Marina Gardiner Legge, Head
Marina Gardiner Legge joined Oxford High School in January 2021, having served as Headmistress at Heathfield School since 2016, and Director of Studies for the three years previous. Providing strong leadership and a clear direction for the school, Marina focused on developing the very highest standards in teaching and learning during her headship, both of which were recognised in an excellent ISI Inspection in 2018.
Before turning her hand to education, Marina read English Language and Literature at Somerville College, inspiring a love of poetry that still burns brightly today. On completing her Oxford studies, she went on to work for a decade in advertising and marketing, before assuming the role of president at a charity based in Paris.
It wasn’t until she moved out to Hong Kong, several years later, that Marina discovered her passion for teaching and education, and made the decision to study for a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. Moving back to the UK, certificate in hand, Marina joined Rutlish School as an English teacher, rising through the ranks to become Head of Year, Assistant Head and Head of Careers.
A passionate believer in the power of girls-only education to change lives, Marina has been described by those who have had the pleasure of working with her as fiercely intelligent and a very capable and caring educationalist. She has also recently completed a Masters in Educational Leadership and is excited to bring her wealth of knowledge and experience to OHS, as well as to meet the whole school community.
Jessica Williams, Head of Prep & Pre-Prep
Mrs Jessica Williams joined OHS as Head of Prep & Pre-Prep in January 2019, having previously occupied the role of Deputy Head and Head of Girls at Ashfold Preparatory School. With over twenty years teaching and managerial experience, Jessica began her career as a Biology teacher and then became Head of Year 7 at Aylesbury Grammar School, where she established the induction programme for new pupils entering the senior school from feeder primary and prep schools. She also served as Head of Boarding at Lucton School in rural Herefordshire and as a science teacher at Llandovery College in Wales. Having gained a first class honours degree in Physiology and Psychology from the University of Southampton followed by a PGCE from Homerton College, Cambridge, she has also taught Biology, Chemistry and Maths plus A level Psychology. A mum of three, Jessica describes herself as a keen runner and occasional tennis player who enjoys walking with her husband, also a teacher, and the family Jack Russell, Pippa.
| Name | Position |
| Dr Ed Batchelar MChem, DPhil, PGCE Oxon |
Deputy Head – Academic (Chemistry) |
| Miss Laura Knowles BA (Hons) Sheffield, PGCE Leeds Trinity |
Deputy Head – Pastoral (History) Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Mrs Jessica Williams BSc (Hons), PGCE |
Head of Prep School Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Mr Nick Dawson BA (Hons), PGCE Oxford Brookes, NPQH |
Deputy Head – Prep School |
| Mr Jonathan Nicholl BA (Hons) Oxon, MPhil Sheffield |
Assistant Head – Curriculum (Mathematics/Critical Thinking) |
| Miss Claire Nebesnuick BA (Hons) York, MA Oxford Brookes |
Assistant Head – Co-Curriculum (English) |
| Miss Rachael Pallas-Brown BA (Hons) MSt MLitt Oxon |
Assistant Head – Director of Sixth Form (Religious Studies/Philosophy) Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Mr Nick Woods BSc (Hons) |
Director of Finance and Operations |
| Mrs Molly Silva BSc, MSc Oxford Brookes |
Director of Marketing and Admissions |
Senior School:
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Dr Andrew Stacey MMath Oxon, PhD Warwick Head of Mathematics | Mathematics |
| Ms Alex Gillham MA Cantab, MA Birkbeck (University of London) Head of English | English |
| Mrs Dani Phipps BA (Hons), PGCE, MEd (Cantab) Teacher of English, Head of Year 8 | English |
| Miss Kathryn McGonigle BSc Exeter Director of Physical Education and Sport | Physical Education |
| Miss Victoria Ferrelly BA (Hons) Bedfordshire Teacher of Physical Education and Sport; Head of Year 9 | Physical Education |
| Dr Emma Regardsoe BSc, MPhil, DPhil, MRSC Head of Science; Head of Chemistry | Science |
| Miss Zoe Steer BSc (Hons) Bath, PGCE Exeter Head of Biology | Science |
| Mrs Gillian Barbour BA (Hons), Oxon Head of Physics | Science |
| Miss Susan Berry MA Cantab, MSc London Teacher of Biology; Head of Year 7 | Science |
| Miss S Sissons BSc, PGCE Oxford Head of Geography | Geography |
| Mr Paul South BA (Hons) Exeter, PGCE Head of History | History |
| Mr Marc Berrett BA (Hons), Exeter College of College of Art and Design Head of Art | Art and Textiles |
| Mrs Helen Wilson BA (Hons) NTU, PGCE Head of Textiles | Art and Textiles |
| Miss Julie Bramall BA (Hons) Open University, LAMDA, Dip in Performing Arts Director of Drama; Head of Year 10 | Drama |
| Mr Jeffrey Pelling BA (Hons) St Mary College, PGCE Fitzwilliam College Teacher of Drama; Head of Year 11 | Drama |
| Mr Thomas Couliou BA, MA Brest (France), PGCE Bristol Head of Modern Foreign Languages; Head of French | Modern Languages |
| Mrs Sarah Liebrecht BA (Hons) Oxon Head of German, Teacher of French (P/T) | Modern Languages |
| Dr Yan Liu BSc, MSc Beijing, PhD Cambridge Head of Mandarin (P/T) | Modern Languages |
| Mrs Emily Rymer BA (Hons) Oxon, PGCE Institute of Education London Head of Spanish | Modern Languages |
| Mr Massimo Rugna Head of Italian | Modern Languages |
| Mrs Katya Solovyova BA (Hons) Moscow State (Russia) Head of Russian; Teacher of French | Modern Languages |
| Dr Sean Willis PhD Philosophy, Exeter Head of Religious Education | Religious Education |
| Mr Richard Lonsdale BA (Hons) Oxon, PGCE (Cantab) Head of Classics | Classics |
| Dr Peter Foster BA (Hons) Oxon, MMus, PhD Reading, PGCE Open University, LRSM, FRCO Director of Music | Music |
| Mrs Patricia Dass BEd MSc Putra, Malaysia Head of Psychology | Psychology |
| Mr James Watts BA (Hons) Oxon Head of Computer Science; Teacher of Maths | Computer Science |
| Dr Claudia Ord MA Heidelberg, Germany, DPhil Oxon Head of Careers and Lifelong Learning; Oxbridge Coordinator; Teacher of Classics | Careers |
| Mr Mike Gallacher MA Oxon Head of Economics, Politics; Young Enterprise | Economics and Politics |
| Ms Azra Jelaca Head Librarian MSc London, MCLIP, FRSA | Support Staff |
| Dr Jacqueline Leadbeater PhD Dunelm, APC | Head of the Neurodiversity and Academic Support Hub/SENDCo |
Prep School:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Ms Anike Chuard BA (Hons) Surrey, MSc UCL Head of KS2 | Head of KS2 |
| Mrs Olivia Walter BA (Hons) Exeter, PGCE Oxford Brookes Head of KS1 | Head of KS1 |
| Mrs Molly Aylward-Page BSc (Hons) Bristol Head of EYFS | Head of EYFS |
| Mrs Stacy Hurst-Ramsay BEd (Hons) Edinburgh | Head of Pastoral Care and Wellbeing |
For other staff enquiries, please contact oxfordhigh@oxf.gdst.net