Senior Leadership Team

 

Mark Gibbs - Headteacher

Brief Profile 

Mark has been involved in a variety of teaching and learning roles since leaving school, qualifying as a professional Drama teacher 12 years ago. A fantastic teacher and leader (not his words) has allowed him to support and guide pupils to reach their goals and potential; he is passionate about improving the life opportunities of students in his care. Having worked in a variety of educational establishments in several subjects, he has developed his leadership skills alongside teaching and learning techniques. An keen interest in pastoral and safeguarding aspects have allowed him to extend his knowledge and understanding, subsequently becoming an area of interest and expertise; as a result he has been involved in a number of very complex cases. He has worked and supported a number of schools with pastoral, behavioural and attendance issues; he is thoroughly enjoying working at Linslade for the CLT trust.

A very keen sportsman, a linguist, nature lover and supporter of the arts, he has 2 children also heavily involved in sports and therefore you will regularly see him and his wife on the side of a pitch/court/boundary.

Qualifications and Experience

• Currently studying for his NPQH
• Masters in Education (Distinction) Bedfordshire University
• Bedfordshire SCITT award
• BA Hons 2:1 Theatre Acting University of Leeds
• Numerous safeguarding certificates

2020 - Present: Headteacher Linslade School

2019 - 2020: Joint Head of school - Linslade School

2009 - 2019: Associate Principal Behaviour and standards, Safeguarding Lead, Head of Year, Drama, History, PE and English teacher

2009 - 2011: Drama and English teacher Robert Bloomfield Middle school

2004 - 2007: Drama teacher and sports coach Bedford school

Strategic Leadership and School Improvement

• Pupil Achievement
• School improvement
• School development
• Financial management
• Governance and compliance
• School Ethos and values
• Behaviour Standards
• Policies and compliance

Hobbies and Interests

• Cooking
• Playing and watching Sport.
• Reading my favourite book is ‘to Kill a Mockingbird’ and reading sports autobiographies
• Travelling

 

Phil Stock - Head of School

Brief Profile 

Phil is an outstanding teacher and leader with experience of leadership within a number of secondary and upper schools. Phil has a legacy of achieving excellent results in Maths, Business, Finance and Economics from KS3 to KS5. Phil has 10 years of experience of leadership in Safeguarding, Behaviour and Welfare; and is currently our Quality of Education Lead driving standards of Teaching and Learning and supporting Professional Development.Phil is quite frequently found reading, cooking and socialising with friends, in between spending time with his young family, his church and trying to slow the inevitable decline of his fitness as an ex-rugby player.
Qualifications and Experience

• Level 3 Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Level 2 Pivotal Behaviour Management Instructor 
• PGCE in Education, Greenwich University
• BSc Hons (First) Sports Management, Sheffield Hallam University

2020 - Present: Deputy Headteacher, Linslade School
2018 - 2020: Assistant Headteacher, Cedars Upper School
2015 - 2018: Head of Business Studies, Senior Head of House, Challney High School for Boys 2012 - 2015: Head of House, Head of Careers, Teacher of Business Studies, Richard Hale School
2009 - 2012: Senior Lecturer, The Alternative Programme, Hertford Regional College

Strategic Leadership and School Improvement

• Standards
• Teaching and Learning
• Aspiration and development of staff and provision
• CEAIG
• Staffing and personnel
• Recruitment and retention of staff

Hobbies and Interests

• Spending time with his growing family and the church community he is part of
• Any sport, but mostly rugby spectating and imagining he could still play for England!
• Reading. His favourite books include ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’, The Bible, ‘Rebecca’ and ‘I am Pilgrim’
• Visiting European cities with Mrs Stock

Paul Edwards - Assistant Headteacher

Paul has been teaching for over 20 years and has worked in 6 Middle schools in Bedfordshire, holding leadership roles in 5 of them. Starting as PE teacher he has now taught as well as PE, Maths, English, History, Geography, Religious Education, Sociology and PSHE. At Linslade Paul is currently working on improving the attainment and standards that are achieved by our pupils as well as increasing the opportunity for children and removing barriers that they may have to their learning.

• NPQH

• PGCE (Secondary), DeMontfort University Bedford

• BA - Sports Studies with History, Sociology and Politics, DeMontfort University Bedford

2018 - Present: Assistant Headteacher, Linslade School

2010 - 2018: Head of Year, Robert Bloomfield Academy

2009 - 2010: Headteacher Woodside Middle School

2006 - 2009: Deputy Headteacher Mill Vale Middle School

2000 - 2006: Head of year, Head of PE Holywell Middle School

1997 - 2000: Robert Bruce Middle School - PE and English

• Assessment and Standards

• Disadvantaged Children

• Day to Day running of the school

• Reading books - currently working through the Bernard Cornwell Historical fiction novels and real life espionage stories from World war 2

• Sport - Watching rugby at both Harlequins and Bedford Rugby Clubs

• Visiting castles and historic buildings

 

Jeremy Robinson - Assistant Headteacher

Brief Profile

Jeremy has worked at a number of schools in a variety of leadership roles with his main focus on pastoral care. Jeremy has worked in 2 secondary schools, including Cedars Upper School in Linslade. Jeremy's previous roles include Head of Year, Head of House, School Sports Coordinator, and a safeguarding team member.

Jeremy joined Linslade Middle School in 2023. He has always been passionate about delivering high quality pastoral care and is incredibly enthusiastic about his role at the school. Jeremy's ethos is concerned with ensuring that students are recognised for their achievements and are in the best possible position to be able to learn. 

Qualifications and Experience

PGCE Secondary - Bedfordshire University BSc Hons Sports Studies - Southampton University

2023 - Present: Behaviour and Attendance- Linslade School

2022-2023: Head of Year - Cedars Upper School

2015-2022: Head of Year/Head of House - Mandeville School

2012 - 2022: School Sports Coordinator- Mandeville School

2008 - 2022: PE Teacher

Strategic Leadership and School Improvement

• Promoting Positive Behaviour - culture and ethos

• Attendance 

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Emma Wassef - Head of Key Stage 2 and English

Brief Profile

An outstanding and creative teacher who will motivate and inspire colleagues in all aspects of teaching and learning. Emma joined Linslade School in 2010 as her second career, after ten years of working in the hospitality industry in various leadership roles.

Emma is committed to raising standards of achievement and behaviour for every child and providing children with enriched opportunities. With a strong commitment to teamwork and the pursuit of excellence and challenge for all, she and the Key Stage 2 Team have worked hard to create an environment for children where they feel safe and happy so that their individual, group and whole class learning journeys are challenging but effective, productive and progressive. Ultimately, progress and success develops at a faster pace from motivated children who are enjoying their learning.

Alongside the Head of KS2 role, Emma now leads English for Years 5 and 6 and looks forward to creating an ethos of high expectations and achievement for all.

• BA Hons Primary Education, Art and Design with Qualified Teacher Status

September 2020 - Present: Head of English (KS2)

2017 - Present: Head of KS2

2015 - 2016: Acting Head of The Arts

2013 - 2014: NQT mentor

2010 - 2012: Teacher

• Strategic and operational leadership of KS2 Team

• English curriculum, KS2

• I have a busy family life with two children and a husband. When I do get any spare time I enjoy meeting up with extended family and friends.

• To ‘de-stress’ and relax I really enjoy going spinning, box fit and the gym.

• Reading

• Theatre

• Baking

Beatrix Jones - Head of Maths

Beatrix is an outstanding maths teacher and leader with a drive to achieve excellence. She gained her teaching qualifications from studying at universities in Hungary before arriving in the UK in 2003 where she pursued her teaching career further. She has 17 years of experience as a teacher and leader in mathematics of all key stages through working in Secondary, Primary and now Middle School.

She has an outstanding record of supporting pupils in obtaining their targeted or exceeded results in GCSE and SATs. Past experience has seen her responsible for leading teaching and learning in the maths department for several years and Leading Numeracy across the curriculum in a Secondary School. As a Lead Practitioner, part of the role was to coach teachers to deliver outstanding lessons and improve pupils’ outcome. She has been the Head of the Maths department at Linslade School for the past 5 years, an achievement she is extremely proud of. Her ethos is to lead by example.

• BA - Teacher of Singing and Music - Karoly Eszterhazy Teacher Training College

• BA - Teacher of Religion - Karoly Eszterhazy Teacher Training and Theological College

• Teacher of Mathematic - University of Miskolc

• Piano Musical Instrument certificate- Grade 7

• Qualified Teacher Status - 2005 by the Chair of the General Teaching Council for England

• Outstanding Teacher Programme - OLEVI International UK

January 2015 - Present: Head of Maths - Linslade School

2013 - 2015: Leading Practitioner - Belmore Primary Academy

2010 - 2013: Numeracy Coordinator - Barnhill Community High

2005 - 2010: Member of the School Improvement Group/ Leading teaching and learning within the maths department- Barnhill Community High

2001 - 2003: Music and Maths teacher - Hungary

• Maths curriculum, KS2, KS3

• Outcome of pupils in Mathematics

• Numeracy across the curriculum

• Spending quality time with family and friends

• Enjoying country walks with my husband and our lovely dog, Ziggy

• Combat aerobic workout

• Reading

• Fine dining and nice wine

• Listening to classical music

• Concerts

• City breaks

Cat Parry - SENDCO

Brief Profile

Cat has worked in a wide range of educational settings in a variety of leadership roles that focussed on curriculum development and pastoral care. Prior to joining Linslade Cat was Head of Sixth Form at a large secondary school in Buckinghamshire where she was instrumental in raising aspirations and expectations of pupils at Post 16.

Cat joined Linsalde in 2017 as Head of Humanities when her son joined reception at local lower school. Cat has always had an interest in SEND and she became our SENCo in March on the day before ‘Lockdown One’. Through lockdown Cat was responsible for the very successful Parry Academy for key workers and she thoroughly enjoyed the responsibility and challenge.

Cat loves her new role and is working hard to ensure that all pupils are given the opportunity to develop and succeed.

Qualifications and Experience

• PGCE Secondary - Leeds University

• BSc Hons Geography and Sports Science- Loughborough University

2020 - Present: SENCo - Linslade School

2017 - 2020: Head of Humanities - Linslade School

2014 - 2017: Head of Sixth Form - Mandeville School

2012 - 2014: Head of House- Mandeville School

Strategic Leadership and School Improvement

• SEND provision

• Humanities faculty

• Running (Cat is running two marathons in 2021)

• Dressage

• Exploring the countryside

• French wine and cuisine 

Jess Rolt - Designated Safeguarding Lead

Brief Profile 

 

Jess has vast range of experience in safeguarding working within both social care and educational settings, which has enabled Jess to develop and build great community links with external agencies to support students and families. Jess brings a holistic view on what is best for our students to support then to reach there best outcomes both in their learning but socially and emotionally. Jess has 12 years of experience in Safeguarding, Children’s Mental health, Pastoral and Welfare and is currently our Prevent and Senior Mental Health lead for the school. Jess will continue to work with students, staff and parents to build and develop a strong culture of safeguarding within Linslade.

Qualifications and Experience

 

• Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Level 3 Counselling for non-counsellors
• Protective behaviours
• Triple P, Nurture programme and Supporting Families parent group facilitator
• Mental Health first aider
• Prevent

 

2021 - Present: Designated Safeguarding Lead, Student support manager Linslade School
2019 - 2021: Family Centre Head, Designated safeguarding lead, Daisychain Family Centre

2015 - 2019: Senior Family support worker, Deputy designated safeguarding lead, Water Hall Primary School.
2011 - 2015: Family support worker, Early help intervention outreach officer, Central Bedfordshire Council and Children’s Centres

 

Strategic Leadership and School Improvement

 

• Safeguarding
• Senior Mental health Lead
• Prevent Lead
• Student Support

 

Hobbies and Interests

 

• Jess enjoys spending time with her son exploring new places when not supporting his sporting hobbies.
• Jess enjoys swimming, she swam 22miles for charity last academic year
• Jess enjoys reading and her favourite author is Colleen Hoover.
• Jess love to watch a theatre show, Lion King and Moulin Rouge are her top 2.