School Staff
Head Teacher
Mrs Gemma Watts
Teaching Staff
Year 6 – Cedar Class
Miss Katie Thornton
Teacher
About Katie
What’s your favourite book?
When I was little, my favourite book was ‘The tiger who came to tea’. I remember dressing up as the little girl Sophie for World Book Day. Later in primary school I loved reading books by Jacqueline Wilson. I also remember reading ‘Naughts and Crosses’ by Malorie Blackman in Year 7 and to this day it still remains one of my all time favourites.
What’s your favourite hobby?
I love baking! When I was growing up, my mum and I would bake together every Sunday and whenever I went to visit my Nanny or Granny I would bake with them too. I’m not very good at doing fancy icing and making cakes look pretty or professional, but I am good at ensuring they taste yummy!
What has been your most exciting adventure?When I was 18 I packed a bag and travelled to New Zealand for a month on my own. I travelled the North Island and spent a week volunteering in a primary school in Auckland. One of the highlights of the trip was waking up at the crack of dawn and being dropped off by a boat in the middle of the sea to swim with dolphins!
Tell us about a job you did before you were a teacher….
Whilst I was studying for my A Levels and during university I worked in Boots. I really enjoyed it. I loved chatting to the customers and helping them. It helped me to become a more confident person and also resulted in me making lots of new friends who I am still in touch with now.
What’s your most inspirational thought?
I am a very cheerful and smiley person and so each day, I try to make the staff and children at school smile and laugh. I think being positive, optimistic and kind is so important in life. I love the quote ‘spread kindness like confetti’. I think that everybody should aim to spread kindness everywhere they go.
Mrs Sue Napier
Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
Mrs Cheri-ann Weatherley
Teaching Assistant and Forest School Leader
Year 6 – Acer Class
Mrs Caroline Jarvis
Teacher
Senior Teacher and designated alternate Safeguarding Lead (ADSL)
About Caroline
What’s your favourite book?
My favourite book when I was little was Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree as my mum used to read it for hours to me and my sister. I used to want to be Silky a little fairy who was one of the main characters.
What’s your favourite hobby?
I love ballet. I trained in classical ballet as a child and was still doing pointe work up to 5 years ago. It is a huge passion of mine.
What has been your most exciting adventure?When I was 19, I went with my best friend to travel around Australia. I got to experience many amazing adventures which involved doing a Bungee jump, white water rafting, surfing and sailing around the Whitsunday Islands.
Tell us about a job you did before you were a teacher….
I was a merchandise buyer in menswear for Marks & Spencer and used to work in their HO in Baker Street before it moved to Paddington. This was a very exciting job and I had the opportunity to work with many inspirational people.
What’s your most inspirational thought?
"A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind and touches a heart."
Teaching Assistant
Year 5 – Maple Class
Miss Olivia Doubleday
Teacher
Mrs Marie Rice
Teaching Assistant
Mrs Catherine Skipper
Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
Year 4 - Willow Class
Mrs Carla Harris
Teacher
About Carla
Coming soon
Mrs Ellie Wigby
Teaching Assistant
Year 2 – Beech Class
Miss Sophie Brown
Teacher, SENCO & Online Safeguarding Lead
About Sophie
What’s your favourite book?
My favourite children's book is Harry Potter, and my personal favourite is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern... both of which I love because they are so magical!
What’s your favourite hobby?
I have been a dancer since I was eight years old and I still love dancing to this day.
What has been your most exciting adventure
Moving away to university: having new experiences and getting to meet people from all over the world.
Tell us about a job you did before you were a teacher….
I was a line dance instructor, running my own dance classes before becoming a school teacher.
What’s your most inspirational thought?
“Wishes don't just come true. They're only the target you paint around what you want. You still have to hit the bulls-eye yourself.” (a quote from another favourite author of mine, Laini Taylor).
Mrs Claire Shadbolt
Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) and Forest School Leader
About Claire
Coming soon.
Year 1 – Ash Class
Miss Rachael Hilton
Teacher
About Rachael
What’s your favourite book?
As a child at primary school it was Kasper in The Glitter by Philip Ridley, I also loved the Borrowers and The Worst Witch series too. As an adult ‘The color purple’ Alice Walker and ‘A kind worth killing’ although I don’t find I have much time to read that often. I save it for the summer holidays!
What’s your favourite hobby?
I have lots of interests; all ‘active’ so it’s safe to say I love a physical challenge and love being outside. Exercise is so good for your mental wellbeing so I try to do something every day. I enjoy playing Netball for my team Phoenix A, swimming, walking, running, gardening, weightlifting and Crossfit. I would say currently Crossfit is possibly my favourite hobby as I enjoy getting fit, strong and healthy. I have made great friends and have begun competing in local competitions this year.
What has been your most exciting adventure?
Travelling to Australia and Thailand for around 7 months when I was 19. Gaining my open water scuba diving qualification was great too; the ocean is like another world.
Tell us about a job you did before you were a teacher….
I worked at Booja Booja chocolate factory! Although I was in the office I managed to sample the odd chocolate here and there!
What’s your most inspirational thought?
I often talk to my class about perseverance and determination so this fits quite well with that. Giving something a go, and working hard when things get tough is much better than never trying it to begin with.
“Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement.”
Mrs Paula Nicholls
Teaching Assistant
About Paula
Coming soon.
Reception – Oak Class
Mrs Emily Burden
Teacher
About Emily
What’s your favourite book?
Having spent most of my time both in and out of school reading children’s books over the past few years, my favourite children’s story is ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’.
What’s your favourite hobby?
I like to spend my spare time following the F1 Grand Prix, something which I have watched religiously since high school. I also like eating out and trying new foods.
What has been your most exciting adventure?
Becoming a mummy! Before having a child, I never realised how many emotions you can feel in such a short space of time. Every day is an unknown adventure.
Tell us about a job you did before you were a teacher….
I once had a summer job in a pudding factory (not too far away from school). One of the main puddings which we made was ‘summer pudding’. I enjoyed having the chance to buy some of the puddings to try for myself- my favourite was chocolate and orange sponge pudding.
What’s your most inspirational thought?
One of the sayings which I use a lot with the children is “the more you practise the better you get”.
Mrs Fern Wakeham
Teacher
Mrs Sally Salter
Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
Mrs Kim Adams
Teaching Assistant
Mrs Sally Salter
Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
Office Staff
Mrs Michele Norton
Mrs Hannah Boughen
Midday Supervisors
Mrs Pat Charnley
Mrs Jo Wildon
Caretaker
Mrs Kate McKechnie
Early Drop Off
Mrs Catherine Skipper
After-School Club
Mrs Kate McKechnie, Mrs Pat Charnley, Mrs Claire Shadbolt
Kitchen / Catering
Chartwells
For more than a quarter of a century, Chartwells has focused on helping young people build strong bodies, sharp minds and to lead long, healthy lives. To Eat, Learn and Live.
Chartwells dishes up great tasting, fun and nutritious meals to schools, academies, colleges and universities
Cleaners
Mr David Willoughby