Meet The Teachers

Before joining Longacre I taught Reception and Year 1 and was the childcare and curriculum adviser for a chain of 30 nurseries.

Prior to joining Longacre I taught in both primary and secondary schools in the state sector. In my most recent role, as well as being SENCo I was also Progress Leader for year 7, one of the Deputy Safeguarding Leads and I taught English to years 7 and 8.

I worked for many years in Advertising and PR in London before completing an Art Degree at the London College of Printing as a mature student. After this I ran my own photography business before the birth of my son in 2005 who joined Longacre in Kindergarten.

I’m a classically trained, professional singer and many years ago (!) I started teaching singing at a couple of schools in-between gigs and session work, and Longacre was one of them! It was Longacre that inspired me to study a PGCE, to become a qualified teacher and where I gained the desire for children to experience the joy of music; the positivity, creativity and sense of achievement it imparts.

I was born and raised in South Africa. My love for nature and wildlife led me to study a BSC degree specialising in zoology and microbiology. During this time, I discovered I had a passion for teaching and so I went on to complete my PGCE. I have since worked in both junior and senior independent schools in South Africa, where I was the Academic Head of Natural Sciences and Head of Year.

Born and brought up in France to a French mother and an English father, I studied English at the University of Bordeaux then the University of Versailles while, at the same time, teaching English to adults and teenagers. During my studies, I took a gap year to work as a French teaching assistant in two secondary schools in Reading.

I can hardly remember life before Longacre as I started here in 2004 and can’t seem to keep away! I grew up in Northern Ireland where I completed a degree in Applied Languages. I moved to England for teacher training and a PGCE and decided to stay.

Life before Longacre Following my degree in RPE (Religion, Philosophy & Ethics), I knew I wanted to pursue my love of working with little ones. I gained Early Years experience in a rural forest school nursery outside Henley-on-Thames for a...

Before Longacre I worked at a prep school in Reigate. I was Head of French there for two years and taught children French from Reception to Year 6. Before that I was a Year 3 teacher, teaching all the core subjects and Humanities.

Life before Longacre: I have grown up surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Surrey and was lucky enough to complete my A Levels at Hurtwood House School in the Surrey Hills and so have always loved the area! During my...

After a trip around the world with my sister in 2014, I realised I wanted to work with children and be outside. I began volunteering with the Surrey Wildlife Trust and fell in love with Forest School. I trained with the Trust to become a Forest School Leader and I have helped with Forest School sessions all over the county.

Originally from Jersey, I was educated in England and went on to study Childcare at The London Montessori Centre and gained my Montessori International Diploma (NVQ level 4).  I then proceeded to work with Nursery aged children (aged 2-6 ) for most of my career and ran a nursery school in London before moving to Surrey to raise my family.

I have been a Primary School teacher for all my working life, apart from a brief foray into retail management when I first left school and worked for the John Lewis Partnership. I have had experience across the whole primary range, in both the maintained and independent sector.

Before joining Longacre, I was a Year 2 teacher at Danes Hill school for five years. Prior to that I worked in Years 5 and 6 at a school near Woking.

After completing my Primary Education degree at the University of Roehampton I began my career in a state school in Surrey teaching Reception. Since then I have worked across both the state and independent sectors teaching across the Early Years and Key Stage 1. Before joining Longacre, I worked at Newton Prep in Battersea teaching the Nursery class.

I spent many years working at a school in London, firstly as a teaching assistant while completely my degree and PGCE, before continuing at the school as a Year 2 class teacher. Early in 2020, I had my first child and until now have spent time with him and enjoying life after lockdown.

Originally from South Africa, I studied Graphic Design and enjoyed a successful advertising career. Becoming a mother changes your sense of purpose, which led me on an entrepreneurial path, in which time I established my freelance design consultancy, setup an extramural art and craft club at my daughter’s school and launched a socially driven “pop-up” art class, where I taught adults to paint.

After leaving university, I quickly realised that I wanted to pursue a career in education. I became a teaching assistant at a local primary school and completed my PCGE whilst working at the same school the following year. I then moved up to London and worked at a school in Chelsea as a Year 2 teacher for 3 years.

Originally from Wales, I studied for a combined honours degree in English and History followed by ten years working in London, initially in investment management and following a belated gap year travelling, I spent eight years working as a Business Analyst for Reuters.

Prior to working in education, I had a seven year career working for Network Rail. I was based in London in the IT department, working as a software analyst. Albeit, I chose a very different career than my actual desire, which was to teach and work with children. I finally decided to make  a career change and in 2011 I started as a Teaching Assistant here at Longacre, working with the exceptional Caroline Palmer, whom our fantastic Palmer Hall is named after.

Prior to joining Longacre School in September 2018 I worked at a local Primary School where I taught YrR, Yr1 and Yr2 over six years. In this time, I led PE and managed the Key Stage One team. Before qualifying as a teacher in 2012, I managed two private day nurseries and a Sure Start Children’s Centre.  Whilst working in these roles I studied part-time to achieve my degree and also had my two children.

After I achieved my NNEB, I have been lucky to have worked in a variety of places with young children. I started as a Nanny and then became a nursery leader and then a child minder, while I brought up my own children. In 2007 I became a Reception Teaching Assistant.

I joined Longacre in September 2008 and before this was studying to achieve my Level 3 Childcare Diploma. During this time, I experienced working with a variety of different age groups from Nursery to Form I. It was during my course that I discovered my passion for Early Years teaching.

From a very early age I have always wanted to work in the Early Years. I have been working with and teaching children for over 20 years! Each day is different but I find the Early Years especially rewarding. Being part of the crucial early stages and laying down foundations in order for them to grow into individuals is something special.

After attaining my NNEB I became a private nanny for many years before becoming a Nursery Manager of a day nursery. I joined the Longacre family as a parent when my three children started in Nursery through to Form VI. I was offered a job in Early Years when my youngest started in Reception and have worked in both Kindergarten and Nursery for the past 10 years.

I worked as an Administrator at the University of Surrey for eight years until I left in 2003 to have my first daughter. I then retrained as an Early Years Practitioner in 2008 and worked at a nursery in Cranleigh until I started my job at Longacre in 2014.

As a PE and Games teacher I think it is safe to assume that a passion for sport is evident. From a very young age my focus has always been on developing as a team sportsman and pursuing any opportunity to make my interests, my work. I studied Sports Science for 3 years at Brunel University and then worked as a personal trainer before realising my passion to work with children and help to develop their passion for sport.

I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors and design. During my time studying Design & engineering at Brunel University I got involved with the canoe club there that started my love for water sports. Following on from university I went to work for a design studio in London for a few years before deciding a  career change to something not at a desk was required!

I started my teaching career in London and moved to Guildford where I have enjoyed  teaching in many Surrey schools, both in the state and independent sector.

I started my career in banking, working closely with the public and taking on many roles before becoming a full-time mum in 1995.

After graduating with a degree in the History of the Fine and Decorative Arts, I initially worked in a London art gallery.  Although the job was interesting I felt that there was something missing so took a leap of faith and headed to Roehampton to complete a PGCE.