Senior Leadership Team

Mrs Cathy Brokenshire

Headteacher

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Online Safety Lead

Curriculum and Assessment Lead

Trust Wider Curriculum Lead

Matilda by Roald Dahl is a true favourite of mine. I was a huge fan of Roald Dahl as a child and remember it being published and buying my own copy. Just like Matilda, I would often be lost in a book and I continue to read every day! I love that no matter how difficult life is at times for Matilda, she is always positive, kind and brave in every way. The way Matilda uses her superpowers and pranks to outwit Miss Trunchball made me laugh! As a teacher and head teacher, I would definitely see myself as more of a Miss Honey!

Mrs Rebekah Bailey

Headteacher

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Online Safety Lead

Curriculum and Assessment Lead

Music Lead

The Bear and the Piano

What I value most about this book, is the gentle reminder that music isn’t just about improving skills or performing for others – it’s about expression, emotion and finding joy! While the story touches on ambition and the need for determination to succeed, it is ultimately about much more than learning an instrument. At its heart, it’s a story of friendship, identity and remembering what truly matters. For me, it perfectly captures why music matters, which is why it remains such a treasured favourite. 

Mrs Rachael Nash

Deputy Headteacher

Year 4/5 Class Teacher

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Teaching and Learning Lead

English Lead 

One of my favourite books is Holes by Louis Sachar. I simply love the plot and the way that it is three stories all told at the same time, with years separating them. When all the connections are made at the end and the writer reveals how the stories and characters overlap, it still amazes me every time!  I love the main character, Stanley. I feel like he is an unlikely hero, but never the less he triumphs in the end. It is a story of hope, friendship and pig stealing descendants. It will make you laugh and cry in equal measures.

Mrs Jo Waters

SENCo

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Designated Teacher for Looked After Children and PLAC

TIS Lead Practitioner

My favourite children's book, at the moment, is The Fox in the Dark by Alison Green.

I love this book because it is so much fun to read aloud: there are lots of great sound effects, you can use different voices for all the animals, it has a rhyming pattern and repetition for the children to join in with! My son loves foxes and other wild animals, so he loved this story.

There is also a hilarious part that makes us giggle every time we read it, but you'll have to read it yourself to find out!

Miss Lizzie Stokes

Reception Class Teacher

EYFS Lead

PSHE and RHSE Subject Lead

Mental Health Lead

Trust Lead Practitioner (EYFS)

One Snowy Night by Nick Butterworth is my favourite story.

Reading this story makes me feel happy and safe. Percy is a kind character who cares for all the creatures in the park no matter what mischief they are making!

I can't believe this story always makes me laugh, even though I've read it hundreds of times!

Teachers

Mrs Becca Bateson

Reception Class Teacher

Maths Lead 

Geography Lead

Eco Council Lead

My favourite book is Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery. It is about an orphan who is adopted by a sister and brother who live on a farm called Green Gables. She turns their lives upside down through her adventures, mishaps and imagination. I think the main reason I love it so much is that when I was eleven and first read it, I really wished I could live Anne's life or be her best friend. It all seemed so fun, free and exciting! 

Mrs Michelle Lawford

Year 1 Class Teacher

Early Reading Lead

History Lead

My favourite book is The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson. It’s about a tiny snail who wants to go on great adventures, so he rides on a whale’s tail and sees magnificent places around the world! I love how the snail is so adventurous and that he gets to travel and explore different places. He even ends up saving the whale! It truly is a magical book filled with exciting adventures, and it even makes you think about how humans affect sea life and how to help them. It truly is an awesome book and makes you want to explore faraway places, although perhaps not on a whale’s tail! 

Mrs Sarah Parekh

Year 2 Class Teacher 

Design Technology Lead

RE Lead

Computing Lead

Advantage Project Lead

My favourite children's book at the moment is Odd Dog Out by Rob Biddulph. It is wonderfully written and illustrated and the way it rhymes makes it great to read out loud.  This is also a favourite bedtime story in my house.  I think the message of being confident to be yourself is a really important one, and I love the journey that Odd Dog Out goes on to discover this.

Miss Becca Rollason

Year 3/4 Class Teacher

Science Lead

Art and Design Lead

Staff Local Monitoring Committee Member

Miss Evelyn Ayers

One of my favourite books is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J K Rowling. When I was younger, I remember my brother receiving the entire series for his birthday, and I loved reading them. The books always transported me into another world and I would become so engrossed that I’d read for hours at a time. While I love the whole collection, The Goblet of Fire is definitely my favourite and the one I always return to because of its exciting plot, memorable characters and the way it marks a turning point in the series, while highlighting the importance of courage and resilience throughout.

Mrs Sarah Turnham

Year 4/5 Class Teacher

Languages Lead

The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber is one of my favourite books. Inspired by Cornish folklore, the story tells the tale of Mowzer the Cat and an old fisherman called Tom, who brave the stormy seas to save their village from starvation during a fierce winter storm. The stunning illustrations by Nicola Bayley are detailed and atmospheric; they really bring the characters and events to life. Set in the seaside village of Mousehole in West Cornwall, this book holds a special place in my heart as this location is close to where I grew up and reminds me of visits to the Mousehole lights at Christmas with my family.

Miss Morgen Kent

Year 6 Class Teacher

PE Lead

My favourite children’s books are the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. Enid Blyton is one of my favourite children’s authors because of the way she can transport you to another world – like in The Faraway Tree books. I love the Famous Five books because they are exciting and each have an intriguing mystery which the children, and Timothy the dog, have to solve. I enjoy reading about how the children worked together to find clues and solve mysteries. I also like that there are lots of books in the series, so you have plenty to read!

Administration and Library

Mrs Julie Crawford

School Secretary                                                                                                                      

Enid Blyton was my absolute favourite author as a child and I think I had every book she had ever written. The Faraway Tree books were always my favourite as a young girl. I loved the wonderful characters that lived in the tree, such as Moonface, Saucepan Man, Dame Washalot and Watzisname! I always tried to picture what all their little houses in the tree looked like. In every chapter, a ‘magical’ land would arrive at the top of the tree, which the children would visit and have amazing adventures. Truly magical!

Mrs Kylie Purshouse

My favourite children’s book is We’re going on a bear hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. This story reminds me of all the walks and adventures I go on with my own family and who knows, one day we may come across a bear? This book is a favourite bedtime story in my house. It’s a fun book to do all the actions and sounds as we read it together. 

Mrs Shirley Truscott

Animalcolm is the first book I have read by David Baddiel, and it will not be the last!

The story revolves around a boy called Malcolm and he just does not like animals! Imagine his horror when his school trip is a visit to a farm!

No more spoilers, but if you want to laugh aloud (which I did), this book is just for you!

Learning Support Assistants

Mrs Tanya Edmunds

Nursery Manager 

Staff Local Monitoring Committee Member

Autism Champion                                                                                                                   

My favourite book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I would love to be like the little caterpillar as I love food and I would get to eat lots of different foods, especially chocolate cake! It would be great to turn into a beautiful butterfly and be able to fly wherever I wanted!

Mrs Dana Tippett

EYFS Teaching Assistant

The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith is a new favourite book of mine. One of my children got it for Christmas and we have read it many times. It has brought lots of laughter at bedtimes and I enjoy the way it rhymes. It is a bit of a tongue twister and it makes me giggle when I read it.

Mrs Julie Henderson

One of my favourites books is Harry Potter. The detail in the writing by JK Rowling is truly amazing and her imagination is beautiful. The books are about much more than witches, wizards and magic. The book teaches the values of friendship, trust and love. My daughter now has her own box-set to read and enjoys reading a few chapters most evenings before she goes to sleep!

Miss Kara Burt

EYFS Teaching Assistant

One of my favourite books is The Midnight Gang by David Walliams because it is one that we love to read as a family – it is a favourite for everyone in our house. It makes me laugh out loud but also has such meaningful messages portrayed throughout.  One is that you can go through the toughest times, but still have fun.  I also love the portrayal of Tom and Sally's friendship, showing that compassion and empathy can help you overcome adversity. An all round great book that takes you through every emotion and keeps you entertained throughout!

Mrs Kimberley Casper

My favourite book is Tiddler by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. This is my favourite children's book as I love how Tiddler uses his imagination to create wonderful stories for his friends. This book shows children that no matter how young and small they are, they are able to create big magical adventures of their own!

Miss Tash Caust

EYFS Teaching Assistant and HLTA

My favourite children's book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, follows mischievous and disobedient young Peter Rabbit as he gets into sticky situations, and is chased around the garden by Mr. McGregor. The moral of the story is that you should always listen to your parents. This book is a true childhood favourite of mine as it brings back so many wonderful memories of receiving the book on my 6th birthday from my Nan and grandad, and then sharing and reading it at bedtime with my three younger brothers and for many bedtimes after.

Miss Leanne Barbery

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood is one of my favourite books to read to my children. With a simple and engaging story, its narrative is straightforward but filled with suspense and anticipation as to what is going to happen, including if and when the bear is going to show up. It’s a beautifully illustrated book in which children can easily recognise the emotions portrayed.  I like how we don’t see the bear, as sometimes we can’t see things that we are afraid of. In the end, the mouse shares the strawberry, and it’s good to share.

Mrs Karen Hancock 

Year 1 Teaching Assistant and HLTA

My favourite book is The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. I really enjoy the storyline with the mouse and how he outwits the Gruffalo! I love all the characters in it, but the mouse is definitely my favourite! It was also both of my sons' favourite books to read to them at bedtime.

Mrs Shelley Kinton

My favourite book is Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl.  As a child, I read it time and time again. Each time I was gripped by reading how the clever Mr Fox (along with his community) outwitted the farmers.  I love the author’s humorous descriptions of the characters.  I have enjoyed sharing this book with my own children too!

Mrs Hayley Hawken-Andrew

My favourite children's book is We're going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. I enjoy the children's reactions to this story. This book encourages learning in all different ways as it supports sensory and role-play. It sparks imagination and conversation and is a firm favourite to get us all singing along together. 

Mrs Kelly Carr

Mrs Rachel Pivetti

Teaching Assistant

My favourite children's book is Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. It tells the story of a horse’s life through his own eyes, following his journey from a happy childhood to the many homes and people he meets along the way. I love how it teaches kindness, empathy and respect for animals, and it’s a timeless classic that has stayed with me ever since I first read it. My Dad gave me my first copy of Black Beauty. 

Mrs Amanda Rickard

Year 3/4 Teaching Assistant and HLTA

Breakfast Club

Lunchtime Lead

My favourite book is the series of Secret Seven by Enid Blyton. The Secret Seven are a group of children who hold regular meetings and organise things to do, whether it's helping the community in some way, solving mysteries that turn up, or just having fun playing in the woods. They have a secret password, a badge, and a secret headquarters in a garden shed! I enjoyed reading how they solved all the mysteries that they went on. It takes our value of great ‘teamwork’ to solve the clues!

Mrs Tracey Julian

Year 4/5 Teaching Assistant and HLTA

My favourite book of all time is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I have loved it since I was a small child, when it was read to me in school. I have read it to my children when they were small and now also my grandchildren, who are both starting to love it too!

Mrs Emma Bishop

One of my favourite books is Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver. I first read this ‘gem’ of a book when I was 11 and was instantly hooked! The first in a six-part series entitled Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, Wolf Brother perfectly blends a prehistoric setting with fantasy. Clans, hunting, demons, and a young boy with powers he does not know, it is an action-packed adventure about orphaned Torak and his wolf companion overcoming the evil spirits that are conjured to invade their forest. I love Paver’s attention to detail in this story, which really brings the world to life!

Mrs Becky Hawken

Miss Robyn Yorke

The Nest Lead

Learning Champion

TIS Practitioner

Bereavement Counsellor 

The Little Mermaid, by Walt Disney was my all-time favourite as a child. As a little girl, I had a huge love for mermaids and I still do today. I remember having the full set of Disney classics read to me as a child and I still have them today. I read them to my children, but this one is one of my childhood book favourites. I love how independent and kind Ariel is and how she just wants true happiness. I like to think this is what we teach children every day.

Mrs Jenna Loveridge

The Nest Lead

Autism Champion

My favourite books as a child were Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. They are filled with intelligent, clever individuals and contained mystery after mystery. The fact that so few of those mysteries were resolved within the scope of the book, piqued my interest and sent me diving into investigations of my own. I loved the mystery and suspense. Most of all, I loved the characters. These books show we should never underestimate children! 

Mrs Debbie Rowe

Reading Champion 

Teaching Assistant

My favourite books are The Faraway Tree Stories by Enid Blyton.  I loved reading these stories when I was younger and then read them to my daughters. I love the characters and the adventures they get up to in each of the lands they visit. After each chapter, I couldn't wait to read the next chapter to see what antics the characters get up to next!  My favourite character was Saucepan Man when he muddled up his words!  I have enjoyed sharing the book with Year 2 children over the last few years.

External Providers

Mrs T Triggs

Forest School                                                 

Mr B Hawken

Choir 

Mr L Oxenham

Guitar Teacher