Staff & Governors

My career began in industry, working in sales and training. Whilst my family were young, I retrained as a teacher and have worked in both state and the independent sector. I recently completed a Master’s Degree relating to children’s health and well-being.

Family life is very important to me and spending time walking, and skiing is something we all enjoy together. Another family member who thinks he is one of the children, is our springer spaniel, Max.

I have enjoyed teaching a range of ages over the past eleven years, in two different schools in Derby. Before this, I studied Psychology at the University of Manchester, where I then completed my Primary PGCE, specialising in Modern Foreign Languages. Having grown up in Germany, and spent much time in France, I really enjoy languages, travelling and exploring new places. I am also interested in art, photography and music and I enjoy keeping active during my spare time. I am very excited to be joining the St Wystan’s team!

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 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 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 did my teaching degree at York St John University and I have spent the past 3 years teaching in KS2 at Ashgate Primary School in Derby. I have always taken a great interest in all aspects of school life, in particular extracurricular sports, music and the use of technology in the classroom. When I’m not in the classroom, I love to spend my time competing on the rugby pitch, singing new songs on my guitar and walking my dog Brandy.

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. In 2015, I became Head of Music at St Wystan’s and this year I am looking forward to also having my own class. 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.