On completion of my PGCE at Leeds University, I decided to combine my love of travel with my teaching qualification and spent several years teaching English in boarding schools in Turkey, Botswana and Japan. My return to the British education system took me to Canterbury and I worked in various roles at The King’s School, latterly as Senior Housemistress.

In 2018, I joined St Edmund’s School as Senior Deputy Head, Pastoral, and I am very proud to lead such a dedicated and inspiring pastoral team. I quickly became accustomed to the unpretentious family ethos of the school, where every pupil is known, valued and given opportunities to flourish.

I continue to teach English to GCSE and A level and think it is important for school leaders to maintain teaching commitments and get to know a range of pupils in the classroom setting. I have a Masters in Character Education from Birmingham University and aim to provide opportunities for character development beyond the classroom – this takes the form of establishing pupil groups such as the prefects, peer listeners and the student voice.

Pastoral care is about preparing the pupils for the tests of life, rather than a life of tests and our wonderful pastoral team is committed to doing just that.