Staff News

FAREWELLS...

KATHARINE WILKINSON

Katharine Wilkinson leaves KPS after giving so much to our School through the Covid era. As Deputy Head Academic, she has led our remote learning, assessment, reporting and timetable with real drive and determination. She has been a brilliant sounding board for both Helen Worrall and me and has filled almost every teaching role while covering absent staff. Katharine has a vast knowledge of the primary curriculum and was instrumental in pushing for a Science specialist as part of our KPS team. She is a consummate professional and we wish her every happiness in the future as she slows down and spends more time with her family. Katharine will eventually be relocating to the Kent coast. We will miss her enormously and she is welcome back at any time.

MARIE GIBSON

Marie leaves KPS after 14 years of dedicated and skilled service to our pupils. She has spent the vast majority of her teaching in the upper part of the Prep School, where her high standards and meticulous approach have really had a positive benefit on children’s learning in readiness for the Entrance Assessments. She has led our English department and as Library Coordinator has always kept children’s reading at the heart of what we do. Wells Cathedral Junior School are very lucky to have her, and we all wish her every success and happiness in the future. Thank you for all that you have done for our school, Marie!

ANDREW WARD

Mr Ward arrived with Mrs Ward and Sam and Charlie to be KPS House Parents at High Vinnalls. They established excellent relationships with the boarding pupils at the same time as major building work was taking place outside the boarding house. Having given up the House, Andrew has been instrumental in delivering our quite brilliant Activities programme and also pivotal in the PE and Games department. Andrew’s good humour, collegiality and sheer hard work have meant he will be greatly missed. Enjoy being reunited with the family and savour that Cornish air, Andrew!

ELEANOR WOOD

Eleanor Wood, aka ‘Doc’, was one of the first staff members I met when I joined KPS. She has never had a bad day and has been such a brilliant colleague throughout her time at KPS. Her wise, knowledgeable, and totally pupil-centred approach has meant that children have loved being in her class and parents have felt reassured and confident.

I remember seeing Doc completely in her element on a camp-out with the children; her love of Science and Outdoor Education will be really missed. The previous 18 months have given us all time to reflect, and Doc wishes to spend more time with her family. I am delighted to say that she will be on our supply list, so we will be seeing plenty of her in the future. Thank you, Doc, for all you have done for our school!

WELCOMES...

JAKE WHITBY

We welcomed Mr Whitby into Year 5. He is a great addition to our team and is a gifted teacher. His main interests are ICT, sport and travel, and the children love being taught by him. We are very lucky to have Mr Whitby at KPS.

BEN SEAL

Mr Seal rejoined us from an International School in Brussels and is teaching Year 6. He has a passion for green issues, sustainability and protecting our planet, as well as being a gifted linguist. He adds something different to our talented staff and we are delighted to have him back at KPS.

REBECCA TORRANCE JENKINS

Doc TJ has worked at two leading Prep Schools and brings to KPS a deep-seated love of Science and a mission to ensure that Science remains front and centre of what we are doing. It is the first time we have had a Science specialist teaching every class from Year 3 to Year 6. Doc TJ is also teaching in the Senior School in Years 7 and 8, which provides excellent continuity for our children. She represents the final piece in our STEAM delivery; the combination of Doc TJ, Karen Fox and Dave Murphy ensures that there are exciting times ahead upstairs in the Baines Learning Hub.

BEN HOOTON

After two years in the Boarding House, Ben has thrown everything into his teaching career, and we were delighted to offer him a role teaching Year 5. He is a very skilled practitioner and true all-rounder. With a particular interest in ICT, languages and sport, he is a strong role model for our children.