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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 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
Ms Camilla Heath
MA Oxon
Head of Careers and Lifelong Learning; Oxbridge Coordinator
Careers
Mr Mike Gallacher
MA Oxon
Head of Economics, Politics; Young Enterprise
Economics and Politics
Ms Matilda McMorrow
Head Librarian
Support Staff
Dr Jacqueline Leadbeater
PhD Dunelm, APC
Head of the Neurodiversity and Academic Support Hub/SENDCo

Prep School:

NamePosition
Ms Anike Chuard
BA (Hons) Surrey, MSc UCL
Deputy Head Academic
Mrs Stacy Hurst-Ramsay
BEd (Hons) Edinburgh
Deputy Head Pastoral
Mrs Molly Aylward-Page
BSc (Hons) Bristol
Assistant Head of Pre-Prep
Responsibility for EYFS
Mrs Olivia Walter
BA (Hons) Exeter, PGCE Oxford Brookes
Assistant Head of Pre-Prep
Responsible for KS1

For other staff enquiries, please contact oxfordhigh@oxf.gdst.net

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