Can you tell us where you hail from, where you trained and what your qualifications are?

I’m South African (and was born in Zambia). My parent are British and they now live in Australia. I studied at the University of Natal in conjunction with Edgewood College of Education and have a BA and Higher Diploma in Education. I also hold a QTS and a Primary Education teaching qualification with The General Teaching Council for Scotland.

Tell us all about your career experience.

I taught at two schools in South Africa until I gave into the travel bug. I au-paired in America for a while and then moved to the UK where I taught in several primary schools in north London, using my holidays to continue continent hopping. I then accepted a post at Hall School Wimbledon, an all-through independent school in London. The role was initially for one year but I ended up staying for 21 years! Over the last four years, I have been teaching at SEND schools in Sussex and most recently, have been tutoring 1:1 lessons at a Brighton school.

What would your recent pupils and colleagues say about you as a teacher, would you say?

That I have an obvious love of teaching. I’m known for being calm and patient; firm but fair, and not to be trifled with. I have high expectations for my students. I think they’d say I have a good and even whacky sense of humour, too: I’ve been known to turn a classroom upside down to demonstrate a point! I’m also highly organised. 

Please tell us about your hobbies, passions and interests.

I have many and most have a link with my fascination with Maths! I’m a PADI Divemaster (qualified to assist instructors with classes and lead certified divers on underwater adventures). That entails lots of Maths in order to stay safe and links in with my fascination with oceanography, a course which I am intending to pursue through the OU.

I’m also a very keen sea swimmer and am doing my version of the Channel swim. My latest challenge is swimming from my beach hut to Morocco and back: 58 times is the equivalent and I’m just about to reach the French coast, so will probably be back on UK soil in about April 2024. It’s good fun! 

I was (when younger) a provincial hockey goalkeeper and volley ball player and now enjoy squash and badminton. I have a motorbike, which I love, although I drive to school.

Why did the role of Head of Maths at Sompting Abbotts appeal to you at this point in your career?

Since leaving The Hall, Wimbledon, in 2019, I’ve been looking for a school that had a similar atmosphere and ethos. I found that the day I arrived at Sompting Abbotts for my interview. It felt like home. Having spent over two decades as a teacher in the independent sector, working with Common Entrance and 11+ candidates, I’m very comfortable moving back into that environment now. I can see, too, that I will enjoy having the ability to use the great outdoors at Sompting Abbotts as a teaching resource. I’m looking forward to working with the small classes at the school. They mean that I can give plenty of attention to the children who need extra support to increase their confidence as well as have the time and space to ensure that those who can be pushed are.

What impression do you have of Sompting Abbotts so far?

That it’s a safe, kind and nurturing school where children can be children. The fact that I did not see a child with a mobile was reassuring. I am very aware of the damage that they can and do cause to children. 

Is there anything about you that might surprise us?

Given my obsession with numbers this might not (!) but I Iove walking around doing my supermarket shopping and item by item mentally calculating the prices and then seeing how accurate my total is at the end!.