Senior Leadership Team
Mr G Doodes, MA
Headmaster
Mr G Doodes, MA
Headmaster
Gareth joined the King’s Foundation in September 2020 as the 36th Headmaster since its refoundation in 1541, following six years as Headmaster of Dover College. Appointed to his first Headship at Milton Abbey aged 32, Gareth was educated at Eastbourne College, studied History at St. Andrews University, and earned his teaching qualification through Cambridge. A national campaigner for holistic education and a fierce defender of the independent sector, Gareth began his career at Taunton School before working as a Housemaster Oakham.
A member of HMC and the Society of Heads, Gareth is Chair of HMC West and Chair of the Society of Heads Education Committee. As Headmaster he teaches Year 9 pupils, has been a newspaper columnist, makes regular contributions to BBC radio and TV, and has been a guest speaker at numerous conferences on the subject of leadership and education. Married to Jess with two children who both attend King’s St. Alban’s, in his free time Gareth is a political anorak and current affairs junkie who likes to cycle, run, cook, listen to music ranging from David Guetta to William Byrd, as well as play the piano and emulate Les Dawson on the organ.
Dr A Oliver, BA, MSc, EdD
Senior Deputy Head
Dr A Oliver, BA, MSc, EdD
Senior Deputy Head
I joined King’s in September 2018 as Deputy Head with particular responsibility for staff and our co-curricular education. In September 2022, I became the Senior Deputy Head, responsible for the day-to-day running of the Senior School. Having taught at international schools in Berlin and Brussels, as well as schools in both the UK independent and maintained sectors during my career, I joined King’s from St Swithun’s in Winchester where latterly I had been Director of Professional Practice and formerly Head of English.
Miss H Dyke, BA
Deputy Head (Pastoral)
Miss H Dyke, BA
Deputy Head (Pastoral)
I joined King’s in January 2023 as Deputy Head (Pastoral). I have a special interest in young people’s mental health and well-being and the factors which can have an impact upon these.
I am a born and bred Brummie and taught first at King Edward’s High School for Girls and Elmhurst Ballet School as a French and Spanish teacher. I moved to London in 2015, where I joined Forest School, a large independent day school for children aged 4-18. I was subsequently promoted, first to Head of House and then Head of Middle School and was a member of Forest’s Senior Leadership Team, directly responsible for the academic progress, personal development and safeguarding of pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11.
I firmly believe that School, working in partnership with parents and carers, with pupil voice at the centre of that work, can have a hugely positive impact on every young person’s development.
Mrs K Beever, MA Oxf, CEng
Deputy Head (Academic)
Mrs K Beever, MA Oxf, CEng
Deputy Head (Academic)
I started my career in engineering for Smiths Industries and then in various management and strategic roles for British Airways. When my youngest child started school, so did I and I returned to education to undertake a PGCE. I joined King’s in 2010 as a teacher of Mathematics, later becoming the Academic Challenge Co-ordinator, then taking up the role of Assistant Head – Pupil Development, and now Deputy Head – Academic.
I am married to Ed and we have three children, all of whom have enjoyed their time at King’s Hawford and King’s Worcester. Our eldest, Theo, has just graduated from Oxford University in Engineering and Beatrice and Luke are both in the Sixth Form at King’s. In my spare time I enjoy reading and my main interests outside of school are riding, running and skiing.
Mr J Ricketts, BSc
Foundation Director of Safeguarding and Compliance
Mr J Ricketts, BSc
Foundation Director of Safeguarding and Compliance
I joined King’s in 2011 from Exeter School where I was Director of Science. I had previously taught at Nottingham High School and Sherborne School for Boys.
As the Foundation Director of Safeguarding and compliance, I am responsible for ensuring a consistent excellence in the provision of safeguarding across the Foundation as well as inspection preparation.
I am married to Niky, who is a Form Teacher at King’s St Alban’s, and our daughter left King’s after seven very happy years, in 2018; she is now studying Accountancy and Finance at Bristol University.
Outside of school, I enjoy walking, cycling and recreational running and I am also a scuba diving enthusiast having achieved his PADI Advanced Open Water qualification.
Miss G Mason, FCA, BSc
Director of Finance and Business Development
Miss G Mason, FCA, BSc
Director of Finance and Business Development
I joined the King’s Foundation in 2021, following 8 years working as a Finance Director in the manufacturing sector.
After completing my Accountancy degree at Cardiff University I trained as a Chartered Accountant with RSM Robson Rhodes. I then made the decision to move into industry in 2008, I wanted to influence the strategy of an organisation and make a difference!
Over the last 12 years I have worked for two multinational engineering groups, both giving me very different experiences and skills which I am very excited to now have the opportunity to put into use in an exciting new sector.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family; anything that gets us outdoors. You will often find us hiking up a mountain or exploring our local nature reserve regardless of the weather.
When I get some time to myself I enjoy running and perhaps more unusually sewing, where I am happy creating things for my young daughter and friends’ children.
Mr A Winter
Director of Operations
Mr A Winter
Director of Operations
Mrs E Ward, BA
Director of Marketing
Mrs E Ward, BA
Director of Marketing
Having completed a BA (Hons) degree in Strategic Marketing at Bournemouth University and the Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma in Marketing, I started my career path working at Global Advertising agency TBWA, followed by a local Award-Winning Marketing Agency in Worcester. Following that I took up a Marketing Campaign Management role within Endsleigh Insurance, part of Zurich Group.
Here I discovered my passion for persuasive marketing campaigns and a love for engaging with both new and existing customers. My career then took me to RWE Npower where I spent nine years gaining a variety of experience across multiple marketing disciplines including Digital Optimisation, Marketing Campaign Management, Social Media and Product and Marketing Teams.
I was fortunate to join forces with senior management teams, delivering strategic marketing projects and driving high performing teams. I joined King’s in August 2018 bringing a range of commercial experience across multiple marketing disciplines and a real passion and energy to view the world through the eyes of the customer.
Married to Ben, who is Assistant Head of Safeguarding at a school in Birmingham, we have two children Rosie and Charlie, who happily skip daily into school at King’s St Alban’s. Outside of work I’m kept occupied by my energetic family. A keen interior designer and fitness fanatic, at weekends you’ll find me planning my next colour scheme at home or enjoying the great outdoors with my family.
Mrs V Peckston, BA
Registrar (Foundation)
Mrs V Peckston, BA
Registrar (Foundation)
I joined King’s Worcester in 2008, bringing transferrable skills from my previous careers in mortgage lending and estate agency. I love the role that I am in, as I have the very privileged position to be the first contact for the school and I hugely enjoy building relationships with families and watching their children develop into outstanding young adults.
I am married to Andrew and both my children are now OV’s, Edward studying at Oxford University and Niamh at The University of York. Outside of work I enjoy hiking with my two very energetic spaniels and spending time gardening and on my new found lockdown hobby of floristry.
Teaching Staff
Art
Mr C Haywood, BA (chaywood)
Miss J Hewitt, BA (jhewitt)
Mrs G Hardy, BA (ghardy)
Miss R Ellender, BA (rellender)
Ms J Ellis MA (jellis)
Biology
Dr M Parkin, MA (Oxon), PhD (Cantab) (mparkin)
Mrs N Essenhigh, BSc (nessenhigh)
Mrs R Worth, BSc (rworth)
Mr J Chalmers, BApplSc (jchalmers)
Dr C Brown, BSc, PhD (cbrown)
Mrs L Beard, BSc (lbeard)
Mrs H Lacey, BVSc (Hons) MRCVS
Chemistry
Mr L Ison, BSc (lison)
Dr M Poole, BSc, PhD (mpoole)
Dr R James, BSc, PhD (rjames)
Mr J Ricketts, BSc (jricketts)
Mrs R Roberts, MSc (rroberts)
Miss K Arnold, MSc (karnold)
Classics
Mrs S Bradley, BA (sbradley)
Mrs K Lewis (klewis)
Mrs E Shepherd, MA (eshepherd)
Miss E K Trow-Poole, BA (etrow-poole)
Design and Technology
Mr C Wilson, BA (cwilson)
Mr E Lummas, BA (elummas)
Mr A Deichen, BA (adeichen)
Miss R Ellender, BA (rellender)
Mr R Booth (rbooth)
Drama and Theatre Studies
Mrs S Parry, MA (sparry)
Mrs L Slater-Klein
Miss K Lane, BA (klane)
Economics and Business
Mrs E Friend, BA (efriend)
Mr G Williams, BA (gwilliams)
Mr A Zarro (azarro)
Mrs C Gent (cgent)
English
Mr E Low (elow)
Mr R Davis, BA (rdavis)
Mrs A Fellows, BA (afellows)
Mrs L Walmsley, MA (lwalmsley)
Mr M Warren, MA (mwarren)
Dr A Oliver, BA, MSc, EdD (aoliver)
Mrs S Lucas, BA (slucas)
Mrs V Lloyd-Smith (vlloyd-smith)
Mrs S Rhodes (srhodes)
Geography
Mr S Cuthbertson, BA (scuthbertson)
Mrs E Woodward, BA (ewoodward)
Mrs C Neville, BSc (cneville)
Mr W Joyce, BSc (wjoyce)
Miss G Ormandy, BSc (gormandy)
History
Mrs E Ferguson, BA (eferguson)
Mr T Sharp, MA (tsharp)
Mrs N Sears, BA (nsears)
Mr R Ward (rward)
Mr G Doodes, MA (headmaster)
Mr W McGarvey, BA (wmcgarvey)
IT and Computing
Mr D Branchett, BSc (dbranchett)
Mr N Blakemore, BSc (nblakemore)
Learning Skills
Mrs J Lucas, BA, DipSpLD (jlucas)
Mr O Shone (Oshone)
Mathematics
Mr O Heydon, BSc (oheydon)
Mrs D Salkeld, BSc (dsalkeld)
Mrs K Beever, CEng, MA (kbeever)
Mr J Gardiner, BSc (jgardiner)
Mr J Hand, BA (jhand)
Mrs E Darby, MA (edarby)
Mr A Swarbrick, BSc (aswarbrick)
Mrs D Clarke, BSc (dclarke)
Mr E Lewis, BSc (ejlewis)
Mrs A Fitzpatrick, BSc (afitzpatrick)
Mr A Jackson (ajackson)
Mr J Hemming (JHemming)
Modern Languages
Head of MFL, Head of German – Mr R Ball, MA (rball)
Head of French – Mrs C Yates, BSc (cyates)
Head of Spanish – Mrs R Shearburn, BA (rshearburn)
Mr E Houghton, BA (ehoughton)
Mrs R Rutter, BA (rrutter)
Mr J Sarriegui, BA (jsarriegui)
Ms L Ruiz Pelaez, BA (lruiz)
Mrs D Drew, BA (drdrew)
Mr A Falzon, MA (afalzon)
Mrs K Lloyd-Adams German Assistant
Mrs A-C Rolland French Assistant
Mrs R D P Wilkes Spanish Assistant
Mrs A Azzopardi
Music
Mr S Taranczuk, MMus, FRCO (staranczuk)
Mr G Gunter, GTCL, LTCL (ggunter)
PE and Games
Foundation Director of Sport – Mr J Mason, BSc (jmason)
Director of Sport – Miss L Symonds, BSc (lsymonds)
Head of Rowing – Mr J Chalmers, BApplSc (jchalmers)
Mr C Atkinson, BSc (catkinson)
Mr S Greenall, BA (sgreenall)
Mrs J Clark, BEd (jclarke)
Mr A Gillgrass, BA (agilgrass)
Mrs K Knott, BSc (kknott)
Mr B Williams (bwilliams)
Mrs K Collins (kcollins)
Miss P Sanders (psanders)
Miss J Haynes
Miss I Drinkwater
Physics
Mr A Knights, MPhys (aknights)
Mrs A Gamble, BSc (agamble)
Mr T Pearson, BSc (tpearson)
Dr Petchsingh, DPhil (cpetchsingh)
Politics
Mrs E Ferguson, BA (eferguson)
Mr A Gillgrass, BA (agillgrass)
Mr W McGarvey, BA (wmcgarvey)
Mr R Ward (rward)
PSHE and RSE
Mrs C Rees, MA (crees)
Psychology
Mrs R Kent (rkent)
Mrs C Payne (cpayne)
Rev. Dr M Dorsett, BA, MTh, PhD, Cert Theol (Chaplain) (mdorsett)
Religion and Philosophy
Dr R J Laverty-Head, BA, MPhil, PhD (rhead)
Rev. Dr M Dorsett, BA, MTh, PhD, Cert Theol (Chaplain) (mdorsett)
Mrs C Rees, MA (crees)