Staff & Governors

Miss Olivia Bicknell
BA (University of Reading) PGCE (Cambridge) – Head of Latin
Mrs Heather Bond
BA Hons French and Spanish (Middlesex), PGCE (Portsmouth), CELTA (City of Cambridge College) – Head of Modern Foreign Languages
Mrs Stacey Boyland
BSc (Hons)(Portsmouth) PGCS (Portsmouth) – Science Teacher
Mrs Jane Browning
MA (Exeter), BA (Hons), PGCE (Portsmouth) – Head of RE, PSHE, English Teacher
Mrs H Brimble
MA Ed (Winchester), PGCE (Portsmouth), PGC SENCO (Winchester) – Head of Seniors Learning Support
Mr David Harding
BEng (Hons) Southampton – Head of Computer Science & Digital Learning
Mr George Harris
BA(Hons) (Chichester) PGCE – Head of History, Careers and Further Education Coordinator
Mr James Hoad
BSC (Portsmouth), PGCE (Portsmouth) – Head of Design and Technology – Teacher of Science – Form Teacher Year 11
Mrs Laura Hoad
BSc (Hons) (Sussex), PGCE (Portsmouth) Head of Science – Form Tutor Year 11
Mrs Belinda Kelly
Science Teacher
Mr Dan Leonard
BSc (Hons) (Portsmouth) PGCE (Portsmouth) – Science, 2nd in Department
Miss Sophie Kempson
BA(Hons)(Chichester) – Teacher of Physical Education & Games – Pastoral Co-Ordinator
Mrs Penny A Metcalfe
BA(Hons) (NE London Poly) – Head of Art – Form Teacher
Mrs Yvonne Morris
PGCE (Portsmouth) BA (Hons) – Mathematics 2nd in Dept -Form Teacher
Mrs Michelle Nellist
BA (Hons)(University of Whitwatersrand) – Maths and Learning Support – Form Teacher
Mrs Karren Roberts
Head of English and Form Tutor
Ms Nicola J Rose
MA (Brighton Poly), BA (Hons)(Kent) PGCE (Open) – Art – Form Tutor
Miss Louise Small
BSc (Hons) PGCE MA in PE – PE & Games Teacher
Ms Katy Snow
BA (Hons), PGCE – English 2nd in Dept – Form Teacher
Ms Rachel Standen
BA (University of London – Goldsmiths College) – Learning Support Teacher
Mrs Lana Surgeons
BSc (Hons) (UCL), MRes (UCL), PGCE (Portsmouth) -Science Teacher
Mrs Mel Tillings
BSc (Hons) (West Surrey College), PGCE (Portsmouth) – English Teacher & Form Tutor Year 7 (Form 2)
Mrs Rose Turner
BSc (Hons), MA, PGCE – Head of Geography
Mr Graham E Vaudrey
BA(Hons) (Chichester) – Head of Physical Education
Mr James Walton
BSc (Gloustershire) PGCE (Griffth, Brisbane) – Teacher of Physical Education and Games, Teacher of Science
Mrs Susie Wey
BA (Hons) (London), PGCE (Open) – Head of Drama – Teacher of English Year 8 – Form Teacher Year 10
Mrs Sarah Whittle
BSC (Hons)(Portsmouth), PGCE, PGDip (Maths Education) – Head of Maths
Mr Kevin Wild
Teacher MFL – Form Teacher Year 9
Mr Edward W G Williamson
MMus (Surrey), BMus(Hons)(Cardiff) – Head of Music

Mr Roland Ainsworth
BSc (Hons), PGCE (Winchester) – Deputy Head of Juniors – Class Teacher Year 6
Mrs Louise Atkinson
BSc Combined Hons Geography/Geology (Exeter), PGCE (Westminster College) – Class Teacher Lower Juniors LJA
Miss Caroline Blackey
BA (QTS) Hons, Brunel University – Junior Entrance Assessment and Supply Teacher
Miss Kate Dunleavy
BSc (Hons) Geography (Portsmouth), PGCE (St Mary’s University College Twickenham) – Class Teacher Year 4
Mrs Belinda Fifield
BEd (Hons) (Southampton), Dip SpLD (Dyslexia), ATS-BDA, ACoT, PATOSS AAA, PATOSS PPAR (University of South Wales) – Head of Learning Support (Juniors)
Mrs Julie Leighton
BA (Hons) (QTS) (Warwick) – Music
Mr Matthew Livingston
BSc (Hons) (Worcester) PGCE with QTS (Winchester) – Class teacher Year 3
Mrs Julie Mothersele
BA (Hons) (Chichester), PGCE (Chichester) – Class Teacher Year 6 & English Year 7
Mrs Kate Newton
BSc Hons (Bath SPA), PGCE (London South Bank) – Class Teacher Year 3
Mrs Jane O’Hara
BEd(Hons) (Chichester) – Class Teacher Year 5
Mrs Anna Somerville
BA Hons, (QTS) ELSA – Class Teacher Year 1
Miss Lydia Stevenson
BEd Hons  (Winchester) Class Teacher Reception
Mrs Rachel J Tanner
LL.B(Hons) (UCL), PGCE (Canterbury) – PSHE Juniors – Class Teacher Year 4
Mrs K Vaughan-Carpenter
BA English Literature and Media Studies with Primary Education – Class Teacher, Middles MJVC
Mrs Kirstin Witte
MA (Hons) (Glasgow), PGCE (Chichester) – Head of Key Stage 1 and EYFS – Class Teacher Year 2
Ms Tracey Leadbeter-Zee
Teaching Assistant
Mrs Emma Mason
Teaching Assistant
Mrs Claire Falla
Teaching Assistant and Part-Time Morning Club Supervisor

Mr Giles Ashley-Down
Estate Supervisor (Operations)
Mrs Louise Bowen
Deputy Bursar
Mrs Kate Brickwood
Finance Assistant and Purchase Ledger Clerk
Mrs Victoria Bridge
Headmaster’s PA & Office Manager
Mr Jeremy Bullen
BA (Hons), (MSc) (Portsmouth), PGCE (Chichester) – Cover Supervisor
Mr Alun Castle
Estate Assistant
Mrs Judith Coombes
School Secretary
Mrs Karen Coombes
Catering Assistant
Mr Ryan Cracknell
BTEC, TMIET ICTTech, CCENT- IT Technical Manager
Ms Gill Davies
BA (Hons) (Portsmouth) – Librarian and Exams Officer
Mr Jeremy Gray
Caretaker, Site Security
Mrs Sue Hughes
Marketing Assistant & Events Co-ordinator
Mr Philip Loader
2nd Chef
Ms Louisa Martin
CIPD – HR Manager
Mrs Emma Overend
After School Care Supervisor
Mrs Lisa Macey
After School Club Supervisor (Seniors)
Mr M Mitas
MCSA, DipMS – Head of IT (Communications and Infrastructure)
Mrs Carrie Munday
Well-being Coordinator
Mr Paul Nicholas
Art & DT Technician
Mrs Elaine Pepperman
BSc (Open) BTEC – Science Technician
Mrs Jackie Sueref
BA (Hons) (University of Leeds) PGSC (University of Hull) – After School Care Supervisor (Seniors)
Mr Adrian Trewhella
Estate Bursar
Mrs Francesca Ward
Receptionist/Secretary
Mr Mark Philips
Duke of Edinburgh Scheme Co-ordinator
Mrs Leanne Williams
Food Services Assistant

Mrs Gemma Billington
BA(Hons) (Bristol) – Woodwind
Mrs S Blackman
BAF, BFA – Fencing Coach
Mr Mitch Callow
BEd – Guitar
Embers Bushcraft (Ian Gosling)
Bushcraft Skills
Mr P Hamilton
Judo Coach
Mrs Jenny de Jongh
Dip GSA BA(Hons) (Surrey) Webber Douglas Academy (Post Grad), Guildhall School of Music & Drama, ALC, AALT – Speech & Drama Teacher
Miss Tracy Dean
GLCM (London) – Piano
Mrs Bridget Holton
LRAM, LTCL, CertEd – Brass
Mr Harun Kotch
Guitar
Mrs Elizabeth Read
BSc (UWE Bristol) SLS – Singing
Mr Darren Reeves
Piano
Mr John Roberts
BTech National Dip, DMI – Drums
Miss Michele Scopes
BMus(Hons) PGCE – Violin
Mr N Sharratt
Golf Coach
Mr William Waine
BA(Hons)(Oxford) – Singing

Chair of Governors – Chair of the Education Sub-Committee and Designated Governor for the Creative Arts

Roger became a Governor in 2019. A prize-winning student of Trinity College of Music, he held appointments at Southwark Cathedral, Christchurch Priory and Wimborne Minster and was for ten years an examiner for Trinity College. As an educationalist, his entire 42-year teaching career was in the independent school sector, including 21 years as a Headmaster, firstly at a boarding school in London, then at a day/boarding cathedral school in Kent. He was Chairman of the Choir Schools’ Association from 2011-2014, a member of the Independent Association of Prep Schools Council from 2016-2018, served on the Liturgy and Music Committee at Rochester Cathedral and was a Governor at St Michael’s School, Otford. He is committed to getting the best out of children in their education at whatever level, is a champion for the arts and fully supports the need to equip young people with the necessary technical skills required for their future life. He is married and lives in South Harting where he is actively involved in voluntary work within the village.

Chris has been a Governor at Ditcham since October 2008. For the last 32 years, Chris has been Managing Director of a five-generation family jewellery business in Petersfield. Through his profession, his participation in three Olympic cycles within England’s and Team GB’s hockey programme, and his current position as president of Havant Hockey Club, he has acquired key skills in performance management, motivation and team leadership. A strong understanding in marketing and building a brand image has enabled Chris to contribute to the School as Chairman of the Marketing Sub Committee and has been a member of the Buildings Sub Committee. Chris is married with four children, his youngest daughter joined in Reception and completed her GCSEs in 2023 and his youngest son left Ditcham after taking his GCSEs with a well-rounded education.

Caroline joined the Council of Governors in March 2022. She graduated in 1993 with a degree in law and completed the Law Society’s Legal Practice Course in 1994. She spent the early part of her career working in the legal departments of a number of hi-tech companies including BAeSEMA, Cray Systems, Hewlett Packard and Amdahl, before making a change of direction and qualifying as a teacher in 2004. From 2004 – 2016, Caroline taught A level law in a number of Hampshire colleges of further education, in addition to being an examiner for the OCR examination board. In 2016 she moved to teaching law at undergraduate level at the University of Portsmouth and has taught a number of legal topics including contract law, land law, business and employment law. Caroline is currently the admissions tutor for the undergraduate law programmes at the University in addition to being the lead pastoral tutor for the first-year law students.

Caroline and her husband live locally in the Meon Valley and sent both of their children to Ditcham Park School from 2008-2016. Their son Thomas was Head Boy at the school in 2013/14 and their daughter Laura was Music Captain in 2015/16. Caroline enjoys riding in her spare time with her daughter Laura and is an avid bookworm and passionate about music and the arts.

(Member of the Education Sub-Committee and Designated Governor for Child Protection)

Linda graduated from Leicester in 1983 with a degree in History and Politics.  She joined Marathon Oil as a Graduate Trainee, moving on to run the London sales office of a major supplier to Marks and Spencer before becoming Logistics Manager at Alfred Dunhill Ltd.  In the mid-1990s Linda trained to become a teacher.  Her entire teaching career was spent at Eggar’s School in Alton, where she was a classroom teacher of History.  Linda enjoyed many roles at Eggar’s; she was SENDCo from 2004, and a member of the Leadership Team from 2007 following her promotion to the post of Assistant Headteacher.  Linda’s Senior Leadership responsibilities included Safeguarding Lead and Designated Teacher for looked-after, vulnerable and disadvantaged students.  Linda has extensive experience of working with children and families, Children’s Services, the Police, the NHS and many other agencies.

Linda continues to live locally, and since her retirement has retained her connection with Eggar’s School as a School Governor.  In her spare time Linda enjoys cooking, reading and walking.  She also loves music, art, the cinema and theatre.

(Member of the Finance & Personnel Sub-Committee)

Nalini graduated in Mathematics and joined IBM shortly afterwards. She worked within IBM for 30 years, holding several managerial and professional positions in Finance and Operations. She currently works as the European Finance Lead for a privately owned Fin-Tech company in London. Nalini qualified as a Chartered Accountant more than 20 years ago. She is married, and her son was a pupil at Ditcham Park School from 2012 to 2017; during this time Nalini was an active member of the Friends of Ditcham Park School and for the final 2 years was the FDPS Secretary. Outside of work Nalini enjoys travelling, playing bridge, paper crafting and cooking.

(Member of Building Sub-Committee)

Jonathon in his words “is an adman”, having worked internationally for two of the largest groups, Publicis and WPP.   In 2008, in the “eye” of the recession, he set up his own agency Adlabs Global and, at around the same time, got married and became a father to twin daughters.  Jonathan is a director of Chapter Management, an international talent agency and a partner in JX2 London, a business helping entrepreneurs gain access to investment or expertise.

Jonathon was educated at Stowe and has recently stepped down as Chair of the Old Stoic Society and Board of Governors. He is a founding Trustee of the Old Stoic Benevolent Fund, which assists “Old Stoics” who are in need of financial or practical help, particularly pertinent in this current climate.

Jonathon’s daughters continue to flourish in Ditcham Juniors, having joined in Reception Class some years ago.   Jonathan’s hobbies include guitar playing (including at Abbey Road!) and he has a music studio at home.  He is a keen open water swimmer, and his love of the water extends to being on it also, sailing whenever he has the opportunity.

(Member of Building Sub Committee)

Gethin became a Governor at Ditcham in May 2015. Since graduating from Aberystwyth University in 1997, Gethin has worked for the NHS. He is the Chief Operating Officer at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, the local health board of NHS Wales for Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Bridgend in the south of Wales. Gethin joined the Council of Governors with a strong interest in workforce and organisational development. Gethin is married and has a daughter who joined in Reception and who completed her GCSEs in 2023.

(Member of Education Sub Committee)

Rebecca has worked in a number of Hampshire schools over the past 10 years and is currently working for the Local Authority running an education intervention service for young people who are unable to attend school.  As a teacher of English and Geography, Rebecca has wide experience of school leadership in schools facing a range of different circumstances in senior leadership including as headteacher.

Louise graduated from Edinburgh University in 1999 with a BSc in Biological Sciences and then completed a PhD in Molecular Virology at Cambridge University. In 2007 she qualified as a UK and European Patent Attorney specialising in medical and biological inventions with a practice focused on European opposition and appeals for global pharmaceutical companies.  Louise was awarded a national prize for best performance in one of the professional exam papers and was an in-house tutor for other trainee attorneys.

Following the birth of her first child, and while living in Scotland, Louise became a private tutor for Higher and Standard Grade pupils. Louise is currently a stay-at-home parent to her three children, all of whom are schooled at Ditcham Park.  Since joining Ditcham Park as a parent in 2017, Louise has volunteered as a Parent Year Group Representative for two years, has run the successful school Scholastic Book Fair and is an active member of the Friends of Ditcham Park School.

(Member of the Education Committees)

Andy graduated from the University of Salford with a joint honours degree in mathematics and physics and entered Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in September 1980.  During his career in the Royal Navy where he specialised in training, leadership, and management, Andy undertook a number of senior positions including Naval Service Recruiting Operations Manager and Director of Training for an establishment of seven Royal Navy schools.  Following retirement from the Navy, he worked as Bursar and Clerk to the Governors of St Hugh’s School, Oxfordshire and as the Director of Training at the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools.  Andy joined the Council of Governors at Ditcham Park in November 2022. Andrew is a member of the Education Sub Committee.

(Chair of the Finance & Personnel Sub-Committee)

Graham Seddon joined the Council of Governors in November 2019. Graham is a Chartered Accountant, a qualification achieved aged 23, whilst working for Menzies. Graham was made Menzies’ youngest ever partner in the firm at age 29, with roles including Head of Business Advisory, Office Principle (Leatherhead) and Head of Digital Strategy. Graham left his position as a Board member to start up his own business, Altitude, earlier in 2019.  Graham is experienced working with charities and is currently a Trustee and Chair for Finance & Risk at Disability Challengers – a charity that covers Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex. He is also Treasurer for Godalming Theatre Group, where his wife Jenny is an active performer and director for the group. Graham has 2 children, Samuel aged 11 and Olivia aged 9, who are educated at Royal Grammar School in Guildford and Saint Hillary’s Prep School in Godalming respectively. Graham is a sports fanatic with particular interests in football and skiing.

(Member of the Finance & Personnel Sub-Committee and Designated Governor for Data Protection)

Peter worked for Lloyds Bank for his entire 37-year career, joining them straight from school at Churcher’s College.  He gained his professional ACIB qualifications through vocational study.  In that time Peter worked in both Retail and Wholesale Banking across the branch network, his final 10 years involved retraining in change management principles, and by the date of his retirement in 2011 he led a large team of project managers working on various IT change programmes.

Following his retirement from banking, between 2011 and September 2020 Peter worked at Ditcham Park as a part-time hockey coach.  A lifelong hockey player he is also a member of the Executive at Havant Hockey Club where he has been a member for 40 years.  Peter lives in Northney, Hayling Island with his partner.