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36 | STAFF SPOTLIGHT
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Read on to find out more about four of our talented staff members: Ryan Bagnall, Head of Design,Technology and Innovation,Trudy Tomsett,Year 2 teacher and Louisa Snell and Katie McDonald our loyal Administrative Assistants.
Trudy Tomsett, Louisa Snell Katie McDonald and Ryan Bagnall
How long have you worked at St Andrew’s Prep?
TT: 11 years RB: 2 1⁄2 years LS: 13 years KM: 9 1⁄2 years
What were you doing before you joined St Andrew’s Prep?
TT: After training in Canterbury I worked at Blackboys Primary school teaching Reception aged children before moving to Eastbourne and teaching Year 1 for five years atThomas a Becket.
RB:Working as a secondary school teacher at Kings School where I was Head of DT.
LS: After working as air crew I
worked for 10 years in a Barristers Chambers in London for Lord Ervin.
KM: I too worked as air crew before working as a European Secretary for an American Investment Bank
Has your role always been the same? TT: I trained as a Key Stage 1 teacher
and so have always taught this age group but have worked across Reception,Year 1 and Year 2. I love this age group because they have a thrill for learning. With my husband Mark’s appointment as Head of Boarding I have also become more involved in the Boarding life at St Andrew’s and before the pandemic loved having the Boarders in to our flat to socialise and celebrate at times such as Christmas. Our children too have benefited from meeting so many children from different countries and cultures.
RB: Since I have been at St Andrew’s Prep I have introduced a much more varied DTI curriculum which includes engineering, electronics, textiles, CADCAM as well as more traditional design and make. Over time, given my deep fascination with science, I have also been able to get involved in teaching science, exploring the natural overlap between Science and DTI. I have
also enjoyed taking on more with the games department and have taken great delight in running games sessions with Years 3 and 4 as well as taking some of the U13 and U12 cricket teams.
LS: I was originally employed to work as a Receptionist / Administrative assistant and have worked consistently in this role with a brief time spent working for the then Acting Head – Martin Ward
KM: Although I have always continued with the role I was originally employed in I have also managed
to do a wide variety of other jobs within the school including classroom assistant in Nursery, Pre-Prep and Juniors as well as Head’s PA when Cat went on maternity leave and even a little bit of marketing. I enjoy the variety.
What developments have you seen at the school?
TT: The well-being of the children must always be at the heart of everything