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)

Mrs Beech is Head of Learning Support, Form Tutor and English Year 5.

Mrs Beech’s teaching career started at Hordle House Preparatory School in 1996 before its merger with Walhampton – joining as a Year 4 Teacher. She then became Head of Junior School in 2000 and remained as such until, following further training, she took on the role of SENCo (at the now called Walhampton school).

Mrs Beech joined the FSM Learning Centre in 2008 before being promoted to Head of Learning Support in 2019.

Mrs Beech enjoys family walks with her family and spirited spaniel (Scout – a regular visitor to the Learning Centre). You’ll often find her curled under a blanket with a good book, reclining in front of a gripping film or blowing the cobwebs away on a blowy beach.

Education

Bachelor of Education (BEd Hons), Southampton University, majoring in Biological Sciences

SpLD OCR Certificate

Mr Boyington has a varied teaching background, having taught in various schools both in the UK and abroad. He spent a fascinating year teaching English to adults in Turkey before 3 years in an international school in Cairo, Egypt. He joined FSM in 2002 initially as a part time Junior French teacher. Since 2008 Mr Boyington has led the department and enjoyed the challenge of equipping children with the French language skills to enable them to communicate effectively in authentic situations and fostering an enthusiasm for language learning.

He enjoy sports  – keeping fit with running, cycling, playing golf and skiing when the opportunity arises! (He worked a season as a ski guide for Thomson Holidays.) He is a keen traveller and has spent time working overseas in Portugal, France, Turkey and Egypt. Otherwise, all his free time is taken up with his family… and in particular ‘ferrying’ his teenage girls from one adventure to another!

Education

French degree including a year in the Haute Marne region of France working as a Language Assistant, Swansea University

PGCE in Secondary Languages, Reading University 

Mrs Carver has been working with children for over 30 years. Initially, she helped set up a Toddler group and a Playschool, moving on to a role as a Special Needs  Teaching Assistant in an Infant School and then as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant at a Primary School in Bournemouth. She has enjoyed encouraging children to achieve their potential by stimulating their enthusiasm for learning and also their determination to succeed in the Pre-Prep at Forres Sandle Manor since 2012.  

Education 

Profile coming shortly

Profile to follow shortly

Originally from Salisbury and a Godolphin School Old Girl, Mrs Dixon-Clarke is Head of Art, Year 3 Form Teacher, Girls’ House Parent and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. 

Mrs DC has had the privilege of teaching children of all age groups both in the UK and abroad. 

Her teaching career started at Glebe House School in Norfolk where she completed her PGCE in Secondary Design Technology. She moved onto Prior Park Preparatory School and then to Bute House School for Girls in London. She has had a number of roles, which include Assistant Head Pastoral Care and Head of Art. Always happy to help out, she has taught art, design technology, games, a class teacher and a house parent. 

In 2008, she moved to Bahrain to teach at the British School of Bahrain and then moved to Switzerland 2013 to teach at an IB International School. 

When at home, she loves to go on adventures with her family and try all things creative.

Profile coming soon.

Mr Fairbairn has a wealth of experience working with children from reception through to 16+. In previous roles, he has taught GCSE Physical Education for over four years and was part of a very successful prep school for eight years that won independent prep school of the year in 2020. He was instrumental in the school’s success by designing and creating one of only five Lego Innovation Studios in the country. This facility allowed STEM subjects and hands-on play to be at the forefront of the children’s learning. Mr Fairbairn looks forward to passing on his knowledge and skills within his roles as Year 8 Form Tutor,  Head of Digital Learning, Design & Technology & Teacher of PE. 

Education 

Chichester University – BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science 

Chichester University – Graduate Teacher Programme (QTS) Physical Education

Profile to follow shortly

Mrs Holdom has over 30 years of 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 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)

Chris completed a Creative Writing degree at Leeds University and especially enjoys encouraging children to develop independent and exciting stories that enhance their love of reading and writing. He has worked as an EAL (English Language Tutor) since obtaining his TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualification at a number of educational institutions including Bournemouth University, helping five-year-old Russian children develop their English as well as adult learners from the Middle East and teenagers from France and Italy.

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 three years at Hinton Skydiving Centre. He began 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 wife and two boys! 

Education

Shrewsbury School

Manchester Metropolitan University

Cambridge University

Profile coming shortly

Profile to follow

Mrs Kendall is one of the longest-standing members of the FSM Team having joined the school 20 years ago.

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

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

Profile to follow shortly

Mrs Thornton has over 20 years of teaching experience. Having been the wife of an Army Officer for the early part of her career, she has worked in many different locations, including Oman and France. However, a more settled civilian life has enabled her to live in a fixed abode and remain at FSM for the past eight years.

She joined us a Year 4 class teacher but with a love of literature and language has recently moved into the role of Head of The English Faculty, where she enjoys teaching pupils in years 6-8.

Outside of school, she spends her time: travelling, spectating at her children’s sports fixtures, reading (obviously!) and attempting the odd bit of cookery.

Education

St Helens School, Northwood

Surrey University (BA Hons French with QTS)

Ms Wagner is one of our Languages Teachers. She teaches French, Spanish and is a drama/ Assistant Houseparent

Ms Wagner has a Bachelor of Arts – English (University of Strasbourg, France, third-year completed at
the University of Nottingham), a Master’s degree in didactics of languages
(University of Strasbourg, France), and a PGCE in MFL (University of Cumbia – St
Martin’s College, London).

Education

Having taught French for two years in the Kenyan army and then another two years
in The French Cultural Centre in Nairobi, Kenya Ms Wagner taught French and Spanish
in a prep school in Nairobi, Kenya.

Outside of work she loves spending time with my family, playing board games, reading and cooking.