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

My career has been varied and I’m now about to start my 30th year as a teacher. After uni, I became Head of Geography at Felsted Preparatory School in Essex. Having spent seven happy years there, getting married and three children later, we decided to head back to Sussex. I have been married to my wife Donna for 29 years and have three grown-up children: Oliver who is an architect in Bath, Kate who has just joined Sussex police, and Tom who is a very successful letting agent in Lewes.

I became Head of Geography and Pastoral Deputy Head at Handcross Park School. This was a 10-year stint before trying my hand in the State sector, becoming Deputy Head and Year 6 class teacher at a small primary school.

I have since split my teaching career between prep schools and primary schools, including Newlands School in Seaford and Bedes Prep in Eastbourne. Before and during Covid, I was Head of Geography and Senior Master at Ashdown House School. My last teaching position was as a Year 5 class teacher at another small primary school.

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

Pupils and colleagues would all say that I like to have a laugh, that my lessons are fun (mostly) and that I can mostly get the best out of those who I teach. Colleagues would say I am caring and good at listening and a team player.

What drew you to become a teacher and what it is you enjoy most about teaching Geography?

Teaching is my passion, as is Geography. I was so inspired by my own prep school Geography teacher, who made the lessons interesting, that I invited him to my wedding!

Geography (more than ever today) is such an important subject. Topics that are relevant to today such as climate change, water availability, natural resources, and more are much easier understood by those who know Geography well. So, I strive to inspire the same interest and love of the subject in those who I teach.

You'll be teaching years 3 to 8. Tell us how you'll differentiate your teaching for these age groups?

Teaching Years 3 to 8 has specific challenges: not only do you have to adapt your language and vocabulary but also remember that the younger children probably will not get through as much as a Year 8 pupil, (although not always!). Adaptability is a key skill of a teacher.

Why have you chosen to work in the independent sector now and what are you looking forward to?

Having worked in both the state and private sector, it seems that at present there is very little individualism in teaching in the state primary sector. Too many subjects, not enough time, leaders in school and at county breathing down your neck and waiting to pounce. Like robots we teach the same subjects as dictated by ‘the scheme’.

That’s really why I have chosen to return to the independent sector after a few years in the state sector, as it is what I love: the freedom to creatively teach a subject I am passionate about, to children who are eager to learn. To be able to teach the best subject in the curriculum (Geography!) and to a high level at CE and PSS is what I do best!

What appealed to you about working at Sompting Abbotts given the point of your professional career at which you find yourself right now?

I was attracted to Sompting Abbotts as it is small, family school. I knew when I drove through the entrance that this was the school for me, and thankfully the school agreed. Walking through the front door, I immediately felt at home. As a young prep schoolboy, I remember visiting Sompting Abbotts for matches and one of my best friend in Senior School was a pupil here. The school is very much a family school, and with its small classes, strong ethos and friendly staff and children, I think I will fit in well here.