Salvete - welcome

Salvete

MRS VICTORIA DENNY MORLEY

Teacher of MFL and Acting Head of Year 8

Torie Denny-Morley started in January, so her first experience of teaching at Bedford Prep School was teaching remotely via Microsoft Teams. Torie is covering for Mrs Sarah Loader during her maternity leave, and has made herself invaluable. So much so, that she has been appointed as Head of Year 8 for the Autumn Term. Torie came to us from an educational role for a property Master Developer. Before that she worked for Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, mostly on the educational side. She held roles as Education and Training Manager and Cultural Adviser and Training Officer, including responsibility for training troops in Pashto and Dari in order to equip them to interact with locals in Afghanistan. She also wrote British Military cultural policy handbook for deployed troops and supported the military colleagues during the outbreak of Ebola in Sierra Leone. Torie attended Bancroft’s School,

MRS KASHTA DALE

Teacher of Computer Science

Kashta Dale started at Bedford Prep School in September as Teacher of Computer Science. Kashta has a 1st Class BA Hons from Canterbury Christ Church University in English Language and Communication and Fine Art and Applied Arts. She also gained a distinction in her PGCE at the same institution, with an English Specialism. She joined us from Spring West Academy in Feltham, where she had Excellent Teacher status. She was a Literacy, KS3 English and art teacher, a Year 8 tutor, and NQT mentor, as well as a Diversity and Equality team member. She has also been an ICT subject leader. Kashta lists her interests as Art (particularly printmaking and digital art from photography to more illustrative styles), Languages (she is currently learning German, Farsi and Spanish!) and Sport (she plays in a local netball team).

MISS CATHERINE DOHERTY

Art Technician

Catherine Doherty joined us as Art Technician in Autumn 2020 and has already made a hugely positive impact in the school, including helping to run the testing centre for Covid-19. She has a First Class degree in Fine Art from University of Creative Arts (Canterbury) and an Art & Design Foundation Diploma from Loughborough University. She also runs her own business, Catherine Doherty Fine Art, and the type of commissions she undertakes can be seen on her website: www.catherinedoherty14.wixsite.com/cdohertyart. She previously worked at Abbotswood Junior School in Hampshire as Administrative Assistant.

MS CHARLOTTE HEYWOOD

Deputy Headmaster

Charlotte Heywood joined the school in June, as Deputy Head. Charlotte was Assistant Headteacher at St Matthew’s Academy in Blackheath. In particular, she was responsible for raising progress, achievement and outcomes for Key Stage 4, and was Literacy Lead for all key stages (1-4). Prior to that she has been Director of English, Head of Year and Careers Co-ordinator. Charlotte was educated at St Dominic’s Priory School for Girls, where she gained A Levels in English Literature, French and Italian. She gained an Upper Second Class BA Hons degree in English Literature from Sheffield University, a PGCE with Secondary English from Manchester Metropolitan University and is currently studying a Senior Leader MBA at University of Salford. She has a keen interest in theatre and dramatic arts (she is LAMDA Speech and drama qualified to Grade 8). She ran Debate Mate club at St Matthew’s. Outside school, she plays netball and tennis.

MS RANIA KASHI

Teacher of Maths

Rania Kashi replaced Angela Travis as Maths Teacher in September. Rania has taught Maths for the last three years at Ark Academy in Wembley. Prior to teaching, Rania worked as an Account Manager and Senior Account Manager for a number of multi-national FMCG brands, including L’Oreal, Johnson and Johnson and KP Snacks. She has an Upper Second Class degree from Cambridge University and a PGCE from Goldsmith’s University. Her Interests include modern history and international politics, particularly Middle Eastern and South Asian. She is fluent in Arabic and Hindi and an expert sugar-crafter and cake decorator. She will be sharing some of those interests, in the form of activities, with the boys.

Salvete

MR DANIEL MASON

Teacher of Science and Head of Hockey

Daniel Mason joined the Science Department in September. Dan has come from Hitchin Boys School where he taught Science, was Director of Cricket, Head of Radcliffe House and EPQ co-ordinator. He also coaches the Ladies’ 1st and 2nd XI at Bedfordshire Hockey Club. He has an Upper Second Class Bachelor of Science degree and an MSc from Loughborough University and a QTS from Hertfordshire University. As well as coaching sport to a high level, he is also an excellent sportsman himself, having played National League Hockey at Cambridge, Bedford and Belper Hockey Clubs; he is also a club cricketer and a squash player. He will also take charge of Hockey at Bedford Prep School and is a Norwich City supporter!

MISS MOLLY ORME

Teacher of Latin

Molly Orme went to Wolverhampton Girls High School where she did A Levels in Classical Civilisation, Maths , Music, RE and Theatre Studies. She gained an Upper Second Class BA Hons in Classical Studies and Creative Writing from University of Wales, an MA in Antiquity with Ancient Greek language from University of Birmingham, and has just finished her PGCE with Latin at University of Sussex. She will be covering Madame Comani whilst she is on maternity leave and started at the school in June 2021.

MR SAM POWELL

Head of Year 3 and Year 4

Sam Powell has joined the school from Dulwich College, Singapore where he was a Head of House (which includes 200 pupils and 20 staff) and a Y4 and a Y5 class teacher. He has previously taught at Cheltenham College Prep and LVS in Ascot where he had experience in a boarding house. He is a Level 2 cricket coach, and represented Cambridgeshire up to u25 level; he coaches rugby and hockey, and plays golf off a 9 handicap. He has also directed plays and productions in all schools he has taught at, and has run debating and public speaking clubs. Sam went to the Perse School in Cambridge, where he did English, Psychology and Class Civ A Levels. He has a 1st class degree from Anglia Ruskin University in Education Studies, and a PGCE from the University of Bedfordshire.

MR GREG THOMAS

Director of Studies

Greg Thomas started in September as our new Director of Studies. Greg joined us from Swanbourne House School, where he was English Faculty Leader, and Teaching and Learning Co-ordinator. His roles included mentoring PGCE students and Newly Qualified Teachers as well as developing teaching and learning in the school. He has previously run an English department at Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School, and was Head of KS4 English at John Hampden Grammar School, which he attended himself as a boy. He studied Art, History and English for A Level, and gained an Upper Second Class BA Honours in American Studies from Keele University and a GTP from Reading University. He coached rugby, cricket and football at Swanbourne House, and plays football and cricket for local teams outside school. He played badminton to a high level in his teens. He has run and been involved with a number of extracurricular trips in various schools. Greg is also a member of the Little Horwood Parish Council.

MRS CHARLOTTE WALKER

Teacher of Maths and Science

Charlie Walker joined Bedford Prep School in April, to teach Maths and Science. She was the outstanding candidate in a very strong field. Charlie previously taught at Etonbury Academy where she was a Year 6 class teacher, and Head of Science in the primary part of the school (having previously taught Science at secondary level). She attended Dame Alice Harpur School and Hitchin Girls School, where she studied A Levels in Maths, Physics and Chemistry. She has an Upper Second class degree from the University of Bedfordshire.