Staff and Governors

Education at St Nicholas' School is seen as a partnership between teachers, pupils and parents.

We are delighted to employ such a wide array of highly qualified staff.

Senior Management Team

Dr Olwen Wright PhD Winchester; MA; BA (Hons); PGCE; QTS	Headmistress; Deputy DSL
Mrs D.T. Canning FCCA	Bursar; Clerk to the Governors
Mr Lee Render MEd Buckingham; BA (Hons); QTS	Head of Nursery, Infants and Juniors; Deputy DSL for EYFS
Mrs Nicola Byrne-Chinn BSc (Hons) Liverpool; GTP; NPQSL; LP; QTS	Deputy Head (Academic); Head of Mathematics
Miss Claire Huyton BSc (Hons) Liverpool; PGCE; QTS	Deputy Head (Pastoral); DSL; Physics Teacher
Mrs Helen Barnes BA Ed (Hons) Exeter; QTS	Deputy Head of Juniors; Key Stage 2 Teacher

Governors

Mr Stephen Mellor MA(Ed)	Chair of Governors ✉ stephen.mellor@stnicholas.school
Miss Linda Kavanagh	Vice Chair of Governors
Mrs Davina Maroothynaden	Governor
Mr Chris Netherton	Governor
Mrs Lynne Nixon	Governor
Tom O'Connor	Governor

Nursery Teaching Staff

Mrs Marcia Barrington NVQ in Childcare	Nursery Assistant
Mrs Theresa Durrant BA (Hons) in Dance and Culture; University of Surrey	Head of Drama
Mrs Amy Franke MMus; BMus (Hons) Surrey	Music Teacher
Mrs Kaeleigh Hapsa CACHE Level 3 Diploma	Early Years Practitioner
Mrs Lucy Sartori BSc (Hons) Royal Holloway and Bedford New College; QTS	Forest School Teacher
Miss Hannah Willmott PGCE Exeter; BSc West of England; QTS	Physical Education Teacher; KS3 Phase Leader; Deputy DSL

Infant School Teaching Staff

Mrs Sophie Brown BSc (Hons) Nottingham Trent; QTS	Year 1 Teacher
Miss Sarah Cluett BA (Hons) University of the West of England Bristol; PGCE; QTS	Year 2 Teacher
Mrs Natalie Denning BSc (Hons) St Mary’s College; PGCE; QTS	Year 2 Teacher
Mrs Theresa Durrant BA (Hons) in Dance and Culture; University of Surrey	Head of Drama
Mrs Amy Franke MMus; BMus (Hons) Surrey	Music Teacher
Mrs Andrea Hutchison BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Early Childhood Studies, Oxford Brooks University; PGCE	Reception Teacher
Mrs Joanna Pont MMus; BMus (Hons); LRAM	Principal Violin Teacher
Mrs Lisa Ruffell BA (Hons) in Theology and Religious Studies, Roehampton Institute; QTS	Reception Teacher
Mrs Lucy Sartori BSc (Hons) Royal Holloway and Bedford New College; QTS	Forest School Teacher
Mrs Carola Tavella Degree in Foreign Language and Literature, University of Genova	French; Spanish Teacher
Miss Hannah Willmott PGCE Exeter; BSc West of England; QTS	Physical Education Teacher; KS3 Phase Leader; Deputy DSL
Ms Susan Zhang MEd; BEd (Hons); PGCE Johannesburg SA	Mandarin Teacher

Junior School Teaching Staff

Mrs Florence Ayache BA (Hons) Glamorgan; QTS	Head of Modern Foreign Languages; Business Studies
Mrs Helen Barnes BA Ed (Hons) Exeter; QTS	Deputy Head of Juniors; Year 6 Teacher
Miss Victoria Cooper BSc (Hons) Portsmouth; QTS	Year 6 Teacher
Mrs Theresa Durrant BA (Hons) in Dance and Culture; University of Surrey	Head of Drama
Miss Rachel Firth BA (Hons) Bath; PGCE; QTS	Head of Art and Textiles
Mrs Amy Franke MMus; BMus (Hons) Surrey	Music Teacher
Mrs Dianne Gair BEd (Hons) Wales; QTS	Year 5 Teacher
Mrs Lee-Anne Hampson BA (Hons) in Textile Art, University of Southampton; Post Graduate Certificate in Education; QTS	Art Teacher and Artist in Residence
Miss Laura Homer BA (Hons) Wales; PGCE	Year 4 Teacher
Mrs Stephanie Hoskins BA (Hons) Bristol; QTS	Year 5 Teacher
Mrs Jomcy John BSc Mahatma Gandhi University; MA; PGDBA	IT / Computer Science Teacher
Mrs Abigail Longworth BA (Hons) Exeter; PGCE; QTS	Director of Sport
Mrs Deborah Martin BA (Hons) Surrey; QTS	Food Technology; Mathematics Teacher; ELSA
Mrs Wendy Moller BEd University of South Africa	Year 3 Teacher
Ms Virginia Pearson MRes Southampton; BA (Hons); Perf Cert RAM	Assistant to Director of Music; Guitar and Theory Teacher
Mr Benjamin Pont BMus (Hons) Royal College of Music; PGCE	Director of Music
Mrs Lucy Sartori BSc (Hons) Royal Holloway and Bedford New College; QTS	Forest School Teacher
Mrs Lucy Sheikh BA (Ed) Oxford	Year 5 Teacher
Mrs Carola Tavella Degree in Foreign Language and Literature, University of Genova	French; Spanish Teacher
Mr Dan Wileman BSc (Hons) in Sports, Fitness and Coaching, Open University	Physical Education; Careers Lead
Miss Hannah Willmott PGCE Exeter; BSc West of England; QTS	Physical Education Teacher; KS3 Phase Leader; Deputy DSL
Ms Susan Zhang MEd; BEd (Hons); PGCE Johannesburg SA	Mandarin Teacher

Senior School Teaching Staff

Mrs Florence Ayache BA (Hons) Glamorgan; QTS	Head of Modern Foreign Languages; Business Studies Teacher
Miss Josephine Allen BA (Hons) Bristol (WE); QTS	English Teacher
Mrs Nicola Byrne-Chinn BSc (Hons) Liverpool; GTP; NPQSL; LP; QTS	Deputy Head (Academic); Head of Mathematics
Mrs Gemma Cross BSc University of Wales; PGCE; QTS	Head of Science
Mrs Theresa Durrant BA (Hons) in Dance and Culture; University of Surrey	Head of Drama
Mrs Joanne Edwards BA (Hons) Brunel; PGCE	Head of History
Miss Rachel Firth BA (Hons) Bath; PGCE; QTS	Head of Art and Textiles
Miss Annemarie Glück Diploma in Education University of Cape Town; QTS	Maths Teacher; Co-Curricular Lead
Mrs Lee-Anne Hampson BA (Hons) in Textile Art, University of Southampton; Post Graduate Certificate in Education; QTS	Art Teacher and Artist in Residence
Mrs Rebecca Hoddinott BA (Hons) London	Food Preparation and Nutrition Teacher
Miss Claire Huyton BSc (Hons) Liverpool; PGCE; QTS	Deputy Head (Pastoral); DSL; Physics Teacher
Mrs Jomcy John BSc Mahatma Gandhi University; MA; PGDBA	IT / Computer Science Teacher
Mrs Pilar Kimber MA Reading	Head of Classics
Mrs Stella Lawson BA Nottingham Trent; QTS	English Teacher; KS4 Phase Leader; Deputy DSL
Mrs Abigail Longworth BA (Hons) Exeter; PGCE; QTS	Director of Sport
Mrs Deborah Martin BA (Hons) Surrey; QTS	Food Technology; Mathematics Teacher; ELSA
Mr Lyndon Martin BSc (Hons) Surrey; QTS	Mathematics Teacher; Examinations Officer
Mrs Teresa Mills BA Manchester; PGCE; QTS	French; Spanish Teacher
Mrs Sarah Park BA (Hons) Keele; QTS	Head of English
Ms Virginia Pearson MRes Southampton; BA (Hons); Perf Cert RAM	Assistant to Director of Music; Guitar and Theory Teacher
Mr Benjamin Pont BMus (Hons) Royal College of Music; PGCE	Director of Music
Mrs Mary Porter MA UCL; BSc (Hons); QTS	Head of Geography
Mrs Paula Potter BSc (Hons) in Chemistry, Exeter University; QTS	Science Teacher
Mrs Lucy Sartori BSc (Hons) Royal Holloway and Bedford New College; QTS	Forest School Teacher
Mrs Carola Tavella Degree in Foreign Language and Literature, University of Genova	French; Spanish Teacher
Mr Dan Wileman BSc (Hons) in Sports, Fitness and Coaching, Open University	Physical Education Teacher; Careers Lead
Miss Hannah Willmott PGCE Exeter; BSc West of England; QTS	Physical Education Teacher; KS3 Phase Leader; Deputy DSL
Ms Naomi Yip BSc (Hons) in Biology and Science Education, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; QTS	Science; Mathematics Teacher
Ms Susan Zhang MEd; BEd (Hons); PGCE Johannesburg SA	Mandarin Teacher

Peripatetic Music

Mrs Wendy Busby BMus (Hons) GSMD; CTABRSM	Voice Teacher
Mrs Amy Franke MMus; BMus (Hons) Surrey	Music; Violin Teacher
Ms Claire Hasted BMus (Hons); Post Grad Diploma Advanced (Distinction)	Percussion Teacher
Mrs Claire Hickling BMus (Hons)	Flute Teacher
Mrs Helen Laird Royal College of Music; ABRSM in Cello Teaching	Cello Teacher
Mrs Oksana Maxwell LTCL	Piano Teacher
Ms Virginia Pearson MRes Southampton; BA (Hons); Perf Cert RAM	Assistant to Director of Music; Guitar and Theory Teacher
Mr Ben Steggall BMus (Hons)	Brass Teacher
Mrs Joanna Pont MMus; BMus (Hons); LRAM	Principal Violin Teacher
Ms Josephine Simmons BA (Hons)	Saxophone; Clarinet Teacher
Mrs Rebecca Whittock BA (Hons) University of London	Violin Teacher

Curriculum Support Staff

Mrs Marwa Aladl BA (Hons) American University Cairo; Level 2 Certificate in Young People’s Mental Health	Learning Support Assistant
Mrs Celia Beard OCR Level 7 Diploma in Assessing and Teaching Learners with SpLD, Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre; OCR Level 5 Certificate in Teaching Learners with SpLD, Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre	Head of Curriculum Support
Mrs Hannah Hopkins City & Guilds Level 3	Higher Level Teaching Assistant; ELSA
Mrs Georgina Hugill BA (Hons) in Business and Finance, Brunel University	Learning Support Assistant
Mrs Karen Lisle City & Guilds Level 3	Learning Support Assistant
Mrs Holly O'Brien Cache Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education	Learning Support Assistant
Mrs Louise Wallace BA York; PGCE; QTS	SEND Teacher

Non-Teaching Staff

Mrs Michele Axton BA OU; NEBOSH (National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety)	Lab Technician and Health and Safety Co-ordinator
Mrs Amanda Bullock CACHE Level 3 NVQ	School Assistant
Miss Natalie Dimmock CMktr; BSc (Hons) in German and Economics with International Business; Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing	Enterprise Manager
Mrs Kathryn Kulik BSc (Hons) in Technology and Business; PRINCE2	Executive Personal Assistant to the Headmistress
Mrs Natasha Mabilat BA (Hons) Graphic Design; BTEC Art and Design	Brand and Digital Manager
Mr Alex Pape BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science	IT Infrastructure Manager
Mrs Debbie Smitherman Dip in Pensions and Payroll Management	Finance Assistant
Mrs Paula Stelfox AMCIS in Admissions Management	Admissions and Marketing Manager
Mrs Sarah Watkins Paediatric First Aid	School Secretary; Medical Officer
Mrs Catherine Williams BA (Hons) Salford	Librarian

School Clubs and Visiting Professionals

Anna Aravello	Activities Assistant
Rebecca Baker	Specific Learning Difficulty Assessor
Eleanor Bowyer	LAMDA (Speech and Drama)
Lloyd Brown	Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
Isabel Cann	Activities Assistant
Emily Carter	Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
Laura Caswell	Trampoline Coach
Kathryn Charles	Tennis Coach
Jamie Cheetham	Tennis Coach
Helen Coleman	Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
Stuart Cousens	DofE (Duke of Edinburgh's Award) Lead
Yasmin Fitzwilliams	LAMDA and Musical Theatre
Louise Hancock	Netball Coach
Lydia Johnson	Dance (EBA Performing Arts)
Heather Marshall	Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
Anne-Marie Mitchell	Specific Learning Difficulty Assessor
Miriam Mitchell	Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
Helen Owen	Yoga Instructor
Ellie Park	Activities Assistant
Anita Parry	School Photographer
Nick Pert	Chess Coach
Brian Rodricks	SEN Tutor
Elaine Rusby	Trampoline Coach
Caroline Sanger	School Counsellor
Sarah Seddon	Netball Coach
Mark Spain	Tae Kwon Do Coach
Jasmine Stokes	Activities Assistant
Chloe Tarling	Activities Assistant
Noel Thompson	Rugby Coach
Grainne Yeatman	Speech and Language Assistant (SALT)

Maintenance Staff

Mr Peter Attwood	Afternoon / Evening Caretaker; Bus Driver
Mr Adrian Bewick	Bus Driver
Mr Timothy Hunt	Morning Caretaker; Bus Driver
Mr Paul Rippingale	Head of Maintenance and Grounds
Mr Bruce Sharp	Assistant Maintenance Officer; Bus Driver
Mr Richard Sharp	Groundsperson

Catering (Chartwells)

Elizabeth Burford	Kitchen Team
Hayley Chubb	Chef
Maria Gomes	Kitchen Team
Miyuki Marshall	Kitchen Team
Sharon Nash	Kitchen Team

DISCOVER MORE

welcome from the headmistress

St Nicholas’ is a unique school where children have the chance to grow up at their own pace, and where they can let their talents and imagination run free.

what people say about us

We are extremely proud of our engaging community of parents. pupils and alumni who aid and uphold the ethos of St Nicholas' School. Read their testimonials here.

"The teachers at St Nicholas' School are so dedicated! They have encouraged and supported our daughter every step of the way and really have gone above and beyond. We are so thankful to each and everyone."

Senior School Parent

"I just wanted to say a big thank you to the incredibly caring and supportive staff you have."

Junior School Parent

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