Meet the Teachers

Head of the Junior School

I joined the Junior School as Head in September 2012, having spent the previous ten years teaching Biology in the Senior School. For the last six of these I was Head of Middle School (ages 13-16) and a member of the Master’s Advisory Committee.

Ahead of my arrival, I spent the second half of the Trinity Term on sabbatical in the Junior School and within the first day, fell in love with the atmosphere, energy and sense of fun that fills School House. It is an extraordinary part of the school and I remain tremendously excited, grateful and proud to now be part of the Junior School Team.

What spare time I find is usually spent outside, either walking with our Jack Russell called Betty or cycling off-road around the countryside. I also love cooking and sitting down as a family over a delicious (in my opinion at least!) meal.

Deputy Head of JS & J1A Form Tutor

I have been teaching quite a while and am still in contact with some of my very first pupils which is lovely! Having studied for a degree and post-grad in London, I taught there and in Berkshire before moving to Northants. My two sons followed me to MCS and I’m proud to say that after university, they are now happily settled in jobs they enjoy, and their adult lives. They, too, are very much still in contact with their MCS contemporaries.

The JS is my family, too. Having seen 15 years of J1s passing through, I am so proud of the young men they have become. Every little step taken is progress made and it is an honour to have been able to play a small part in helping orchestrate their education. In teaching you learn something new every day so I’m very grateful to our boys for this.

I help Mr Skipwith with the day-to-day running of the school and ensure that from the moment the boys arrive in the morning until they leave in the evening, they are looked after. I am always there for my colleagues, too. Its a busy, buzzy place.

In my spare time I enjoy walking (slow jogging), travelling (especially to sunny climes), reading and pottering about in my garden.

J1B Form Tutor

I joined MCS in September 2015 as a J1 form tutor and have had a wonderful time getting to know the boys and the staff. The school has a delightfully positive atmosphere and is entirely welcoming to new faces and ideas. While I love teaching a variety of age groups and subjects, I suppose my main interest is Computing. In light of this, I run a weekly Code Club and enjoy helping the boys to make new discoveries and exercise their technical skills.

Before joining MCS I had worked in a range of schools in Oxfordshire teaching a variety of different year groups. Last year was a busy one as I was working towards completing a Masters in Educational Leadership while planning my wedding. It was very refreshing to return to teaching after a year of organising and full-time study!

When I am at home and have spare time, I really enjoy baking, spending time with my family and catching up with friends. Above all I love to travel and last year enjoyed a honeymoon to California for just under a month. We are already thinking about our next trip to foreign lands which we hope will be in the not-too-distant future.

J1B Teacher (Maternity Cover)

In 1996 I graduated from Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia with a Bachelor of Education and officially began my teaching career. Shortly after graduating I secured a teaching role at Trinity College; where I received excellent mentorship and guidance. In my fifth year of teaching I was given leave to travel and teach in a mainstream school in South East London. This time strengthened my teaching skills and fostered a new found love for travel.

After marrying my amazing husband in 2005, we left Australian shores and headed to the UK, settling in Oxford for two years. While teaching in a local mainstream school we travelled every weekend and holiday, appreciating the beauty, history and culture in the countries we visited.

During the season of growing our family with three sons I was employed as an academic eLearning advisor, teaching undergraduate education students at Swinburne University. In 2017 while teaching Year 3 at Trinity College I was awarded a National Excellence in Teaching award. This was a great honour as I have a real love for life-long learning and I hope to instill the same in my students. As I continue to strive for excellence I feel very grateful to be a part of the Magdalen College Junior School Team.

J2A Form Tutor

I joined MCS in 2003 following four years at Exeter University studying Mathematics with Education. I have always been a Year 4 (J2) Tutor, teaching Mathematics, but teach Junior School Geography too. I spent a fair bit of time specialising in Safeguarding and was the Safeguarding Officer for a number of years.

I now have a young family and personal interests include running, food and reading. I try to compete in half marathons each year, and like to get MCS boys involved in cross-country running and athletics too. My passion for food extends from attending courses to entertaining to eating out.

J2B Form Tutor

Last September, the boys in J2B had varied aspirational objectives for the academic year ahead: some wanted to be top of the class; others to gain a place in the A team for a given sport; a few to gain more fundamental skills such as confidence or improved handwriting. There is no formula for achieving success in this process other than experience of working with young people and recognizing the familiar patterns that lead to success.

My pathway has been a combination of studying humanities at University, working as a cartographer and spending several years working with children with SEN in the mainstream sector; as well as bringing up my own two children and supporting them on their journey through school and university. We are a close family and we like to travel together to see and understand different parts of the world. I have a great sense of adventure and a fundamental belief that anything is possible.

Teacher of Music and J3 Form Tutor

Joining the MCS team during the lockdown period was certainly a memorable way to begin my time here.

I graduated from Trinity College of Music in 2011 and have since enjoyed a varied teaching and performing career. I most recently taught at the Royal Masonic School for Girls in Rickmansworth where I led the Orchestra and Jazz Band and taught curriculum music lessons throughout the School.

My first instrument is the trombone and I have performed with many orchestras and ensembles from across the UK and beyond. My most memorable concert was performing Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the Royal Albert Hall. As well as the trombone, I also enjoy playing the trumpet, piano and ukulele. I love all genres of music from pop to rock, classical to jazz, and musicals to opera.

As well as my passion for music, in my spare time, I enjoy running, supporting my childhood football team Aston Villa and tending to my many animals which include three cats and eight chickens!