The Team

Miss l dixon assistant headteacher

Leanne Dixon

Headteacher

Having grown up in Oxfordshire, I feel privileged to be working in my hometown. I have worked in outstanding schools and led schools out of special measures and requires improvement. I have been a School Leader at Queen Emma's Primary School since 2017. I completed the National SENCo Award in 2019 which has enabled me to be the advocate for our children with special educational needs in both Finstock Church of England Primary School and Queen Emma’s Primary School. My role is to support our team to identify additional needs and coordinate support both in school and external agencies. I am completing my level 3 Pivotal Instructor qualification this year. 

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Alex James-Bott

Deputy Headteacher

I began my teaching career in 2015, having completed a PGCE at Oxford Brookes University. I have worked in a variety of primary schools across Oxfordshire and London and have experience teaching in Nursery through to Year 6. 

I love being creative and am extremely passionate about art and reading. I strive to make all areas of the curriculum as creative and inspiring as possible. 

I have a special interest in child psychology and mental health, completing an MSc in Psychology in 2020 at University College London and achieving a Distinction. Additionally, I have worked within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service specialising in eating disorders. Recently, I have completed training to become a Mental Health Lead. 

I joined the Mill Academy in 2020 and have loved teaching across both Queen Emma's and Finstock for the past 4 years. I am excited to continue to develop my career in a leadership role across both our wonderful primary schools. 

ASSISTANT SCHOOL LEADERS

Qep kwaKaren Wavish

Quality of Education EYFS and Year 1

I joined the Reception team in September 2020.

I have been an Early Years Lead since 2008 and have a particular interest in developing children’s literacy skills. I have enjoyed supporting local schools to develop their Early Years practice in my role as Local Authority moderator.

My grandparents owned a sweet shop and barbers in Carterton many years ago and then moved to a house just round the corner from Queen Emma’s!

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Leanne Jones

Quality of Education Year 2 and LKS2

I graduated from the University of Gloucestershire in 2012 and I have been teaching ever since. I have worked in a wide variety of schools within Oxfordshire and in Wiltshire, where I live.  I am happy to be working back in Witney, which is where I was born and grew up, and I still consider this town my home.  I absolutely love my job as a teacher and wouldn’t want to do anything else. I am passionate about education and seeing children fulfil their potential. I love working with such wonderful children at Queen Emma’s.

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Yazmin Goodgame

SENDCo

I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to teach from Reception to Year 6 in our school community. My passion lies in nurturing healthy habits in children, both mentally and physically, ensuring they are equipped with the tools they need to thrive in and out of the school setting.

Recently, I completed a master's degree in psychoanalysis, which has deepened my understanding of mental health and its crucial role in education. This new knowledge has enhanced my practice, particularly in my role as the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). In this role, I am dedicated to advocating for our children with special educational needs, supporting them to reach their full potential across both Finstock and Queen Emma’s Primary School.

As the Mental Health Lead, I am committed to promoting a positive, supportive environment where all children can flourish, ensuring their well-being is at the heart of everything we do.

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Victoria Musson

Director of Education

I trained to become a primary teacher at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln. I started my career teaching in a secondary school teaching Performing Arts. I have held a range of leadership positions, including Head of Performing Arts and Assistant Headteacher, often in schools with high deprivation and low social mobility.  I have been teaching for 18 years and in leadership roles for 14 which enables me to bring breadth and depth of knowledge, skills and experience to my current role: school improvement (primary and secondary), quality assurance, SEND reviews, transforming behaviour management, closing the gap, Ofsted preparation, Headteacher and SLT support, quality of education reviews, strategic approach to behaviour and attitudes, improving literacy: reading and writing.  I am a level 3 Pivotal Instructor and a Designated Safeguarding Lead. Currently, I graduated with a Masters in Educational Leadership from Buckingham University in 2022. I love my job because I have the opportunity to improve lives. 

 

TEACHING STAFF


Qep aarAlan Armstrong

I have been teaching since 2012, since completing my training at Oxford Brookes, initially in Oxford before moving to Cambodia for a year, followed by teaching in Spain before returning to England joining the team at Queen Emma's in 2020. Over my teaching career I have taught from year 1 to year 6, as well as adult learners, giving me a wide range of experience of all areas of the curriculum.

My goal as a teacher is to ensure that all of my class feel motivated to develop their knowledge and skills, and feel comfortable in their learning environment. My favourite subjects to teach are Maths and Art, so I always try to combine them to produce exciting work whenever possible.

Outside school I enjoy travelling, cycling, swimming and spending time with my wife and two young children.

Florence Chapman

Florence Chapman

I graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2022 as a qualified teacher. Before this, I worked with young people in various roles until I decided I wanted to support children right at the start of their education journey. During my teacher training year, I had the opportunity to teach for a term at Queen Emma’s. I loved seeing the positive school environment and the creativity within the curriculum and I decided then, this was the school I wanted to begin my teaching career in. 

I am class teacher for year 1. Inside the classroom I want the children to feel confident enough to reach their full potential, adopt the love of reading I do and most importantly feel excited about coming to school every day. 

Outside of the classroom you will see me reading a book, trying to cook up a new recipe or going on a nice long run.  

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Frankie Crouch 

I have been teaching at Queen Emma's since 2013. In that time I have taught in every year group (including EYFS) and am now in Years 4 and 5 (Enhanced Pathway). Before joining the team at Queen Emma's, I worked in an international school in Beijing, as well as another local school in Witney. I feel very fortunate to be spending my days teaching such enthusiastic and fun young people, and am thankful every day that I love my job. As a teacher I always strive to make children excited about coming to school, that they are engaged purposely in their learning and that they know their potential. I have a passion for sport and aim for all children to participate and engage in sport in primary school. I currently lead the Sport across the school, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to access high-quality PE lessons, extra-curricular activities and Inter-School competitions.

JGUJenny Gustafson

I completed my teacher training at Oxford Brookes University in 2022. Having spent some time at Queen Emma’s as a student teacher I was delighted to be starting my teaching career here. It’s important to me that children enjoy learning and I strive to ensure that they feel happy and comfortable in my classroom. I am enthusiastic about science and love to give children opportunities to get involved in practical investigations. Art and PE are my other favourite subjects because it’s a joy to inspire children to be creative and live active healthy lives. Outside of school I enjoy spending time in my garden, keeping fit and doing outdoor activities with my family.  

 

 

Katie Hempstock

 

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Hannah Legge-Geuter

I love the privilege of working with children and have been fortunate to work at a range of schools in Oxfordshire, including small village and large city schools. My first degree is in English Literature and I am particularly passionate to pass my love of reading on to the children I teach – I love seeing this spark ignited as it is a lifelong skill. I am currently teaching UKS2 at Queen Emma’s which I am thoroughly enjoying!

ESOEden Southey

Having grown up in Witney and completed my final university placement at this school, it seems quite fateful that I am starting my teaching career at Queen Emma’s, with a KS1 class. I graduated from the University of Brighton in 2021 with a passion for bringing music and languages into the classroom and, like some of my own most inspiring teachers, can often be found singing my way through the corridors! My goal as a teacher is to foster children’s confidence: confidence to show off their potential and confidence to make mistakes and learn from them, which is what learning is all about. 

 

Tina Talbot

 

 

 

SUPPORT STAFF

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Cathryn Taylor

Business Services Manager

I joined Queen Emma’s in September 2009 on a 9 month Administrative Assistant contract to cover maternity leave, but I loved the school so much that I have never left! I am now the Business Services Manager across the Primary Schools, working for The MILL Academy, having completed the CSBM in May 2018. I am very proud to be part of the amazing team at Queen Emma’s and have enjoyed developing links with other schools in The MILL. My aims for the future are to continue to support the schools on their journey to becoming the best they can be and I am excited about being a part of the story.

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Carol Abberley

I have worked at Queen Emma’s Primary School as a Learning Support Assistant for several years. I have seen many children grow into themselves achieving goals they only dreamt of.  Their look of delight, amazement of what they had have just discovered and wonderment to learn more, gives me encouragement and a need to develop myself in this role.  Working in most areas of the school has deepened my understanding of developmental needs and shown me where my strengths are.  I feel proud to be a part of this dedicated team.

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Amanda Cox

I started working at the school in January 2005, and I have had a variety of roles since then. I started as an SEN teaching assistant, then I went on to be a Home School Link Worker, which was followed by a role as Community Engagement, Health and Mental Health Co-Ordinator. I am currently working in our Pathway class and I continue to enjoy supporting our children throughout their time at Queen Emma's. 

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Sam Godfrey 

I have worked at the school for several years and am currently based in Lower Key Stage 2. Over the years I have seen lots of children go from Foundation right through to year 6. I have also been on several residential visits, which are enriching to pupils and adults alike. 

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Niki Olive

I am a qualified Nursery Nurse, this qualifies me to work with children from 0-7 years old. I also hold the certificate for the National Association of Maternal and Child Welfare. My first job was working with disabled children. I then went on to work in a nursery. Whilst bringing my stepsons and two sons up, I was a registered child minder. Then I was a supervisor at a preschool. I have been at Queen Emma's for approximately 20 years; working in Foundation class is such a rewarding job. The progression the children make in their first year is amazing to see. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren.

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Helen Murray

I recently joined the Queen Emma’s support staff team in February 2024. After spending 6 years working for the police force I decided it was time for a career change.  I am excited to use the knowledge I have gained to further safeguard children and work with families. Although I am new to the school environment, I have always had a passion for working with children and families and doing what I can to help. In this role, I will be focusing on improving attendance, safeguarding families, and offering further support by working with partner agencies.

Qep mwiMark Williams

I joined the Queen Emma’s team in September 2020. I have been working in primary schools since 2015, mainly as a one to one teaching assistant in Key Stage 1. I have also worked one to one with a visually impaired pupil and learnt how to read Braille, which is one of my favourite achievements from my time  working in education.