Spring Term Staff Joiners 2020

At the start of the Spring Term the staff common room warmly welcomed a number of new colleagues. Mr Ramsay, Dr Chare, Mr Player and Dr Rousseau join the teaching staff; Mrs Carberry-Long is our new Senior Sister; and Mrs Morgan and Mrs O'Toole joining the support staff.

Mr James Ramsay

Mr Ramsay joins Shiplake as Head of Art, with responsibility for Design Technology. This is his tenth year in education, joining us from Warwick School where he was Head of Department, and previously working at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood where he was a teacher and Head of House.

At Shiplake Mr Ramsay will also be helping out with football as a Wednesday sport option and also with some refereeing on a Saturday. His own major sport that he specialises in is Judo, which he has taught at previous schools and local clubs. As an art teacher and as an artist, Mr Ramsay stresses that he prefers art that is inclusive and accessible: "I enjoy teaching projects that involve a lot of people striving towards the same goal."

Whilst a schoolboy at Merchant Taylors' School, Mr Ramsay took part in one of the earlier versions of Shiplake's Friday Night Lights (although it didn't go by that name at the time), and adds to the 'Dogs of Shiplake' pack with Mist, a half husky/samoyed and Evie, a keshond.

Dr Liz Chare

Dr Chare has joined the College as Head of Science with thirteen years of teaching experience within independent schools, having previously taught at Ealing Independent College, Cheltenham College and Stowe School.

Dr Chare graduated in Biological Sciences from the University of Oxford and continued with her studies there to complete her doctorate thesis. She gained teaching experiencing tutoring students both at the university and for local revision courses, and decided to pursue a career in teaching. During her time at her previous schools she contributed to a wide variety of pastoral and academic areas. In 2017 she and her husband welcomed their son, Ranulph. 

Outside academic life, Dr Chare has completed over 600 skydives. She also enjoys sailing with her family. More recently she has supported various charitable ventures for vulnerable children and projects that aim to reduce climate change. She takes a great interest in discussing all aspects of spirituality. 

Mr Joseph Player

Having previously been an ESL (English Second Language) teacher abroad and in London, Mr Player became a History teacher and worked for three and a half years in a school in Mansfield, near Nottingham before joining Shiplake this term.

Mr Player will be involved with coaching football, but hopes also to get involved in politics, debating, Model United Nations, and other similar co-curricular activities. Mr Player specialises in Russian history, having lived for a number of years in Moscow, but "I also really enjoy American and Japanese history."

Dr Christel Rousseau

Dr Rousseau joined Shiplake during the latter part of last term to shadow the science department and is now teaching GCSE and A Level Physics. Before relocating to the UK with her family, she was an Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of the Bahamas.

Dr Rousseau proclaims that she loves Scotland, particularly Glasgow, where she spent five years when competing her PhD in Physics and Laser Applications at the University of Strathclyde.

Mrs Kate Carberry-Long

Mrs Carberry-Long joins Shiplake as Senior Sister, having worked for 11 years as the School Nursing Sister at Westminster School where she was responsible for the care of the school community and running of the school surgery. She was involved in pastoral care and was part of the safeguarding team. Previous to Westminster School Mrs Carberry-Long worked as Practice Nurse in Clapham and before that she worked at the Lister Hospital in Chelsea.

Mrs Gemma Morgan

Mrs Morgan is the College's new Marketing and Communications Officer. She previously worked in public sector communications and marketing for local authorities for 17 years (most recently Slough Borough Council), as well as running her own photography business.

In her final year of university, Mrs Morgan took part in a journalism exchange programme and lived in the US for 6 months, attending the University of Missouri. Married with two boys, the family includes two Goldendoodles and a bearded dragon called Dino.

Mrs Claire O'Toole

We are delighted to welcome back to Shiplake Mrs O'Toole, who returns after a 'gap year' (in her words!). She job shares the Reception role at the College, working Wednesday afternoons, Thursdays and Fridays. In addition to being the first voice or face that people often hear or see when they phone or visit the College, she provides administrative support to other College staff.

Mrs O'Toole enjoys dressmaking, reading, jigsaws, upcycling furniture and is a keen belly-dancer. She travels as much as possible with her husband, across the UK and Europe in Alfie (their friendly campervan).