Staff & Governors

Mrs Sofia Almeida-Field
Modern Languages Teacher, Form Tutor Year 10
Mrs Heather Baker
Head of Drama, Form Tutor Year 8
Mr Tom Batchelor
Head of Computer Science and Digital Learning – Form Tutor Year 9
Miss Olivia Cox
Head of Latin and Teacher of Business Studies, Pastoral Support
Mrs Stacey Boyland
Science Teacher – Form Tutor Year 11
Miss Georgina Brown
Games and PE Teacher, Form Tutor Year 9
Mrs Jane Browning
Head of RE, PSHE, English Teacher, Form Tutor Year 7
Mrs H Brimble
Head of Seniors Learning Support, Head of Year 11
Sonia Cartwright
Sports and PE Teacher, Form Tutor Year 9
Mrs Helen Drake
Head of Art – Form Tutor Year 7
Mr George Harris
Head of History, Careers and Further Education Coordinator, Form Tutor Year 10
Ms Sarah Hamiliton-Williamson
Learning Support Teacher
Mr James Hoad
Head of Design and Technology – Teacher of Science – Form Tutor Year 8
Mrs Belinda Kelly
Science Teacher, Form Tutor 10
Mr Dan Leonard
Science, 2nd in Department, Head of Year 9
Mr Michael Lyons
English Literature Teacher – English, Form Tutor Year 11
Mrs Yvonne Morris
Mathematics 2nd in Dept -Head of Year 10
Mrs Michelle Nellist
Maths and Learning Support – Wellbeing Support
Mrs Karren Roberts
Head of English and Form Tutor Year 11
Mrs Olivia Silverthorne
Teacher of Science and Form Tutor 7
Ms Katy Snow
English 2nd in Dept, Head of Year 8
Ms Rachel Standen
Learning Support Teacher
Mr Peter Swabey
Modern Foreign Languages – 2nd in Department, Form Tutor Year 11
Mrs Rose Turner
Head of Geography, Form Tutor Year 9
Mr James Walton
Head of Physical Education Juniors and Form Tutor Year 7
Mrs Sarah Whittle
Head of Maths
Mr Edward W G Williamson
Head of Music

Mr Roland Ainsworth
Class Teacher Year 3
Mrs Gabby Armitage
Cover Teaching Assistant (Junior School)
Mrs Louise Atkinson
Class Teacher Year 4
Mrs Kimberley Barker
Teaching Assistant
Mr Jeremy Bullen
Teaching Assistant and Breakfast Club Coordinator
Mrs Joanne Burgess
Class Teacher Year 4
Susannah De La Haye
Class Teacher Year 2
Miss Kate Dunleavy
Learning Support Teacher
Mrs Belinda Fifield
Head of Learning Support (Juniors)
Mrs Julie Leighton
Teacher Music
Mr Matthew Livingston
Class teacher Year 2
Mrs Kate Newton
Class Teacher Year 6
Mrs Jess Swain
Class Teacher Year 5
Kimberley Read
Teaching Assistant
Louise Salero
Wellbeing Coordinator
Max Sebastian-Todd
Sports & PE Teacher
Mrs Anna Somerville
Class Teacher Year 3
Miss Lydia Stevenson
Class Teacher Reception
Lucy Tollington
Teaching Assistant
Mrs K Vaughan-Carpenter
Class Teacher Year 5
Mrs Kirstin Witte
Head of EYFS and KS1 and Year 1 Teacher
Ms Tracey Leadbeter-Zee
Teaching Assistant

Emma Mabusela
Senior Nursery Manager – Dragonflies Nursery Manager

all staff details can be found here Ditcham Dragonflies Nursery | nurseries

Dr Annalisa Alexender
Director of Marketing and Community Engagement
James Allebone
DT Technician
Mr Giles Ashley-Down
Estate Supervisor (Operations)
Mrs Louise Hayden
Deputy Bursar
Adam MacKinnon
Cover Coordinator
Sonia Bowen-Perkins
Group HR Manager
James Brickwood
Maintenance Officer
Mrs Kate Brickwood
Finance Assistant and Purchase Ledger Clerk
Mr Alun Castle
Estate Assistant
Mr Ryan Cracknell
IT Technical Manager
Ms Abbey Elleker
Pastry Chef
Philip Thomas
Estate Assistant
Leigh Holloway
Groundsman
Ms Jessica Hughes
Receptionist Administrator
Ms Daniella Jamieson
Examination and Data Officer
Mrs Emma Kirk
Catering General Assistant
Ms Claire Lloyd
Food Services Assistant
Mr Philip Loader
Sous Chef
Marina Matthews
Food Services Assistant
Mr M Mitas
Head of IT (Communications and Infrastructure)
Clare Nash
Design, Technology and Art Technician
Mrs Jo Payne
Receptionist Administrator
John Payne
Kitchen Assistant
Mrs Elaine Pepperman
Science Technician
Mark Philips
Duke of Edinburgh Scheme Co-ordinator
Mr Chris Sheppard
Chef Manager
Mrs Jackie Sueref
After School Care Supervisor (Seniors)
Mr Adrian Trewhella
Estate Bursar
Mrs Francesca Ward
Communications Officer, Commercial Manager & Safeguarding Administrator
Mrs Marie Watkyns
Headmaster’s PA and Admissions

LAMDA: 
Angela Wood
Laura Davies

Peripatetic:
Penny Bird – Voice
Mitch Callow – Guitar
Stuart Cannings – Drums
David Billington – Brass
Gemma Billington – Woodwind
Catherine Bilton – Voice
Jessica Phung – Voice
Harun Kotch – Guitar
Rupert Morgan – Piano
Daniel Mullowney – Drums
Darren Reeves – Piano
Michele Scopes – Violin
Mr P Hamilton
Judo Coach
Mr N Sharratt
Golf Coach

Chair of Governors – Member of the Education Committee (Deputy Chair), Designated Governor for the Creative Arts and Designated Governor for SEND

Roger Overend became a Governor at Ditcham in 2019. 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 choir 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 giving young people the best opportunities available in their education, is a champion for the arts and fully supports the need to equip them with the necessary technology skills which will be required in their future life. He is actively involved in voluntary work within the local village of South Harting.

Chris has been a Governor at Ditcham Park School since 2008. During these years Chris has been Chair of Governors and is currently Vice Chair of Governors and Chair of the Buildings Committee.

Chris is married with four children, two of whom were educated at Ditcham, with his youngest daughter joining in Reception and completing her GCSEs in 2023.

Now semi-retired, he remains a Director of his five-generation family jewellery business in Petersfield. Through his profession and his participation in three Olympic cycles within England’s and Team GB’s hockey programme, he has acquired key skills in performance management, motivation and team leadership. Chris has a strong understanding of marketing and building a brand image, which has enabled him to contribute to the school in this area over the last eighteen years. Chris is a Trustee of Havant Hockey Club, having been President for nineteen years and Chairman for five years. His other sporting interest is golf, to which he returned five years ago, joining Corhampton Golf Club. Currently a single-figure golfer and will soon become Vice-Captain, and then Captain in 2028.

Nalini graduated in Mathematics in 1986 and joined IBM shortly afterwards. She worked within IBM for 30 years, holding several managerial and professional positions in Finance and Operations. After leaving IBM she worked as a Financial Controller in a privately owned Fin-Tech company in London. Nalini qualified as a Chartered Accountant more than 20 years ago. Nalini’s son was a pupil at Ditcham Park School from 2012 to 2017; during this time she was an active member of the Friends of Ditcham Park School and for the final 2 years was the FDPS Secretary. Now retired, Nalini lives locally in Horndean.  She enjoys travelling, playing bridge, fitness training, and paper crafting.

A BSc hons Geography graduate from the University of Ulster in Coleraine in 1995 Rebecca has subsequently worked in the charity sector and, for the last 25 years, as a secondary English teacher.  She has worked across a number of Hampshire schools since 2003 and has wide experience of education having held a range of senior leadership positions, including as Headteacher, since 2006.

She is currently Head of Service, for Hampshire’s Secure and Specialist Education service which is a local authority provision offering education for children who are unable to access regular education opportunities as a result of their circumstances as well as a bespoke tuition service which supports children to re-engage with education and secure their futures.

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.

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 and Online Safety Governor.

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.

Liz brings a combination of professional expertise and long family connection to Ditcham Park.

With an MSc in Applied Psychology, she is a qualified Educational Psychologist. Whilst working for the Local Educational Authority, she provided specialist support to schools across North-West Surrey for children aged 0–18 within SEND frameworks, developing particular expertise in ‘Bereavement and Loss’ and ‘Early Years’. Working closely with SENCOs, parents and multidisciplinary teams, she has helped create and oversee effective support plans and contributed to statutory assessments.

Liz began her career teaching upper primary children, then moved to be part of a specialist intervention team deployed to turn around a failing school. She has taught the full primary range from Reception to Year 6.

Having served as a School Governor at a Junior School in Bordon, Liz also brings previous governance experience. She has been part of the Ditcham Park community for 16 years, eleven of them as Class Representative. All three of her children passed through Ditcham.

Leanne graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2001 with a BSc in Neuroscience. After beginning her career in FMCG, she moved into recruitment and HR in 2010 and has since spent more than 15 years in senior leadership roles within the sector. Working predominantly with clients in manufacturing, she brings extensive experience in recruitment, people development and building high-performing teams.

Leanne is married to James and has two children, both of whom joined Ditcham in 2016 and went on to complete their GCSEs at the school in 2024 and 2026. Having seen first-hand the excellent all-round education and opportunities Ditcham provided for her family, Leanne is delighted to remain involved with the school as a Governor.

Outside of work, Leanne enjoys spending time with her family and can often be found at equestrian events supporting her daughter.