustee at Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust stems from her deep-rooted passion for supporting children to achieve their full potential within a safe and supportive environment. As a parent herself, she has personal experience with children facing learning difficulties and understands the challenges faced by both children and parents in such situations.
Angela’s personal and professional experiences have shaped her belief that all children should be given equal opportunities for learning and personal growth, regardless of any
labels or limitations.
Date of Appointment: 01/09/2023
Term of office: 01/09/2023 – 31/07/2028
Kim is an experienced executive and non-executive leader with a strong track record across the education and charity sectors. She also holds board-level roles as Chair of Stratford School Academy and Governor and Chair of the Pre-Degree Committee at the University of the Arts, London. She has been Chair of Southwark College (NCG) and served on the Advisory Board of Big Creative Training.
Kim has extensive experience of the education sector both in schools and Further Education, having held senior leadership roles, including Principal. She has specialised in curriculum and quality development to improve access and inclusion and support for all students including establishing two successful further education centres for students with special educational needs and disabilities. She also served as a senior examiner for many years and became trustee of the awarding organisation, OCN London for 8 years, contributing to their agenda to enable every learner to thrive.
Her achievements include the appointment of a principal at Southwark College and contributing to its transformation. She has also represented governors in several organisations leading to successful Ofsted outcomes.
Kim has effectively overseen charity governance transitions, established new boards, and led safeguarding oversight. She acted as Company Secretary of the New London Community Choir, which she established as a charity in partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra. She loves singing and volunteers as a hand holder in operations at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Date of Appointment: 01/09/2024
Term of office: 01/09/2024 – 31/07/2029
Douglas Glenday is a senior finance professional with extensive leadership experience in the education sector. Douglas brings deep expertise in financial governance, risk management, and strategic resource allocation. His professional approach is rooted in transparency, accountability, and aligning financial decision-making with broader organisational goals.
Having spent his career supporting initiatives that enhance educational outcomes, Douglas is passionate about applying his experience to benefit children and young people, particularly those with additional needs.
He is committed to the College’s mission of delivering inclusive, high-quality education and is proud to contribute to its governance and strategic direction. As a Trustee, Douglas brings a sharp financial lens, a collaborative mindset, and a dedication to driving positive change through strong stewardship.
Date of Appointment: 01/09/2024
Term of office: 01/09/2024 – 31/07/2029
John Brown has dedicated over 40 years to the field of education. His extensive experience includes 17 years as a practitioner in adult education, along with holding senior management roles across schools, colleges, and universities. For the past 10 years, John has been an integral member of Orchard Hill College, contributing his expertise and leadership to the institution.
Throughout his career, John has held several positions that are highly relevant to his current role. He has served as a teacher governor at a 14–19 special school and has participated on the Management Committee of a Workforce Independent Training Provider. John also acted as the Head of Inclusion at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, before progressing to the position of Stakeholder Manager.
John’s particular interest lies in staff development. He was Head of SENJIT at the University College London Faculty of Education, where he developed and delivered Masters’ level materials in post-compulsory education and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). His work has included authoring academic reports as well as producing publications and reports for organisations such as the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the Department for Education (DFE), the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), and the National Association of Headteachers.
As a freelancer, John has developed staff development materials and designed short courses for Further Education (FE) staff, focusing on areas such as maths, English, as well as senior and middle management. He currently serves as an Associate Consultant for several organisations, including the London Centre for Leadership and Learning, the Society for Education and Training (SET), CfBT Education Trust, Nacro, and the Education and Training Foundation (ETF).
John’s enthusiasm is rooted in supporting the workforce across the post-compulsory sector, helping to ensure the delivery of high-quality education throughout the sector.
Date of Appointment: 28/01/2015
Darren worked as a teacher for many years in inner London secondary schools before working with local schools in East London to create the Tower Hamlets City Learning Centre. This was part of the Excellence in Cities initiative that did so much to raise education standards in London. Darren then moved to Southwark where he acted as the professional lead for the 14 -19 Partnership. Other roles have included the lead for Alternative Education, The Pupil Referral Services and Adult Education in Southwark. Darren took over as Chief Executive of Bosco in 2017. Bosco is a charity that runs a post 16 vocational college, a nursery, community café and youth provision.
Date of Appointment: 14/12/2018
Lisa Grayston is a senior technology executive with over 20 years of experience in innovation, strategy, and growth across AI and SaaS platforms, rooted in Technology, Financial and Healthcare industries. Her career spans a range of leadership roles in fast-paced, high-growth technology environments, where she has consistently delivered measurable business outcomes, – accelerating revenue, expanding market share, and spearheading the development of the latest AI technology and solutions, including generative AI. Lisa’s expertise lies in bridging product strategy with operational excellence and strong execution, fostering scalable systems and teams that support innovation and long-term growth.
Lisa has held leadership roles in high-growth tech environments, including General Manager and VP Operations at Coveo, and Director of Product Strategy at Qubit and Elemental Concept. She is a passionate and strong advocate for ethical technology and inclusive leadership, being actively engaged in mentoring initiatives focused on advancing diversity in STEM, through initiatives such as Women Who Code, Girls in STEM, and Women in MACH. Lisa brings a forward-thinking, values-driven perspective to governance and decision-making, with a strong belief and deep commitment to education as a societal cornerstone.
Lisa holds a Master’s degree in Advertising and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication & Public Relations. She is fluent in English and Romanian, with knowledge of French, and South Slavic languages.
Date of Appointment: 01/09/2025
Lionel Marumahoko is an accomplished executive and governance leader with over 25 years of international experience across corporate, non-profit, and entrepreneurial sectors. He currently serves as Managing Partner at BPL Africa Connect, where he advises organisations on sustainable development, market expansion, and stakeholder engagement in more than 50 countries.
Lionel’s career includes senior leadership roles at The Coca-Cola Company, where he spearheaded strategic transformation and operational excellence across 36 African markets, and worked and lived in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. His leadership has driven impactful initiatives in youth entrepreneurship, technology, inclusive education, and sustainable agriculture.
He is deeply committed to social equity and community empowerment, serving as:
Lionel holds an MBA from the University of Natal, a BSc in Management from the University of London, and a Graduate Diploma in Computer Studies from the Institute of Management Information Systems. He is also an alumnus of London Business School. Lionel brings a global perspective, deep governance expertise, and a values-driven approach to leadership.
Date of Appointment: 01/09/2025
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