Our People

I grew up in Kent where I enjoyed a very relaxed education, playing lots of sport and developing a love of all things science. This continued at university where I read Human Biology at Loughborough.

My intended teaching career was put on hold as I was very fortunate and followed a long, and enjoyable, career in professional rugby, playing for Northampton Saints, Cardiff Blues and Bedford Blues. When I finally listened to my failing body and retired from rugby, I took up a role as a Science teacher, Head of Rugby and Head of Year at Bedford Prep School, before moving to Dragon.

My aspiration as a teacher is to ensure that all students develop a love of being at school, just as I did. If they are happy, and feel valued, they will be keen to be the best possible version of themselves and, in years to come, will look back at their school days with happiness and pride.

In my free time, I enjoy walks in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside and while my time away wishing I owned an AC Cobra and planning lots of road trips for when I do finally own one!

Born and raised on the dunes of the Middle East, I travelled to the sunny idyll of Derby to start Secondary School. I moved on to Lancaster University studying a 4 year BA (Hons) in Primary School Education, beginning my informative career working in Primary Schools in Blackpool and Derby. Continuing my career in a southerly direction, I moved to Nairobi where I spent 11 years subjecting Kenyans to my terrible Swahili and my fanatical knowledge of Derby County. In between language faux-pas, I had the privilege of being Head of English and Drama in a couple of International Prep Schools.

Now I while away my spare days searching for the perfect beach to re-read Tolkien.

My childhood was spent in West Yorkshire. I began my teaching career in a state school in a deprived area of Dewsbury, before moving to work in Tanzania. My husband and I went out on a volunteer project, working in government schools, one of my classes had 144 pupils in it. We then moved to teach three children in the middle of Mkomazi Game Reserve.

We got a taste for travel and relocated to Thailand for the next six years where I worked as an early year’s teacher at Shrewsbury International School. We then returned to work at the Dragon School. Initially I worked as a class teacher in Key Stage One and then returned to part time work in Reception and Year 1 after the birth of our son. My hobbies are running, yoga and travel.

My childhood was spent growing up in North Yorkshire, before I moved across the Pennines to attend University in Lancaster. I began my teaching career in state schools in Yorkshire, before moving to work in Tanzania. My wife and I went out on a volunteer project, working in government schools with class sizes of over 140 pupils, and then moved to work in a small school in the middle of the Mkomazi Game Reserve.

Our passion for travelling and seeing the world continued, and we moved to Shrewsbury International School, Bangkok where I worked as Head of Key Stage One. In 2012, and after 6 years living in Asia, we moved back to the UK, and began working at the Dragon. As Head of Lower School, I have the great privilege of working with the most amazing colleagues, in supporting children and their families as they begin their journey at the Prep School. In my spare time I enjoy cycling and DIY projects, as well as continuing to travel and explore the world with my wife and son.

Growing up in Oxford, I studied at Summer Fields School and St Edwards’s School, before heading to the University of Bristol to study Theatre and Performance. I have taught in schools in and around Oxford, and am delighted to be teaching at the Dragon, and can’t wait to bring my passion for theatre into the classroom. I have a love of musical theatre, with the highlight of my performing career being at The Other Palace, in London’s Off West End, in 2018. I spend a lot of my free time cooking, and have a keen interest in Lego.

My childhood was spent between England and America, before I moved to Wales to study English at Aberystwyth University. Following my undergraduate degree, I became certified in EFL teaching, while going on to achieve a Masters. I then embarked fully on my teaching career with a PGCE in English, alongside research for a PhD. This research took me into schools and colleges across Dorset, including communal societies within the New Forest. Having gained my doctorate, teaching brought me to Oxford, where I am delighted to share my passion for English with students of the Dragon.

In my spare time, I enjoy the arts as well as continuing to work on my own writing projects and artwork.

I grew up in the midlands and for a short period in Devon, before attending Uppingham as a boarder for a large part of my school career! This is where I discovered my passion for Mathematics and sport (especially cricket). I went on to study maths in Plymouth and completed my PGCE and QTS at Oundle school through the National Maths and Physics SCITT, and Buckingham University.

I have always wanted to be a teacher at a school like the Dragon due to the range of experience that comes with a job like this. Along with being a teacher of mathematics, I am the senior dorms taker in the Dragon house and I look forward to helping the students in the house gain as much from boarding as I did.

Sport is also something I enjoy being involved in, having played cricket and football to a good level in the past. Being able to share this passion is one of the big perks of being a teacher at a school such as the Dragon.

I qualified as a teacher in 1988 and taught Year 2 children at a Primary School in Swanage before moving to Cranleigh Prep School in 1991. Married to Rupert in 1989, we moved to the Dragon in 1997 as Houseparents of Stradlings, and then School House in 2002. We were appointed Joint Heads of Boarding in 2006. We currently run the Junior Day and Flexible Boarding House at No 14 Bardwell Road and enjoy the company of approximately 40 girls and boys from Year 4, 5 and 6 during the week.

I teach History to Year 5 and 6 children and take a Year 4 Art activity. I was an Upper School Tutor for 10 years prior to moving into No 14 and also spent many years organising costumes for School plays. Our own three children have been brought up at the Dragon and love to return to Oxford when they can. Our own home in Devon has been our bolt hole for many years, and time spent there fulfils my passions for walking on Dartmoor, gardening and the great outdoors.