Mrs Jessica Batchelor: Stansted

My name is Mrs Batchelor, and I joined Grange Park in September 2020, as a teaching assistant. I felt a part of the Grange Park family instantly and became a cover supervisor in November of the same year.

I thoroughly enjoy working across the whole school, helping in many areas, but finding my home at the Stansted Primary Provision  is such a privilege. 

 

I have a Ba (Hons) in Photography. I love art and to be creative and I try to encourage the imagination in everyone. Like many, I did not know what I wanted to be growing up, I just knew that I wanted to try and make a difference and find something that I was passionate about and that I would enjoy.

 

Outside of work, I like to spend as much time as I can with my daughter and husband. I also enjoy baking, reading and listening to all genres of music. 

 

 

Mrs Rebecca Bricher: Primary Teacher

Having joined Grange Park this September, I have very quickly been made to feel at home and am enjoying my first term here. 

 

I have been a teacher for over 20 years and decided about five years ago to leave mainstream education and enter a specialist setting.   I enjoy teaching all subjects and particularly like English and school trips.  Outside of school I try to keep fit by swimming and practising yoga.  Socialising with family and friends is very important to me and going away with my husband in his classic car (even if it does break down!).  I am very much looking forward to an exciting year. 

 

Mrs Valerie Cave-Brown: Senior Learning Mentor (Key Stage 5)

My name is Mrs Cave-Brown and I have worked at Grange Park since 2019 with Key Stage 5. I specialise in Independent Living and have worked with young adults with Autism for 10 years in this field. I am passionate about teaching pupils the next steps to help them gain their independence in their adult lives.  I also look after the school allotment, encouraging pupils to grow their own food. This year, I have also taken over Animal Care within the school, where we go offsite to a local farm.

 

In my spare time I have an allotment, and enjoy arts and crafts. I am a member of the WI and appreciate travelling and being outdoors.

 

Mrs Hazel Chilvers: Head of Science

I joined Grange Park as the Head of Science in 2021, and thoroughly enjoy working with pupils to inspire and motivate them in their learning. I have previous experience as a Head of Department, but my interest have always been with working with pupils with SEN.

In my spare time, I enjoy trips to the theatre and escaping from 'panic rooms', along with family games nights.  I also spend time gardening and very much enjoy reading.

 

Mr Paul Devlin: Head of English 

After a successful career as a journalist and reviewer, I began teaching at a large comprehensive. Although I enjoyed teaching mainstream English, I really found my niche when I began working with students from the school’s centre for autism and quickly joined the team there. As well as leading on the teaching of English to all age groups, I also took on the rewarding role of Deputy Head of Centre - with a particular focus on supporting young people in Key Stage 4.

 

When not reading books, particularly those of Stephen King, my main passion is music and I love playing electric guitar and bass.

 

Mrs Amanda Dixon:  English 

I am a creative and passionate teacher, who enjoys finding a variety of ways to present pupils with different opportunities to learn within a personalised, holistic approach.

 

Several years ago, I began in education as a specialist teaching assistant, working with visually impaired pupils within the classroom or 1:1; as a 1:1 TA to improve literacy and supporting pupils with a variety of special needs. I have been a teacher for about 6 years and I have worked in various settings, including mainstream and within a SEMH setting before coming to work at Grange Park School. ​

 

 

Mrs Jo Gould -  Maths Teacher (Designated Safeguarding Lead)

I have been with the school for 9 years, initially to lead maths and then progressing to Progress Leader. Previously I taught maths in an oversubscribed mainstream school.

It has been an amazing experience becoming part of the ASD world, from knowing the bear minimum at the start to learning something new every day to enhance my ability to support the young people in our care.  I feel very passionately that student voices should be heard. Not only in their options and ideas on how they can enhance their own ability to learn, but also that behind every behaviour there is a reason.

 

Miss Laura Hall: RE Teacher

My name is Miss Hall and I have been an RE specialist for over 15 years. I have a degree in Religious Studies and Theology and love to teach ethical issues and morality. I am excited to start my new adventure at Grange Park and will lead World Citizens (RE) and PSHE.

 

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my two daughters and my friends. I participate in a weekly Pilates class and can often be found volunteering in a local charity shop.

 

Mrs Elizabeth Hayter:  Food Technology and Art 

I joined Grange Park as a teaching assistant in November 2013. In 2015 I was given the opportunity to teach art and cookery, and we successfully achieved our first “A” grade for GCSE art.

I am now a form tutor, and continue to teach art and cookery full time.

I studied art at Camberwell College of Art, London, and am a trained professional interior designer from having qualified from KLC School of Interior Design, at The Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. I am currently studying Art History and Classical Studies part time.

I enjoy spending time with my family, visiting museums and galleries, and collecting antiques and antiquities.

 

 

Miss Lydia Malkin: PE 

My name is Lydia Malkin and I joined Grange Park School in September 2023. I have worked within the sports and fitness industry throughout my whole career and have a real passion for educating individuals on the benefits of health and fitness. Having worked as a qualified Personal Trainer I stepped into teaching back in 2013 where I have taught and led on a number of courses such as BTEC Sport, YMCA Emergency First Aid and the YMCA Fitness Instructing and Personal Training qualifications. 

 

Here at Grange Park I am able to use my skill set to encourage our pupils to try out sports and fitness activities that they may have otherwise rejected, with my ethos being that it's all about giving it a go. This helps the pupils to feel comfortable in an environment that they may have previously felt overwhelming, with huge success in participation due to lack of pressure and loads of encouragement.

 

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family, keeping active and reading. I also love to spend time out in the garden growing fruit and vegetables and pottering about keeping things neat and tidy.  

 

Mrs Deborah Jobson: Computing & ICT

My name is Deborah Jobson and I have been a teacher and leader in education for over 18 years within mainstream secondary schools, with a specialist setting for pupils with ASD or Complex Needs. I hold Certificate in Assessing and Teaching Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties.

 

I have been privileged to have directed and reviewed the provision of SEN for pupils from EYFS to 6^th Form. I am an ambitious and incredibly driven person, with a clear moral compass and commitment to do all that I can to champion the inclusion and wellbeing of pupils.  Having successfully piloted one National Project, I am presently working on another to increase resiliency and wellbeing among our young people.

 

I am very excited about welcoming students to Grange Park School, being part of their educational journey and helping them to achieve their aspirations.

Outside of school I have a passion for gardening and growing my own fruit and vegetables. I like sharing the plentiful crops with family, friend and neighbours. I enjoy preserving fruits and have been told that I make excellent Christmas chutney!

 

Mr Luan Kulla: Forest School & Science

My name is Mr Kulla, and I became a science teacher in 2006.

I have worked in secondary schools with a specialist setting for pupils with medical emotional and ASD, and I hold a BSc Honours in Environmental Science.

I am very passionate about Science and I encourage students to appreciate the role that Science plays in society. I direct my teaching to encourage an atmosphere of exploration and understanding of the world around us.

I am mindful of the role I play as a teacher in the pupil’s preparation for later stages of their life. As such I engage in all curricular activities to support students at Grange Park School.

Outside school, I am involved in animal rescue, wildlife and environmental issues. I also grow most of my own fruit and vegetables.

I also enjoy travelling and foreign languages. I am fluent in French and have good conversational Italian.

 

 

Mrs Jannine Morgan: Maths & Forest School

After receiving my First Class BA Hons in PEPA at Canterbury Christ Church University I became a freelance PE specialist working in nurseries, schools and SEND settings.

 

I joined Grange Park in October 2020 and was given the opportunity to gain my Level 3 Forest School qualification. Shortly after, I joined the mathematics department which has assisted me in finally pursuing my QTS.

 

I enjoy learning and spending quality time with my family and friends. I like watching sport and love to swim and participate in water sports. I love the outdoors and spending time in nature walking my two dogs.

 

 

Mr Aidan Phipps: Stansted 

After a fun and rewarding career working for the independent travel company Trailfinders, I began to teach at one of the largest primary schools in London about 12 years ago. Although I have mainly taught in Year 6, I have taught across the age range at KS2 and have been the maths coordinator for several years. I have also been lucky enough to organize and lead the week long year 6 residential trip for the last seven years, which is a tremendous experience for the children and adults alike.

 

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family. We go camping whenever we can and love walking in the Kent countryside. I am also a huge football fan and although my playing days are over, I love going to watch my team with my brother.

 

 

Mrs Abigail Rodreigo: Stansted  & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

I am Mrs Rodreigo and I  joined Grange Park in January 2019 and it has been a privilege to be part of the development of the new Stansted site from the beginning. I am passionate about making learning fun and tailoring learning for all children and young people to succeed both academically and personally. 

 

As a child I always wanted to be a teacher and after studying Education and Developmental Psychology, I ran a tuition center before training as a primary teacher. I have taught across Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 and have always been drawn to supporting pupils with additional needs.

 

Outside of work, I enjoy playing Netball and love to spend my holidays travelling, mostly around Europe but also frequently visit family in Sri Lanka.  

 

Ms Jade Sommer: ICT Teacher

I started my teaching career 3 years ago in a mainstream setting and since then I have had the opportunity to teach a variety of subjects including computing, business and media. My passion lies with computing and the continuing development of the technology world. I studied BSc Digital Media at The University of Brighton, which was amazing but not so much the weather being by the coast. 

 

I like travelling and exploring new cities and cultures during the school holidays and am already looking forward to my next adventure. I have a passion for cooking and my favourite thing to make is pizza in a wood fired oven.

 

I am looking forward to beginning this next chapter in my teaching career at Grange Park School 

 

Mrs Vaughan: English & French Teacher

I came to Grange Park in 2022 after working in a mainstream secondary school, where I realised that my specialist interest was in SEN – so made the leap to join the amazing team here. I run interventions in English and Maths and also teach French to students in Y10 and Y11.

I am originally from North Yorkshire and have a BA (Hons) in Modern Foreign Languages from Durham University. After graduating, I worked as a journalist in regional newspapers, starting out as a junior reporter and then becoming a deputy editor before taking a career break to bring up my children.

In my free time, I play clarinet in a local wind ensemble, sing in a barbershop chorus and have recently rekindled my childhood drawing hobby by taking up urban sketching, armed with a biro! I also grow a lot of vegetables and keep chickens in my garden!

 

Cover Supervisors

 

Miss Charliiee Armstrong

 

Miss Libby Cavey

 

Mr Dakota Dibben

 

 

Miss Jodie Mchardy