Date Posted: 13/12/2024Current News
Category / School News Posted on: 02/09/2024
Kingshott Senior School - officially starts this September!
This year is a particularly special ‘start of the school year’ as we welcome our first cohort of Year 9 pupils, as well as all of our new Year 7 pupils, who are joining us for their Senior School education.
It is a milestone moment for Kingshott, and we are thrilled to see all these Year 7 and 9 students take the next step in their educational journey with us.
We have much planned for our Year 9’s during the next three years at Kingshott; with a Battlefields trip to France and the launch of the Duke of Edinburgh Award coming this term alone!
All of our Year 7’s, returning and new students, will have an exciting few years before they become busy with their GCSEs. This begins with their iPQ in Year 7, before they move on to the Arts Award in Year 8.
As well as all our new pupils joining this September, we are also delighted to welcome a number of additional Senior School teachers this academic year. They include:
Michael Tatham, Head of Senior English
Mr Tatham graduated from the University of Reading with a BA in English Literature and Film and Theatre Studies and stayed on to complete an MA in Theatre Studies (Research). During this year he ran an extracurricular club at a local secondary school, and this ignited his desire to work in education and to complete a Graduate Teacher Programme with the University of Hertfordshire. Mr Tatham has been teaching English at KS3, 4 and 5 for 16 years, including 12 years at an outstanding secondary school in St Albans, where he has been in role as Second in Department. During this time, he has been part of the school’s Teaching and Learning Team responsible for delivering training and has also worked as a Mentor and Observation Moderator for the Alban Teaching School Alliance.
“I am thrilled to be joining Kingshott during this exciting phase of development,” says Mr Tatham. “I’m really looking forward to working with students on poetry, public speaking, creative writing, and a range of inspiring short stories and longer novels. I’m also pleased to be part of a school that offers so many enrichment opportunities and I can’t wait for some trips to the theatre!”
Georgina Sapsford, Maths Teacher & Senior Head of PSHCE
Mrs Sapsford has been teaching Maths at St Albans High School for Girls for the past 11 years. She has additionally been a teacher of Computer Science for several years, and most recently held the positions of Head of Lower School and Head of PSHE. She graduated with a BA(Hons) in Computer Animation from Anglia Ruskin University and completed her PGCE at London Metropolitan University.
“Kingshott has a wonderful family feel to it, and I can’t wait to join and become fully involved in school life,” says Mrs Sapsford. “I’m extremely passionate about my subjects. My lessons are always full of energy, enthusiasm and warmth. Maths has been the foundation of my teaching career and I’m really keen to share my knowledge with Kingshott’s students as they begin their journey towards GCSEs. I’m also really excited to get to know my new students in PSHCE and support their personal development.
We are also delighted to be welcoming:
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A new Head of Learning Support, Wendy Suter, who has expertise in a through school environment – benefiting both our Junior School children and our Senior School children. Mrs Suter graduated from Westminster College Oxford with a BEd specialising in Religious Studies and Special Educational Needs. She has had a varied teaching career working in both the primary and secondary age ranges, in the state, independent and international sectors, and also in specialist provisions. Mrs Suter holds specialist teacher status and is a qualified education assessor. Most recently Mrs Suter has been a SENDCo at Stamford School, an all through independent school and is excited to be joining Kingshott as the school extends its learning opportunities to provide GCSE learning.
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A new member to our Sports Department: Rebecca Woodgate, Head of Girls Games. Mrs Woodgate graduated from the University of Brighton with a BA (Hons) in Physical Education with Qualified Teacher Status and has been teaching Physical Education for 13 years. She has taught across the Primary and Secondary sector in Grammar and Independent Schools, taking on a range of roles including Head of Hockey and Assistant Head of PE. For the past eight years she has worked as the Head of Girls Sport and Assistant head of Year 7 at Bedford Modern School. “I am incredibly excited to be joining Kingshott as the Head of Girls Games in an era where women and Girls’ Sport is finally starting to receive the kudos and investment it deserves. I cannot wait to share my passion and enthusiasm for sport with the students, making sure that each and every one of them has a positive and enriching experience. I look forward to meeting you on the sidelines on a sunny September day!”
As well as our new teachers, who bring with them ideas to further enhance our Senior School educational provision, we are also looking forward to all of our teaching staff deepening their links with the Mill Hill Education Group over the coming academic year. Our Senior School pupils will benefit from all of the shared teaching expertise, as well as further opportunities (such as activities or sporting collaboration) within the Group.
