In 1992 I joined the staff of Park Hill. I was so impressed with the school that my younger son joined the following year; he had a happy time here too. Later, he went on to Shrewsbury House School, followed by St Paul's and is currently at Leeds University. My elder son went to St John's School, Leatherhead after Shrewsbury House and has recently finished a year's scholarship at a University in America and will shortly finish his final year of a degree in politics, also at Leeds. My husband is now retired and claims to look after me. He does the housework and cooking and we argue over the gardening!

I still spend time directly with the children at Park Hill, as well as being Headmistress for 5 years. We have an active staff professional development programme and, as part of this, I join staff in the classrooms or teach the children directly. I also teach ICT to several classes every week. However, work is not all fun in the classrooms and I spend time on matters that effect the whole school; children, parents and staff.

At Park Hill we expect children to work hard and to attain high academic, artistic and social standards. It is our firm belief that these goals are achieved by giving praise and encouragement whilst delivering a stimulating curriculum. We aim to make explicit to the children how much they are valued in addition to drawing out their abilities. We aim for our pupils to be happy, give of their best and learn well. Another strand to our success is our close relationships with parents; we liase on both academic and social matters. Park Hill School supports family values and, in turn, the school values are supported by our families.

Qualifications: BA Hons (Exeter) Politics and Sociology, PGCE (Surrey) IHSM

My teaching career has spanned thirty years and in this time I have taught pupils from the ages of three to thirteen. Throughout this period, I have held a variety of posts enabling me to work with a broad spectrum of children.

I have worked in both the State and Private sector. This has enhanced my depth of experience and has required me to employ a variety of teaching techniques allowing me to deal with the many diverse situations which arise.

I strongly belive that a calm and positive ethos, firm but fair discipline, good organisation and approachability are the keys to successful, child-centred education. It is important for each child to feel secure, challenged, motivated and valued in order for them to reach their full potential.

I am very pleased to have joined Park Hill School and look forward to my role as Form Teacher.

Qualifications: Cert. Ed. (French and Education)

In the Summer Term of 2002 I joined Park Hill. My belief is that children should be respected as individuals and nurtured in such a way that each one feels capable of achieving his/her best in every area of the curriculum. To do this, we provide guidance and make appropriate demands of the children both academically and socially.

Qualifications: BA majoring in English, a PGCE to teach 9-13 year olds, another to teach 5-9 year olds, with the additional qualification of a Nursery course. I have experience of teaching from Nursery through to Secondary level. While my own children were small, I worked as a childminder and in playgroups. These experiences have enriched my own practice.

Qualifications: BA (Natal), PGCE (Witwatersrand), PGCE (Kingston)

I joined Park Hill in September 1998 as a classroom assistant and playground supervisor. The following April I took over the role of school sports co-ordinator, being responsible for arranging all sports lessons and liaising with professional coaches for swimming, tennis and football lessons. Additional responsibilities include organising our annual Sports Day and arranging inter-school competitions in football, netball and kwick cricket.

On March 2002, I successfully completed an NVQ3 in Early Years Care and Education, which has enabled me to take a more active role in teaching the children from the years of three to five, in the Nursery and Kindergarten classes. My aim is to help the younger members to settle in and, later, to adapt to the formal school environment.

Since September 2008 I have also been working with Transition (Year 1) and Form I (Year 2) as a learning support assistant. I enjoy working in the classroom with a wider age range as well as encouraging a lively interest in sporting activities throughtout the school.

Qualifications: NVQ3

I thoroughly enjoyed teaching part time at Park Hill during the summer term and am very much looking forward to joining the staff as Transition teacher in September 2009.

My working career has been centred on children, initially with the preschool age range. Then when my own children were at school I completed my teaching degree. I have taught in both state and independent schools where I have had the opportunity to take on many roles. I have taught across all primary age ranges and abilities, including pupils with special needs and gifted and talented children.

My belief is that the role of a teacher is to value each child as an individual providing lessons that engage and develop each child, aiming to help towards every one achieving their full potential.

Qualifications: BA (Hons) in Education with QTS

I have worked at Park Hill since 1999 and am pleased to have had the opportunity to teach across the full age spectrum of the school during that time.

I am now class Teacher to Kindergarten where my aim is to motivate the children to fulfil their potential both academically and socially through the building of their self esteem and self awareness.

As Art/Design Technology Co-ordinator, I endeavour to provide children with a stimulating and progressive programme which will promote new skills and an increasing knowledge of ways to tackle Design Technology challenges with growing confidence and originality.

Qualifications: BA (Hons), Graphic Design (Kingston), PGCE (OU)

I joined Park Hill in the Autumn Term of 2008 as the Head of Nursery. I believe that Nursery Education should be fun, informative and creative. I hope that our Nursery here at Park Hill encompasses all of this.

Previously, I have taught Reception at The Roche School and both Reception and Year One at Rokeby. Since having my own two children I have focussed on Nursery Education and am very excited to now be part of the team at Park Hill.

Qualification: BA(QTS), Southampton

After working with the under 5s in private nursery settings, for twelve years, I felt it was time for a change. Therefore, I joined Park Hill in September 2008 as a Nursery teacher as I wanted to use my experience to help the children here in a fun, creative and inviting environment.

At the beginning of my childcare career I studied and passed the Level 2 and Level 3 NVQ in Childcare at the Tic Toc Nursery in Twickenham. Nine years later I joined Dolphin Nursery in Kingston and followed up my qualifications with Early Years SENCO training.

Qualification: NVQ3, Early Years and Education.

My daughter benefited from the nuturing, supportive environment at Park Hill for six years from 2003. I joined the staff in 2007 as a Classroom Assistant, whilst studying for a Certificate in Early Years Practice.

I am currently studying for a Foundation Degree in Early Years and continue to enjoy working with Park Hill's skilled and dynamic team. I believe in the provision of holistic and cross curricular activities and learning experiences to inspire, support and develop each individual within my care.

Originally, I was a Registered General Nurse and subsequently gained qualifications and experience in horticulture, gardening and childminding. This background, along with my ongoing studies, informs and enhances my current practice.

Qualifications: Certificate in Early Years Practice - Level 4 (NVQ5) (Open University)

I have been teaching at Park Hill School since 2001 following my arrival in the UK from Australia.

I obtained my teaching qualifications in Sydney and upon graduation in 1988, I taught within the Sydney private school system for 14 years.

My role at Park Hill is varied. I teach Religious Studies throughout the school and Music. Working in a school such as Park Hill enables you to spend time developing individual children's talents and abilities providing them opportunities to grow.

Qualifications: Dip. Teaching (Sydney, Australia)

I came to class music teaching relatively late, after working for many years as a freelance clarinettist in London. I have been teaching at Park Hill since 1999 and became director of Music in 2001.

I firmly believe that all children have the potential to be musical, and will, if given enough exposure to high-quality music-making experiences, become more musical over the years. Here at Park Hill the music curriculum is taught through the practical activities of performing, composing, listening and appraising as laid out in the National Curriculum. We always expect and achieve high standards of performance from the children but equally we want them to enjoy themselves - we try to make sure that however hard we work, music remains fun for everyone!

Qualifications: BA (Hons) (York), ARCM Teacher's Dip, ARCM Performer's Dip, PGCE (OU)

My introduction to Park Hill School was in 1986, when my elder son started here at the age of four.

I trained as both a professional dancer and dance teacher at a school for dance and drama. I have danced in many musical productions and worked for Thames Television on several children's programmes.

It was during my son's early years at Park Hill that I was asked to stand-in for the Ballet teacher when she was sick; this I did and when she left I took over.

I believe that above all dance should be enjoyed. It is also extremely beneficial to a child's physical and emotional development; helping to promote, amongst others, good posture and confidence.

In 1999, I qualified as a complementary therapist. I find that this knowledge enriches my teaching by giving me a further understanding of children's development.

At Park Hill I have taught Ballet, Modern Dance, Tap, Music & Movement and Drama. Over the years I have helped to produce numerous displays and productions.

The pupils at Park Hill never cease to amaze me; their all round understanding of music and public speaking gives me such excellent ingredients to work with that my job is a complete pleasure! Having taught in a number of dance schools, I am able to compare the standards of Park Hill pupils to children who dance full time, and the Park Hill children come out on top!

Qualifications: ISTD, UTD, AAD, ITEC, Dip. Cariad