The Team - Queen Emma's Primary School

The Team

 SCHOOL LEADERS

 

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Vicky Musson

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. 

Miss l dixon assistant headteacher

Leanne Dixon

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. 

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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Melissa Robinson

Quality of Education UKS2

I have been teaching at Queen Emma’s since 2013. During my time at this school I have had the pleasure of teaching Years 3, 4, 5 and am now teaching Year 6. To become a teacher I completed a degree in English and Education studies at Oxford Brookes University, followed by a PGCE. Teaching is something I have always had a passion for from a young age. I love to work with the children to help them recognise their own potential and challenge themselves to achieve what they may feel is impossible. I am always eager and enthusiastic sharing my knowledge to shape the young minds of our children and it is a rewarding experience working at Queen Emma’s and sharing the school’s journey.

 

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. Having worked with children from all year groups in these different settings, I have enjoyed returning to England and working with the children at Queen Emma’s. 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 are English 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.

DBYDanielle Byers

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in California, USA and graduated with my BA in Liberal Studies Teacher Preparation from Notre Dame de Namur University in 2019. In primary school, I developed a love for travel and in secondary school, I knew that I wanted to eventually move to England. In June 2022, I completed a PGCE at Oxford Brookes University. I am very excited to be experiencing my first full teaching year at Queen Emma’s Primary School. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was two years old so it truly feels like a dream come true. Aside from my love for teaching, I love drama, reading, writing, singing, dancing, and getting outside and exploring! I look forward to all of the exploration that will be done at Queen Emma’s.  

CCACoral Capon

I am a specialist teacher at Queen Emma’s with over 10 years’ experience working with children from 6 months up to secondary school age. My journey started in Learning Support, working with boys excluded from mainstream education who required additional behaviour, emotional, social and academic support. This role progressed to adolescent Residential Care Worker where I remained for two further years and achieved an NVQ L3 in Health and Social Care. After spending some time with my young children, I became an Early Years assistant, then Childminder before finding my passion in Primary education. I’ve worked across five primary schools across KS1 and KS2 specialising in SEND before settling here at Queen Emma’s. During this time, I’ve obtained a BA Hons in Education and graduated with a First. 

My philosophy on Education is that every child deserves the chance to learn, aspire and make dreams into reality. I believe that surrounding children with positivity and guidance helps them to become independent and confident adults in the future.

QEP GCA

Gabriella Carvell-Turner

Since completing my undergraduate degree in 2018, I have spent the last two years working in a number of primary schools across Oxfordshire to further my professional development in education. I completed my PGCE in the summer of 2020 and will embark on the next chapter of my career as a Year 3 teacher at Queen Emma’s. 

I am passionate about performing arts, history and physical activity and as a teacher I aim to incorporate the creative, investigative and active elements of these interests into my lessons as much as possible.

Being a teacher is such a rewarding privilege and I feel so fortunate that I have the opportunity to do this at Queen Emma’s.

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Frankie Crouch 

I have been teaching at Queen Emma's since 2013. In that time I have taught EYFS, Year 1, Year 2, Year 5, Year 6 and am now in Years 3 and 4. 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.

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Yazmin Goodgame

I have been teaching at Queen Emma’s since 2017. Previously, I taught in a small village school in Kidlington. I have now taught years  1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. I strive to make my classroom an enjoyable place to learn and I am thoroughly grateful that I get to spend my day working with such wonderful young people. I am passionate about art and try to incorporate as many creative opportunities into each week as possible.

Before I joined the team at Queen Emma’s, I spent a year travelling the world with my fiancé and daughter. I love to explore different cultures and experience new places.

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.  

GLAGeorgina Lane

Since I completed my degree in Primary Education from York St John University in 2019, I have worked in different primary schools in North Yorkshire continuing my professional development. I am very excited to embark on the next stage of my teaching career at Queen Emma’s Primary School as a Year 4 teacher. 

I am passionate about history and the performing arts and enjoy teaching it as it allows me to use my creative side to make lessons exciting and interactive. I enjoy making lessons as imaginative and creative as I can in order to support children’s learning. 

Teaching is what I have aspired to be since I was a child and I feel privileged to be able to start my teaching career at Queen Emma’s. 

QEP HLE

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 KS1 at Queen Emma’s which I am thoroughly enjoying!

MNUMichelle Nulty

I have recently completed my PGCE in Primary Education and have had the pleasure of doing my last placement here at Queen Emma’s Primary School where I am now employed as a KS2 teacher. In my spare time, I like to keep active, running being a particular passion of mine. I also have a degree in Fine Art, which I have continued to enjoy since finishing my course. I believe that the creative mind and bringing that out in children is vital and being in Queen Emma’s will allow me to do just that. I am excited for this next step and it compels me to put children’s education to the forefront of my career.  

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. 

 

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.

Qep sscSarah Brown

I have been at Queen Emma’s since 2006. Initially I worked across the school as a Special Education Needs Teaching Assistant and currently I am working in Year 2. I am the Speech and Language Specialist for Years 1-6, delivering Speech Therapy programmes under the guidance of the Speech and Language Therapist with whom I work closely. I attended Queen Emma’s as a child and it is a pleasure to return as an adult to help educate another generation.

TBRToni Brown

I joined Queen Emma’s School in 2022 working in KS1 and I also run breakfast club. I have worked in various primary schools around Witney over the last 8 years and I’m excited to start my new journey at Queen Emma’s.

Qep ACO

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, to my current role as Community Engagement, Health and Mental Health Co-Ordinator. 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.

KSUKate Sutcliffe-Ralph

I joined the school in September 2022 as a Learning Support Assistant for Lower KS2 after completing my PGCE in Primary Education. I have previously worked in several schools across Merseyside and Greater Manchester. I completed my Undergraduate degree in Psychology focusing mainly on Children's Mental Health and Learning Difficulties. I take pride in my responsibility to guide and support learners to reach their full potential and am excited to start a new chapter working at Queen Emma's.

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.