Staff Profiles

Jody Wells

Headmaster

Jody Wells

Headmaster

Mr Wells found a passion in teaching following working at Wells Cathedral School during his university studies.

He returned to Wells Cathedral School to take on their Junior Boarding House for nearly five years. He then moved to All Hallows School as a class teacher (years 2-7), Head of Boys Games and Head of Boarding. It was during this time that the ISI Boarding Inspection assessed Mr Wells’ team as ‘Excellent’ in all areas.

Mr Wells became Deputy Head at FSM School in 2011, and saw the School through its 2017 inspection, where the School achieved the top grade of ‘Outstanding’ in all areas. He became Headmaster in April 2019.

Mr Wells is a big rugby fan, with his team being Leicester Tigers. He also enjoys a good round of golf and spending time with his family.

Education

Attended Stamford School

University of Plymouth – achieving BEd Honours in History

University of Plymouth – gaining Qualified Teacher Status

William Peak

Deputy Head (Academic)

William Peak

Deputy Head (Academic)

Mr Peak’s passion for education saw him head straight into education with roles including:

Theatre Technician and Assistant House Maker – Wycliffe Prep School, Stroud

Drama Teacher – Wycliffe Prep School, Stroud

Year 4 Teacher – The King’s School, Gloucester

He then embarked on an to adventure the other side of the world – all whilst teaching. He taught in New Zealand for one year as a Year 6 teacher, before heading to South Korea for three years teaching ESOL (English as a Second Language) for Years 7-9.

Mr Peak joined FSM School in 2013 as Head of English and Drama, before becoming Director of Studies.

Mr Peak is a member of the FOSM Committee.

Education

Attended The King’s School, Gloucester

Manchester Met University – achieving BEd Honours in Education, specialising in English and Drama

Judy Cochand

Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Judy Cochand

Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Mrs Cochand’s teaching career started with young offenders in Canada which stimulated an interest in Reading and counselling. She moved to classroom teaching for a few years and was a school consultant before moving to The American School in London. She was a class teacher (Years 4 and 7) before setting up the Learning Disabilities Programme (as it was called at that time). In 1994, she moved to FSM to set up the Learning Centre, fell in love with the school, the people and the Forest and has been with us ever since!

Mrs Cochand has a family cottage on a lake in Canada which provides lots of opportunities for two passions; photography and canoeing. She loves to travel and having a son in New Zealand and family in Canada and the States makes this an easy holiday option! Africa stole her heart many years ago and she goes there as often as finances and time allow. Her two dogs and house in The Forest keep her busy with walking and photography, when time allows.

Mrs Cochand runs the very popular photography club.

Education

University of Western Ontario – Sociology Degree

The University of Toronto, School of Education

Masters’ certificate levels in Reading and Special Education in Toronto

RSA Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties.

Tracy Spottiswood

Head of Lower School

Tracy Spottiswood

Head of Lower School

Mrs Spottiswood has over 20 years’ experience as a teacher – with a passion for younger years.

Prior to teaching, Mrs Spottiswood worked for the Home Office, working in Private Office for the Minister of State and the Home Secretary.

Education

Open University – Masters in Education, with specialist units in Early Childhood Development and Learning

Charlie Inigo-Jones

Bursar and Clerk to the Governors

Charlie Inigo-Jones

Bursar and Clerk to the Governors

Mr Inigo-Jones worked in the City for 20 years as chartered accountant, investment banker, and Head of Strategy and Planning at European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He then worked for 10 years as a commercial Finance Director and consultant.

In 2015 he returned to business school to study charity financial management, and has since worked predominantly in academy and independent schools.

Outside of work, Mr Inigo-Jones is a busy dad with two teenage children. He is a keen sailor, and recently completed the 2019 Fastnet Race on his yacht “Bombardino”.

Education

MA (Hons), New College, Oxford
FCA – Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
Pg Dip – postgraduate diploma in Charity Financial Management

Clare Rowntree

Head of Performing Arts, Head of Boarding

Clare Rowntree

Head of Performing Arts, Head of Boarding

Mrs Rowntree has successfully combined her two passions of teaching and music for over 20 years. She’s been a freelance orchestral viola player and chamber musician for over 20 years. She is both a classroom and peripatetic teacher.

Mrs Rowntree has performed for royalty numerous times, recorded at Abbey Road Studios and featured on a top 40 indie chart hit. She also manages her own string quartet.

Not only does Mrs Rowntree teach violin, viola, ensemble coaching (string ensemble, choirs, Jazz Band and Orchestra) but she also teaches music to all children at FSM, from Nursery to Year 8.

Head of Humanities

Charlie Atherton

Head of Humanities

Mr Atherton is Head of Humanities, Head of History, PSB Leader and High Order Thinking (HOT) programme coordinator.

After a brief spell in the Army, Mr Atherton relented and became the teacher everyone said he would become. He has always worked in independent prep schools, starting off as a Humanities teacher and then Head of History at Sandroyd and then was Head of History at Ludgrove (where he was also Head of Boarding) and Hazlegrove (where he and his wife ran a boarding house). He loves the variety and tapestry of life as a schoolmaster and throws himself as much as possible into all aspects of school life.

Following a sabbatical year in which he took a Masters in Education, he came to FSM in 2017 where he is now loving the opportunity to put contemporary educational theory into practice!

Outside of work, Mr Atherton lives with his family in Somerset. Most of his weekends and holidays are spent entertaining his two young daughters or living the rural life. When given the chance, his favourite passions are sport, travelling and salmon fishing.

Education

BA (Hons) Ancient History (Newcastle University)

Qualified Teacher Status (Bath Spa University)

MSc Education (Bristol University)

Jonathan Vincent

Head of Creative Arts

Jonathan Vincent

Head of Creative Arts

Profile to follow shortly

Jane Whiteley

Art Teacher

Jane Whiteley

Art Teacher

Profile to follow shortly

Gordon McEwan

Head of Maths

Gordon McEwan

Head of Maths

Mr McEwan is Head of Maths, Games Staff and also Boarding Staff.

After school, Mr McEwan spent 1 Year at St Peter’s Prep School, Johannesburg as Gap Student and travelling around southern Africa (where his parents now live); 1 Year at Warminster as Graduate Gap Student; 5 Years at Holmwood House and Colchester as Maths Teacher before joining FSM since 2013.

Outside of work, Mr McEwan enjoys playing golf, spending time with his family, running, watching sport, travelling, camping and looking after his pet Leopard Gecko.

Education

Cheltenham College for 11 Years

Oxford Brookes studying History and Sport Coaching 3 years

Bath Spa University 2 Years Maths PGCE

Ella Ridge

Lower School Teaching Assistant

Ella Ridge

Lower School Teaching Assistant

Miss Ridge joined FSM during her final college placement as a student, and has never left!

After completing her Childcare Diploma with Brockenhurst College, she headed out to the French Alps resort of Courchevel 1850, as a Nanny for the winter season of 2016/17 with Esprit Ski, before returning to FSM in May 2017, to work with (what was then) the Pre-Prep and Middle School.

Alongside her Childcare qualification, Miss Ridge is also a Swim England Level 2 Swimming Teacher, eager to engage children’s water confidence, skills and love for aquatics!

Outside of work Miss Ridge will often have an adventure planned. In the space of one academic year she has explored New York, Copenhagen, Venice, Cornwall, Prague, Budapest and Berlin…to name but a few!

Education

Extended Diploma in Children’s Play, Learning & Development

Chris Hancock

Head of Sport & Outdoor Education

Chris Hancock

Head of Sport & Outdoor Education

Profile to follow shortly

Carolyn Hookes-Gosney

Lower School Class Teacher

Carolyn Hookes-Gosney

Lower School Class Teacher

Mrs Hookes-Gosney is a Class Teacher for years 2 and 3, and a Transition Co-Ordinator.

Mrs Hookes-Gosney owned and ran a theatre school for 15 years and also taught freelance across Surrey and London. She has taught in both state and independent schools, teaching from Nursery age through to Year 6.

Prior to joining FSM, Mrs Hookes-Gosney was Head of the Pre-Prep at Sandroyd Preparatory School in Wiltshire, St Michael’s Preparatory School in Kent and Barfield Preparatory School in Surrey.

Head of Learning Centre

Vanessa Beech

Head of Learning Centre

Profile coming shortly

Sarah Holdom

Reception Class Teacher

Sarah Holdom

Reception Class Teacher

Mrs Holdom has over 30 years teaching experience across the country, working locally most recently at Godolphin Prep, Chafyn Grove, Leaden Hall and Gabbitas Educational Consultants, London as their regional consultant, covering schools in the South West.

Outside of work, Mrs Holdom enjoys a lot of fitness – going to the gym, running, cycling and water sports.

Education

Cheltenham Ladies’ College
Royal Holloway College, University of London (BA Hons)
The West London Institute (PGCE)

Celina Chismon

Lower School Teaching Assistant

Celina Chismon

Lower School Teaching Assistant

Profile coming shortly

Duncan Humphreys

Head of Geography

Duncan Humphreys

Head of Geography

Mr Humphreys is Head of Geography but also works with our Forest School, games, is a Year 8 Tutor and a Charity Co-ordinator.

Mr Humphreys completed a GAP year at TSS School on Australia’s Gold Coast before working for 3 years working at Hinton Skydiving Centre. He began working at FSM in 2006 with the Mighty 4DH before moving to the Geography Department in 2014.

Outside of work he enjoys football, golf, cricket, surfing, swimming, running, whittling and getting into the New Forest with his Golden Retriever and two boys!

Education

Shrewsbury School

Manchester Metropolitan University

Cambridge University

Beverley Kendall

Nursery Leader

Beverley Kendall

Nursery Leader

Profile to follow shortly

Jayne Davis

Lower School Teaching Assistant

Jayne Davis

Lower School Teaching Assistant

Profile to follow shortly

Anna Taylor

Graduate Sports Assistant

Anna Taylor

Graduate Sports Assistant

Miss Taylor’s first job was leading children’s birthday parties in basketball, football, cheerleading and dance. She also volunteered at a disability sports club, and has experience in netball umpiring and coaching.

Miss Taylor is currently taking tests in singles figure skating. She also enjoys netball (goal shooter) and swimming (she swam competitively for 8 years). And if that isn’t enough, she also works as a sports instructor for an activity camp during some school holidays.

Education

Sports Coaching degree

Alison North

Assistant Head of Sport & Outdoor Education

Alison North

Assistant Head of Sport & Outdoor Education

Miss North is Assistant Head of Sport & Outdoor Education, Religious Studies teacher, Music and First Aid (Saturday Enrichment).

Miss North always knew that she was going to be a teacher! Following a post-university gap year as an Au Pair in Chicago, she returned to the UK and began teaching at Elmrise Primary School in Bournemouth. She then moved to Turi in Kenya to teach for three years at St Andrew’s Preparatory School as Head of Lower School (Academic). There she taught Year 5, Sport, and Music (piano and flute).

Miss North joined FSM in 1999 and has had various roles across the School including being Head of English, Religious Studies and Girls’ Games.

Outside of work Miss North enjoys a lot of sport – mostly running and hiking (and is gradually working her way along the South West Coast Path). She plays in GOJO Big Band and regularly plays gigs. She is also a keen traveller.

Education

Geography degree at Sheffield University (B.A. Hons)
PGCE (specialism in Upper Primary) at Sheffield Hallam University

Sue Smith

Learning Centre and EAL Teacher

Sue Smith

Learning Centre and EAL Teacher

Profile to follow shortly

Sonia Simons

Head of Marketing and Admissions

Sonia Simons

Head of Marketing and Admissions

Mrs Simons began her marketing career at Exchange & Mart Magazine, before moving to work for Bournemouth University. She then moved to work for two agencies working in the education space – with clients including the British Army, MoD, Dogs Trust, BHF, British Gas and Pearson. Missing the more strategic nature of marketing, Mrs Simons then moved back to being ‘client side’, and began working at the University of Surrey as the Marketing Manager for the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

In 2015 she became Head of Marketing at Lewisham Southwark College in London. The role evolved to take on more teams, and she became Head of Student Recruitment and Marketing.

Mrs Simons joined FSM School in early 2019. Mrs Simons holds Member status with the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Mrs Simons is a big outdoors fan – and her favourite type of day out is either exploring the New Forest or out on her kayak. Either that, or enjoying a good food festival!

Head Matron

Nicola Brown

Head Matron

Profile to follow shortly

Discover

Parent Zone

Senior Leadership Team

Jody Wells

William Peak

Judy Cochand

Tracy Spottiswood

Charlie Inigo-Jones

Clare Rowntree

Teaching Staff

Rosa Press-Hayes

Sarah Bismire

Robina Upton

Richard Rowntree

Lucy Wells

Charlie Atherton

Jonathan Vincent

Jane Whiteley

Gordon McEwan

Ella Ridge

Chris Hancock

Carolyn Hookes-Gosney

Caroline Carver

Andrew Boyington

Adhana Thornton

Claire Cobham

Amanda Jarvis

Vanessa Beech

Sarah Holdom

Celina Chismon

Duncan Humphreys

Beverley Kendall

Jayne Davis

Anna Taylor

Alison North

Sue Smith

Business Support Staff

Sonia Simons

Pat Stubbs

Julia Holbrook

Jackie O’Leary

David Albury

Linda Watts

David Flemington

Wayne Trussler

Gordon Pattle

Jenny Peplow

Nicola Brown