Meet the Staff

Watling Park School Staff Structure 2017-18

Acting Headteacher – Sonia Mallick

Sonia has worked in education for over twenty years in schools that are large and small and with a wide range of languages, cultures and communities. She knows and understands what helps children to learn and develop skills that will make them positive members of their schools and wider communities.

Sonia says “Every child can be successful and achieve their potential and I know that I am joining a team at Watling Park that is working towards the same goal of ensuring that we bring out that potential and support every child’s success.”

Interim Deputy Headteacher – Laura Collinson

Laura has worked for twenty seven years in education with experience as a middle and senior leader in a range of different settings. Most recently, she has supported whole school improvement, delivering effective whole school continued professional development and improvement within Bellevue Education Schools and Bellevue Place Education Trust Free Schools.

With a passion for supporting student teachers at the beginning of their career, Laura has also worked as a tutor on PGCE courses at two universities. In her free time, she is a freelance Education Consultant, a freelance Primary Education Author with several books in publication and is a Team Leader for marking KS2 Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling SATs test papers.

With her involvement since its opening two years ago, Laura is very keen to continue to support Watling Park School in her role as Acting Deputy Head Teacher by contributing fully to rapid school improvement whilst building the future for school and its community.

Y1 Senior Teacher & Inclusion Leader – Eve Watson

EYFS Staff

EYFS Phase Leader – Hetal Wader

Hetal is an EYFS class teacher at Watling and has experience with working with children from the ages 0-6 years. She is very passionate about early childhood development and believes it is where the love of learning is developed. She has taught Read write Inc and Maths mastery over the past year and is looking forward to supporting the children in all the areas of learning, so that they can become confident little learners. She is very excited to be part of an exciting new adventure with Watling Park. In her spare time, Hetal enjoys baking goodies, and learning about new cultures.

EYFS Teacher – Neil Hooley

Neil is an experienced EYFS leader who comes to us having taught in this phase for 10 years. He believes passionately in child centred education and indoor and outdoor learning opportunities. Neil believes strongly that EYFS values and ethos should extend throughout the whole primary phase and strives to encourage independence, resilience and responsibility in the children he teaches.

EYFS Teacher – Olivia Mason

Olivia is a EYFS teacher and started in September 2016. Olivia has worked as a Montessori teacher for 5 years and as a class teacher. Olivia describes joining Watling as “an exciting new challenge and adventure to develop and grow with the school”.

EYFS Teaching Assistant – Ozgur Duzgunolu

Year 1 Staff

Y1 Senior Teacher – Sarah Whitcombe

Sarah has been teaching in an outstanding school for the past twelve years and always strives to help the children reach their full potential. Sarah says “I am excited to join Watling Park School and I am looking forward to working with the children and families here”.

Y1 Teacher – Charlotte Haylett

Charlotte joined Watling Park in January 2016 as a TA in reception. This is Charlotte’s first role in teaching and chose Watling “as a new experience to kick start my teaching career”. Charlotte is looking forward to working towards becoming a full qualified teacher. She says “I chose Watling because I want to see the school grow and to grow with it. I love seeing the children flourish and achieve their goals”.

Y1 Teaching Assistant – Usma Khan

Usma is an experienced primary TA who is familiar with the whole primary phase. She enjoys interacting with children, particularly during playtime where she believes you can get the best out of children. Usma values routines and clear structures and strives to create a stimulating and engaging learning environment for all the children she works with.

Y1 Teaching Assistant & Learning Support Assistant – Zarqa Khan

Zarqa has worked in schools for three years with experience in teaching Year 1. Zarqa says “I wanted to be part of a growing school for the long-term. I’ve worked at a school that was brand new but I want to grow up with the children here at Watling. In my LSA role here I make changes and adapt the curriculum every day to meet the individual needs of the child I am working with, so they have an equal opportunity to learn.”

Year 2 Staff

Y2 Teacher and KS1 Phase Leader – Alice Neve

Alice has worked in Birmingham, Oxford and Hackney schools in the past and is excited to be joining Watling Park at such an exciting point in the school’s journey, with a brand new building! Alice says “When I visited the school I was completely won over by the smiles of children and staff and thought it was such a positive, happy place”.

In her spare time, Alice enjoys yoga, running and cycling. She also loves learning languages and is always keen to practice her Italian and Spanish. She says “I look forward to sharing these passions with the children at Watling Park School!”.

Y2 Teacher & KS2 Phase Leader – Elizabeth Renouf-Crotty

Elizabeth has worked within primary education for over twelve years; recently as the Key Stage Two Phase Lead and Mathematics Subject Lead at a fellow Barnet school.

Elizabeth describes joining Watling Park as a “rare and exciting opportunity to help construct and cultivate an environment which supports not only the education, but the wellbeing of all pupils from inception. I feel honoured to be a part of this adventure, and look forward to helping make the school outstanding!”

Teach First – Rachel Landsberg

Rachel has 10 years experience working with school children, which have been mostly spent in year 2,3 and 4 classrooms. Rachel is now undertaking Teach first training and intends to complete her training at the end of next year!

Y2 Teaching Assistant – Jodie-Lauren Morris

Jodie truly enjoys her role working with children in the primary phase. She particularly enjoys teaching phonics and developing herself professionally. She is a fully qualified first-aider and also has up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding and curriculum developments. Jodie particularly enjoys supporting children with their number work and writing. She is a valued member of our after school care team.

Y2 Teaching Assistant – Dominique Patel

Dominique is another highly experienced TA on our team who also supports our after school care. She particularly enjoys playing games with the children in the playground as she sees it as a vital role to encourage cooperation, collaboration and team work. Dominique also enjoys small group work where she can see the progress of individuals and small groups quickly.

Learning Support Assistant & Extended Schools Lead – Lulu Amure

Lulu is a Teaching Assistant in Year 1 and has 15 years’ experience in teaching. Lulu has previously worked as a Family Liaison Officer and has helped to nurture with special needs. Lulu uses art as a way of helping children express their feelings. Lulu chose Watling “because not only am I local to the area and wanted to be directly part of something that’s happening in the local community, but also because I feel strongly about helping children really progress and show that I believe in them”.

Office Staff

Office Manager – Caroline Gibbons

Caroline is the Office Manager at Watling Park School, having previously been an Office Manager at a school in Hertfordshire for 12 years. Caroline chose Watling because she “wanted to be part of something special from the very beginning”.

Office Administrator and Extended Schools Coordinator – Val Da Silva

Val is our Administrator and Extended Schools Provision Leader. Val previously worked in a primary school for 3 years and most recently for the last 9 years she has worked in a secondary school in Enfield, heading a small team of teaching assistants to deliver intervention groups to EAL students and assist in class across the curriculum. Val chose Watling Park School because she found the children and staff “engaging and welcoming”. She loves the fact the school gives her the opportunity to develop her skills further and grow with the school.

Support Staff

Caretaker – Daniel Stefanica-Groza

Daniel has extensive experience in site maintenance and is a Residential Maintenance Officer for Children’s Services London Borough of Barnet and has been for several years. Daniel worked as a Site Manager at AKIVA School for London Borough of Barnet in and is fully qualified in Site maintenance and construction NVQ Level 3.

Midday Supervisor – Shona Starkey, Midday Supervisor – Victoria Lee

Shona and Victoria work well together as a team to ensure that all children in our school are safe and well during lunch time.

They know all our children so well and are committed to ensuring the children eat well and have a positive dining experience every day of the week.