New Chair of Board of Trustees appointed for Prior's Court Foundation

Published by Prior's Court School on Monday 15th of December 2025

A new Chair of the Board of Trustees has been appointed for Prior’s Court Foundation – the charity which oversees the running of Prior’s Court’s operations.

Dr Stefan Fafinski DL, who has been a Trustee of Prior’s Court for more than three years, was appointed to the role of Chair on Monday, 15 December.

Stefan will take up the role on January 1, 2026. His appointment follows seven years of dedicated service by our outgoing Chair Chris Barrett DL.

Stefan said: “I’m honoured to have been elected Chair of Prior’s Court Foundation. The late Dame Stephanie Shirley CH created an extraordinary institution to give autistic young people with complex needs the education, care and opportunities they deserve. Her vision remains central to everything we do.

“My focus now is on building on that legacy and supporting the next phase of Prior’s Court’s development.”

Stefan brings a long record of civic and charitable service spanning justice, technology and education.

Prior to his public service career, he spent many years in the IT industry before completing a PhD in technology law and moving into public and prison law, where his work now focuses on rehabilitation and support for vulnerable prisoners.

Until December 2025 he served as Chair of the WCIT Charity, the charitable arm of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists.

He is also Chair of The Inside Out Trust, a charity supporting people under Probation Service supervision to rebuild their lives.

He was a co-founder of Hammersmith Academy and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire in 2023.

Farewell to Chris

Outgoing Chair Chris Barrett DL was honoured for his service to Prior's Court at a Full Board meeting on Monday, 15 December. Chris was presented with flowers and personalised Prior's Court cufflinks.