LEADERSHIP TEAM

JANELLA AJEIGBE

Headteacher

BA (Primary Education), Brunel University; NPQH

 

Mrs Ajeigbe joined Churchill Gardens in September 2016 from the outstanding Sir John Cass Foundation School, where she was Assistant Headteacher and ran a mathematics study group to develop the subject knowledge of teachers across the capital.  She was first attracted to Churchill Gardens by its commitment to delivering a knowledge-led education that will allow all children to succeed, regardless of their background.  Just over a year after joining, she still loves working here because of our enthusiastic pupils, dedicated staff, loyal parents – and huge playground.  Outside school, she watches sport (enthusiastically), visits libraries (avidly) and plays the violin (badly!).

 

RACHEL FURNESS

Deputy Headteacher

BSc (Psychology with Theatre Studies), University of Glamorgan; PGDip (Dramatherapy), Roehampton University; PGCE, London Metropolitan University

 

Miss Furness was Assistant Headteacher and Head of EYFS at Christ Church (Brondesbury) CE Primary School before she came to Churchill Gardens as Deputy Headteacher.  In this role, she strives to ensure that every child receives an excellent education that sets them up to become successful and articulate life-long learners.  She believes that at Churchill Gardens, we are creating a school community where children have high aspirations for themselves and, just as importantly, receive the individual attention, rigorous teaching and pastoral support that they need to realise those ambitions.

 

GARY AUBIN
Director of SEND

BA (Drama), University of Manchester; PGCE, Royal School of Speech and Drama; PGC (Development Management), Open University; PGC (National Award for SEN Coordination), UCL Institute of Education; MA (Special and Inclusive Education), UCL Institute of Education

Mr Aubin is the Director of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities at Future Academies, and is based part-time at Churchill Gardens to oversee the support we offer for those with SEND.  His background in secondary education allows him to ensure that we help our children to develop the academic and social habits that will provide them with a smooth transition to secondary school.  Before training in special educational needs, Gary’s career as a drama teacher took him as far afield as Hong Kong!  He is an Arsenal fan, a cyclist and a keen marathon runner.

 

ANTONY SMITH

Behaviour, Ethos and Staff Development Lead

BA, MSt, DPhil (Classics), Corpus Christi College, Oxford

 

Dr Smith joined Churchill Gardens in October 2017, having previously taught in a range of primary and secondary schools, both within and outside the Future Academies family.  He has particular responsibility for maintaining a calm and purposeful learning environment where every child knows that they are valued, both by their teachers and by their peers.  His background is as a professional classicist with particular expertise in ancient approaches to anger management; he still holds a stipendiary lectureship at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he recently won a university-wide teaching award for outstanding pastoral care.

 

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TEACHERS

KEY STAGE 2

 

TAMARA SPRING

KS2 Phase Leader

BSc (Psychology), Goldsmiths, University of London; PGCE, South Bank University

 

Ms Spring has only worked at Churchill Gardens: she first came to the school as a student on a teaching placement in 2002, and has been here ever since!  As Key Stage 2 Lead, she is determined to ensure that all children develop an enduring love of learning and an unwavering commitment to achieving their potential.  She enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for museums, historical sites, theatres and art galleries with children.  Since completing her PGCE, she has undertaken further study in the field of speech, language and communication needs.

 

CLAIRE LE NEVEU

Resource Base Lead and Y5/6 Resource Base Teacher

BA (English), University of Wales, Aberystwyth; PGCE, UCW, Aberystwyth; Postgraduate Certificate (Teaching of Shakespeare), University of Warwick

 

Mrs Le Neveu has a wealth of experience in a number of London primary schools and a strong belief that effective primary education is the basis for a successful life: if you help children to lay strong foundations, you give them the chance to make choices about their futures – and that’s worth getting out of bed in the morning for.  She enjoys reading, cycling and walking.

 

IAN YOGA

Year 6 Teacher

MPharm (Pharmacy), University College, London

 

Mr Yoga joined the Year 6 team at Churchill Gardens in September 2017 from Pimlico Primary.  He is a science specialist, having studied pharmacy at University College, London, but is fascinated by world cultures and religions.  He enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for education and his thirst for knowledge with young people, and is also a keen football and rugby coach.

 

CATHERINE WHITEHEAD

Year 5 Teacher and Reading Co-ordinator/Librarian

BEd (Hons) (Education), Hertfordshire College of Higher Education; MA (Children’s Literature), Roehampton University

 

Mrs Whitehead is passionate about children’s books: she loves seeing the children she teaches getting excited about reading, and greatly enjoys children across the school making regular use of the library she was instrumental in setting up.  Her teaching career has largely been spent in London but it has taken her as far afield as New York City, where she spent three years at The Cathedral School.  Outside school, Mrs Whitehead sings in a choir, and also enjoys swimming and playing tennis.

 

CATRIONA COLLETT

Year 3 & 4 Resource Base Teacher

BEd, University of Pretoria; BEd (Hons in Deaf Education), University of Witwatersrand

 

Miss Collett, who previously taught in Walthamstow, loves teaching at Churchill Gardens because of the children’s thirst for knowledge and their inquisitive natures; by teaching them a knowledge-rich curriculum, she is able not only to satisfy their great enthusiasms and interests but also to help them to fulfil their potential.  This makes every day at Churchill Gardens exciting!  Outside school, Ms Collett enjoys yoga and cycling.

 

LAURA GREEN

Year 4 Teacher

BA (History), University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne; PGCE (Primary), UCL Institute of Education; MA (History), University of Leeds

 

Miss Green joined Churchill Gardens in October 2017 after completing postgraduate study in history at the University of Leeds.  She had previously trained as a teacher with the Teach First programme, where she worked at Oasis Academy Hadley.  She believes that your passion for a subject often derives from your experience of it at primary school, so she is determined to make her lessons exciting, enjoyable and rigorous.  She has keen interests in reading, history, politics, volunteering and netball.

 

CHARLES WILD
Year 3 Teacher
BA (Archaeology & Anthropology), Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge; MA (African Studies), SOAS, University of London

Mr Wild came to Churchill Gardens from the University of Cambridge via Teach First, postgraduate study at SOAS and two previous teaching positions in Newham primary schools.  He believes in working hard and learning as much as you can, and he enjoys helping children realise their potential by doing just that.  During the holidays, he can be found in high-up places in Scotland or the Alps, climbing mountains and swimming in lakes.

 

EDMUND BRIDGES

KS2 Latin and Year 5 History Teacher

BA (Classics), MSt (Latin and Greek Languages and Literature), Magdalen College, Oxford

 

Mr Bridges studied Classics at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he held a choral scholarship.  He then worked as a professional singer at Christ Church, Oxford’s cathedral church, before joining Future Academies to train to teach on the Pimlico-London SCITT.  He now teaches Latin and ancient history at Churchill Gardens, and also likes to support the school's musical life.

 

PAULINA JUREK

KS2 Maths Teacher

BA (Pedagogy), State University of Applied Sciences, Nowy Sacz; MA (Bilingual Translation), University of Westminster

Mrs Jurek joined Churchill Gardens in September 2017 from Winsor Primary School.  Although her undergraduate study focused on teaching English as a foreign language and her postgraduate degree was in bilingual translation, she has since developed a fascination with maths and astronomy; her role as our KS2 maths specialist gives her the chance to develop the same enthusiasm in our children, as well as to give them the strongest possible foundations in numeracy.  Outside school, she is a keen cyclist and hiker, and is a great fan of Prof. Brian Cox.

  

REBECCA RAYNER

P.E. Teacher

BSc (Sports Science & Education), Brunel University

 

Miss Rayner joined Churchill Gardens in 2017 from Phoenix Academy, another member of the Future Academies family.  She is a keen sportswoman, with a particular enthusiasm for netball and running.  She is passionate about promoting the advantages of a healthy, active lifestyle, and is working to gain Healthy Schools accreditation for the Academy.

 

CECILE TALAIRACH

KS2 French Teacher

Bachelor’s Degree (Foreign Applied Linguistics), University of Aix-Marseille; MA (PR & Corporate Communications), University of Greenwich

 

Miss Talairach is a French native speaker who is passionate about different languages and different cultures: she speaks four languages and has attended universities in three countries!  She worked for several years at two major international PR agencies in London before embarking on her teaching career.  Alongside her role at Churchill Gardens, she teaches at two of Future Academies’ other schools, Pimlico Academy and Pimlico Primary.

 

CALYSSA DAVIDSON

KS2 Music Teacher

BMus, MPerf, Royal College of Music

 

Miss Davidson is not only a committed teacher dedicated to nurturing children’s enthusiasm and talent for making music, but also a professional violinist.  She has toured internationally with major orchestras and bands, and performed alongside rock star Rick Springfield in a concert broadcast on six major US television networks.  She has a particular expertise in music for TV and films; she was leader of the RCM Film Orchestra and has composed for a number of major BBC documentaries.   She is a winner of the Leni Fe Bland Award, as well as numerous scholarships during her studies at the Royal College of Music.

 

KEY STAGE 1

 

STEPHANIE HOWARD

KS1 Phase Leader & KS1 Resource Base Teacher

BSc (Biological Sciences), Coventry University

 

Miss Howard studied biology at university before embarking on her teaching career in Lincolnshire.  On moving to the capital, she worked in north London before joining Churchill Gardens in 2014.  The most rewarding part of her role is seeing the phenomenal progress that, with effective teaching, children can make in a single year.  As phase leader, she is determined to ensure that all children achieve this success while enjoying their time in KS1.

 

 

SARAH GALE
Year 2 Teacher

BA (Education), University of York; PGCE (Primary Education), University of Exeter

 

Miss Gale began working at Churchill Gardens in September 2016 after studying education at the Universities of York and Exeter.  She enjoys teaching Key Stage 1 because of the many opportunities to nurture a love of learning and to help students to develop both academically and socially.  Outside school, she enjoys baking sweet treats, hiking and exploring the great outdoors.

 

EARLY YEARS & FOUNDATION STAGE

 

FARAH HAI-LAVIN

EYFS Lead

BA (Psychology and Social Studies), University of Bedfordshire; PGCE, University of North London

 

Mrs Hai-Lavin’s undergraduate and postgraduate study focused on child psychology and raising attainment among students from ethnic minority backgrounds, including those who speak English as an additional language.  Since then, she has amassed about twenty years’ experience teaching children, supporting their families and raising standards of attainment in a range of EYFS settings, most recently at the outstanding Sir John Cass Foundation Primary School.

 

ROSIE ALLEN

Reception Teacher

BA (Early Childhood Studies), University of Plymouth; PGCE, Oxford Brookes University

 

Since joining the Academy in September 2016, Miss Allen has been committed to giving the children in her care a variety of experiences that will develop their interest in, and enjoyment of, learning.  She finds watching them develop and achieve their potential highly rewarding.  Outside school, she likes going to, and walking by, the beach, as well as sightseeing and reading.

 

MONICA MOLINS

Nursery Teacher

Degree (Early Years & Primary Education), International University of Cataluña, Spain

 

Miss Molins joined Churchill Gardens in September 2016 after studying education in her native Spain and with experience in a number of state and independent primary schools in the UK.  She believes that teachers are some of the most influential leaders in society and that it is essential for the youngest children to have positive role models so that they develop caring personalities and a responsible attitude to learning.  She enjoys learning about other cultures and sharing this knowledge with her students.

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SUPPORT STAFF

 

KEY STAGE 2
Mrs Ferrin
Miss S Creegan
Mrs Elouassi
Miss Suddaby
Mrs Walsh
Mr Seebach

Mr Nicholas

 

KEY STAGE 1

Miss Agbettor

Miss Alves
Ms Graham
Miss L Creegan
Ms Garcia
Mrs Haque
Mr Jones

 

EARLY YEARS & FOUNDATION STAGE

Mrs Barry
Miss W Creegan
Ms Williams
Miss Nobrega
Mrs Ohwariovbe

Mrs Cela
 

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ADMINISTRATION, IT, PREMISES & CATERING STAFF

Mrs Creegan
Bursar

Mr Ali
School Caretaker

Mrs McCormack
School Administrator

Mr Cornelius
IT Technician

Mrs Walsh
Mrs Begum
Mrs Abdikarin
Mrs Smith
Mrs Henry
Mrs Yusuf
Ms Trivic

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APPRENTICES & VOLUNTEERS

Mr Srinivas
Miss Lubinga

Mr Liburd
Mr Carter
Mr Mullens
Mrs Lagneau