Governance

Spencer Coles BA is MPW’s Chief Executive Officer. He read Business and Information Systems and prior to joining MPW in July 2013 as Commercial Director was the Chief Operating Officer for Regent’s University London. He held several board level roles at Regent’s during 11 years. He has extensive previous marketing, international education and business development experience gained at both Regent’s University and Holborn College.

Sam Feenan ACMA is the Finance Director for the MPW Group. He completed his CIMA qualification before taking up finance posts in an eclectic range of industries. He was the Finance Director of a boutique catering and hospitality company, before moving into the education sector in June 2022.

Sally Powell BA, MPhil, DPhil, PGCE is the Principal of MPW London. She read English, Drama and Theatre Studies at Royal Holloway University of London. Having taken a PGCE at University College, Oxford, she then completed an MPhil and DPhil in Victorian Literature at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Prior to joining MPW she was the Principal of Collingham College and is a former Chair of the Council for Independent Further Education (CIFE).

Tom Caston MSc is the Principal of MPW Cambridge. He read Geography at the University of Exeter and subsequently gained an MSc in Managing School Improvement from the University of Reading. He worked in investment banking before starting his teaching career at Shiplake College in 1999. Prior to joining MPW he held senior posts in a number of independent schools, most recently a Deputy Headship at Framlingham College.

Mark Shingleton BA, PGCE is the Principal of MPW Birmingham. He read International Business and French at the University of Westminster. Before joining MPW he held a number of senior posts including Pastoral Director at Saint Charles Sixth Form College in London and most recently Head of Sixth Form at Cokethorpe School in Oxfordshire.

James Barton MA read Ancient History and Archaeology at the University of Warwick and subsequently gained an MA in Performance Philosophy from the University of East Anglia. He has had leadership roles in both the film and education sectors and has authored a number of published university entrance guides for a range of academic disciplines, including dentistry, medicine and veterinary science. James has held a number of senior positions at MPW since first joining us in 2007 and he became a member of the MPW Board in January 2023.

Andrew Thick BA graduated from Durham University before going on to pursue a career in international education. He held a number of senior positions at OIEG and Study Group before joining Kaplan International where he is currently the Senior Vice President responsible for their International pathways programme.

David Jones MA graduated from Oxford University and then ran a series of adventure programmes in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. He became involved in international education and has held senior board level roles at EF International Language Schools and Aspect Education before joining Kaplan International where he is currently Chief Executive Officer.