Welcome... I was delighted to welcome the following new teaching staff this year: Mr Stephen Campbell joins us as Head of English. Mr Campbell was educated at All Hallows RC School and the King’s School, Macclesfield and has an English degree and PGCE from the University of Bristol. Before joining Kingswood he was Head of KS4 English at the Garden International School in Kuala Lumpur (a highly respected international school), having previously taught at St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon. Mr Michael Haynes joins us in the new post of Head of Academic Music. Mr Haynes was educated at All Saints School, Bloxham and has an MA in Music from Jesus College, Cambridge. Before joining Kingswood he was Joint Subject Leader for Music at The High School for Girls in Gloucester, having previously been Director of Music at Marling School in Stroud. He has also taught at both Taunton School and Wycliffe College. Mrs Joanne Bruce joins us as a part-time teacher of Economics and Business Studies. Mrs Bruce is a graduate of the University of Bradford, holds a PGCE from Manchester University and, having worked for a few years in accountancy and recruitment consultancy, was teaching at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham before joining Kingswood. Mr Michael Foster joins us to teach English. Mr Foster attended St Brendan’s College, Bristol for his A levels and has a BA in English Language and Literature from Pembroke College, Oxford and a PGCE in English from Bath Spa University. Before joining Kingswood, Mr Foster lectured in English Language at SGS College, Bristol, having previously worked as an EAL teacher in China. Mr Jeffery Peabody joins us to teach Mathematics to cover Mrs Knight’s maternity leave. Mr Peabody was educated at Wells
Cathedral School, where he was a colleague of our Academic Deputy Head, Mrs Dawson, has a BEng from the City University London and a PGCE from Oxford Brookes University. Before joining Kingswood he was Deputy Head at All Hallows, Shepton Mallet having previously taught Mathematics and been a Housemaster at Wells Cathedral School, Head of Mathematics at Perrott Hill School, Crewkerne and teacher of Mathematics at Cokethorpe School, Witney. Before becoming a teacher, Mr Peabody was an Engineer with the RAF. Miss Nicola Sparks joins us to teach Chemistry. She has a degree in Chemistry from Reading University and a PGCE from Leicester. Before joining Kingswood, she taught at St Joseph’s Catholic College in Swindon. Mrs Janine Solomon-Gardner joins us as part-time teacher of ICT. Mrs Solomon-Gardner was educated at La Swap Sixth Form College, Camden, has a BA from the University of the West of England and a PGCE from Bath Spa University. Following her PGCE she taught part-time at Oldfield School. Mrs Elizabeth Ward joins us as part-time teacher of Drama. Mrs Ward was educated at Hurtwood House, Dorking, has a BA from Middlesex University and a PGCE from Edinburgh University. Before moving to the West Country she taught Drama at St George’s School for Girls, Edinburgh.
At the end of the Summer term we said farewell to... Mrs Jo Bruce (Economics and Business), Mr Chris Follett (Maths) and Mr Mike Foster (English), all of whom have given a great deal to the School in their short time with us.
Miss Harriet Wilson joins us to reach Religious Education. Miss Wilson was educated at Oundle School, has a BA in Religious Studies from Newcastle University and a Graduate Diploma in Law and LLB from Nottingham Law School. Miss Serena Guthrie, who coached netball for us last year, joins us as a full-time Sports Assistant, whilst ex-Kingswood student Miss Natasha Brand is this year’s Actor in Residence.
Mr Simon Morris (Headmaster) Kingswood in Focus 3