Staff & Governors

I graduated from the University of York with an honours degree in Physiology and a Certificate in Education, and started my teaching career in London, where I completed an MA in Education at King’s College. Over the past 30 years, I have worked at five different independent co-educational day and boarding schools, most recently as Headmaster of Ockbrook School, Derby. Prior to that, I was Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Tettenhall College, Wolverhampton. I have been an ISI Team Inspector since 2012.

I am married to Jo, and we have two children, Orla, who is in her third year of veterinary school at Liverpool University, and George, who has just finished his A Levels and hopes to study architecture. The fifth member of our family is Elvis, our 14 year old black labrador. In my spare time, I enjoy watching a wide range of sports, walking, gardening, reading and entertaining family and friends.

My teaching career began in 1992, in the north-east of England, and since then I have worked in a wide range of schools, including state and independent schools, both in the UK and Australia, and in international schools in Hong Kong, Singapore and China. Prior to joining St Wystan’s I was head of primary at a large school in Singapore and before that I served as deputy head of primary in Beijing.

As well as my husband and our teenage son, I share my life and home with two pesky terriers. I am an absolute dog lover and have thrived on the sense of achievement that has come with rescuing and rehoming two dogs in need of a happy home. In my spare time I also enjoy walking to keep fit, travel, cooking and a little crochet.

I grew up and went to school in London, before embarking on a degree in Biology, and then completing a PGCE in key stages 2 and 3 at the University of Cambridge. I have taught in three prep schools, teaching a variety of year groups, but specialising in preparation for future schools. Although sad to leave North Bridge House Prep School, where I was Head of the Upper School and Assistant Head, I am very much looking forward to supporting the SLT, as Deputy Head and teaching Form 6!

I have lived with my family in Derbyshire for four years, and although my two children take up much of my spare time, I am an amateur hiker, crafter, and gardener. I have a particularly keen interest in children’s literature and can always be relied upon to give a book recommendation!

I grew up in Milton and attended Repton Primary school. After getting married at St Wystan’s Church, I went on to have four lovely children who have blessed me with eight amazing grandchildren! Once my children had grown up, I got a job at St Wystan’s in 1999. Whilst I was there I went to college and gained my early years qualification.

I then started working in the Nursery and have been there ever since. When not in Nursery I love walking and spending time with family and friends!

I am the Kindergarten Teacher and proud Housemistress of Puffin. I have been a teacher for 7 years prior to which I was a senior research scientist for a major pharmaceutical company hence my love for all things science related! I have two young children and a dog who occupy most of my time, but I also enjoy running and playing netball.

I grew up locally in Staffordshire and was fortunate to attend both Foremarke School (now Repton Prep) and Repton. I graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2017 with a degree in Law. Following my degree, I went on to spend a year travelling and working in schools in India. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching pre-prep and went on to complete my PGCE in 2019. I love being active and spending my free time in the outdoors as well as travelling to different countries. I am looking forward to joining the amazing team at St Wystan’s School.

I completed my BA Hons in English and PCGE at the University of Portsmouth. I thoroughly enjoyed working in my first post in Gosport. After relocating to Derbyshire, I worked at Derby Grammar School and following this, I went on to become the lead teacher for Literacy and Humanities at Allenton Community Primary School for a number of years. I have also worked in a range of schools across Derbyshire as a supply teacher. I enjoy spending time with my family, friends, baking and reading. I have lived in Saudi Arabia, New Jersey and enjoy visiting my family in the Netherlands. I am very pleased to be part of the amazing staff at St Wystan’s School.

I completed a BA Hons degree in Sports Development and Coaching at Newcastle. After completing this I traveled for a year, visiting North and South America, New Zealand, Fiji and Australia.  I completed a PGCE in Manchester in 2010, securing my first job as a Year 3 class teacher and the teacher of girls games at Barnard Castle Preparatory school in County Durham. I worked in Year 3 for 4 years and then moved to Year 1 and became KS1 Curriculum leader, where I gained valuable experience and insights. I moved to Derbyshire with my husband and worked at Ravensdale Infant and Nursery as Year 1 teacher.

I am enthusiastic, hard working, very approachable and I am sure my sporting background can be put to good use at St Wystan’s. My creativity is a personal strength of mine and I love to share this with the children.

I graduated from Durham University in 2000 and gained my QTS in 2004, since then I have taught in both senior and prep schools. I am passionate about the outdoors and I am a Mountain Leader, Duke of Edinburgh assessor as well as being a sport and PE teacher. I currently coach in the junior section at Ashby Hockey Club where both my children are learning to play.

I am really excited to be joining the staff (and my children) at St Wystan’s and getting stuck into all areas of school life!

I graduated from Loughborough University in 2012 with a degree in Art & Design. Since then, I have travelled and worked in managerial roles in hospitality & recruitment. I completed my PGCE with Buckingham University and have taught for the past 3 years in independent schools in London & Berkshire. Being from the Lake District, I love the outdoors and keeping fit, particularly swimming and running. I am looking forward to joining the St Wystan’s team as the Form 4 teacher and Art & DT coordinator.

Since graduating from Durham University, I have been very fortunate to enjoy being a form teacher and music specialist in a variety of primary school settings in Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire for almost thirty years! Whilst my three children were growing up, I gained valuable new experiences including teaching in early years, providing intervention English and numeracy groups, and supply teaching. I enjoy being busy, taking long walks with my family and miniature schnauzers, gardening, reading, singing and giving musical support to my local theatre group.

I am passionate about teaching modern foreign languages. Having lived outside of the UK for 15 years in the US and Belgium, I learned French at a local languages school in Rhode St Genesse, near Brussels, trained to teach at the International School of Brussels where I gained my PGCE, and also taught at The International School of Flanders.

I continue to thoroughly enjoy teaching French at St Wystan’s School, but have also coached A Level students in French speaking at King Edward VI school in Lichfield, and taken KS3, 4 and 5 lessons at Weston Road Academy in Staffordshire. I thoroughly enjoy teaching French to all ages and aim to make language acquisition an exciting adventure for students, as well as being relevant and fun.

I have been teaching now for 16 years, after studying Theatre at Bretton Hall College and qualifying as a Drama teacher in 2004 from Manchester Metropolitan University. I started my career in secondary education before moving on to independent schools in both Leeds and Leicestershire. I have always taught a range of subjects, but have specialised in Music, English and PSHCE, alongside Drama. I now teach LAMDA and Public Speaking at Repton School as well as coaching students through LAMDA examinations at St Wystan’s. Away from the classroom, I love being outside and exploring with my young family. I also love singing in the St Wystan’s Staff and Parent choir.

I love playing many sports and getting involved in sports inside of school. I enjoy singing and being part of the staff/parent choir here at St Wystan’s too. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family and travelling to different countries around the world, especially snowy places where I can ski! In addition to teaching, I also have a passion for baking and making lots of different cakes for special occasions.