About me
My background is not in finance! I trained as a Norland nanny in the 1980s when the Nursery Training College was in Hungerford. From there, I continued my training as a Nursery Nurse at High Wycombe General Hospital before becoming a nanny to the rich and famous around the world! When my own children were born, I was lucky to have a wealth of experience behind me. I soon became a school governor at my local primary school and from there developed an interest in the workings of school life, gaining a role in a prep school managing admissions and pupil billing and from there I became involved in roles in secondary independent schools.
I love my role because...
I am one of the few members of staff at Pangbourne College who gets to communicate with all parents at once! I enjoy engaging with parents and often see their confidence in the College grow as their children grow at the College.
My role model is...
I suppose my one true role model would have to be Emily Ward (the Founder of Norland College) who recognised the need for structure within early childcare. Up there, for me, too, is Maria Montessori. Both women put their energies into providing education for early years using the principles of independence and choice. They both recognised children's innate interest to learn while providing them with warm, loving and nurturing environments. I can see these principles underpinning the work that goes on at Pangbourne College, too - albeit with older children, but children who have had that start in life which was a vision back in 1892 when my alma mater was founded.
I would describe Pangbourne as...
...a warm and nurturing environment. Just as small children grow in the care of loving adults, so older children learn to respect themselves and others. They are encouraged to lead as well as to follow and are fortunate to have a community in which to stand out as well as be part of a team. All the young people I come into contact with at the College are lively and interested and have a respect for their environment.
