New Faces at Shiplake

The start of a new term, and new school year, means some staffing changes. At the end of the summer term, we bid farewell to a number of the Shiplake cohort. Head of Business Mr Andrew White left to settle his family in Exeter, his home town, to teach at Exeter College. Director of Sport Mr James Gaunt left the College to pursue his career at Radley College, as Director of Sport there. Mr Gaunt cited the exciting lessons, charismatic pupils and the warmth of the community as things he will particularly miss about Shiplake, as well as being involved with staff cricket. Mr Jonathan Gillespie-Payne left Shiplake to take a sabbatical from teaching, followed by the possibility of opening a street food stall – following a highly entrepreneurial spirit onto an innovative adventure! We also said goodbye to Mrs Catherine Munro, Mrs Emma Armstrong, Miss Rebecca McKellar, Mr Nick Sexton, Mr Chris Ellaby, Mrs Jane Redley, Mr Tristan Elby and Mrs Vicki Stratton as they follow their career paths, and wish them all the very best for the future.

And as the new term begins, a host of new staff members join the Shiplake family. Mr Aled Elmore joins Shiplake as a teacher of Science; Mr James Arney, teacher of English; Mrs Claire Forgie, BTEC Manager; Dr Gareth Hughes, Deputy Head Academic; Mr Paul McCraw, teacher of History; Miss Chloe Mordue, teacher of Photography; Dr Jane Patrick, teacher of Physics, Mr Charlie Pettifer, teacher of English, Dr Robert D’Rozario, teacher of Chemistry; Mr Duncan Traynor, Director of Sport; Byron Ward, Musician in Residence; Mr George Miller, teacher of Physical Education, and Mrs Kirsty Jelowitz, Alumni and Events Officer.

Mr Elmore is new to teaching, and looks forward to getting involved with the College’s Physics department. Mrs Forgie joins Shiplake from Henley College, and has an avid interest in rowing, a pastime she hopes to rekindle at the College. Dr Hughes comes to Shiplake from Radley College, bringing a wealth of expertise to the role. Mr McCraw has spent years working in international schools, and, a keen cricketer, could prove an invaluable member of the Staff Wanderers. Miss Mordue – an avid netball player – joins the Art department as teacher of Photography, having previously worked at the Royal Masonic School for Girls, in Rickmansworth. Dr Patrick, originally from Zimbabwe, has spent over 20 years in the UK. Mr Pettifer, who can class being a sailing instructor amongst other hobbies, swapped accounting for teaching and embarks on a career in pedagogy. Dr Robert D’Rozario includes landscape gardening as a skill, and looks to further his career in his teaching at Shiplake. Mr Traynor joins the bustling sports department from Emmanuel School, Wandsworth. A retired rugby player, he is looking forward to joining fellow PE staff in tackling triathlons! Mr Ward spent time as a professional musician, playing gigs in Bristol, and now moves to teaching, turning his passion into a career. Mr Miller, another joiner to the PE staff, is currently studying his PGCE, having spent a year in Australia. Finally, Mrs Jelowitz joins Shiplake from Peppard Primary, and is keen to create an active community of Old Vikings.

Alongside the new joiners, a number of changes have been made within the existing staff members; Mrs Annemarie Higgins, having acted as Head of Lower School, will now take up this post permanently. Mr Paul Jones moves from the Lower School to become Assistant Head, Academic Studies. Mrs Sian Pearson joins Gilson House as the Deputy Housemistress; Mr Tom Walter takes on the mantle as Head of Girls’ Games and Mr David Rose becomes Head of Business Studies.