Senior and Teaching Staff
There is a rich diversity of personality and experience within our school community of teaching and support staff, parents, governors and alumni. This makes for an interesting and dynamic learning environment for pupils, who are encouraged to develop their passions, to discuss, to challenge and to question.
Senior and Teaching staff
Headmaster
Mr Chris Wheeler - Headmaster
MBA, PGCE, BA, FRSA, FTIOB
Chris Wheeler is a highly experienced leader and Canford is his fourth independent school headship. Most recently he was Principal of the Monkton Family of Schools in Bath, and prior to this served as Principal and CEO of Hillcrest International School and Headmaster of St Christopher’s (part of the Brighton College Family of Schools). Before becoming a Head, he worked at Brighton College, Peponi Secondary and St John’s, Leatherhead, in various roles including Deputy Head, Housemaster and Head of English.
Educated at Winchester College, Durham and Bristol universities with an MBA in Educational Leadership and Administration from UCL, he is currently Chair of The Institute of Boarding, Chair of the Education Committee as a governor at Stowe and a member of the HMC Finance and Risk Committee. He will be Chair of the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) in 2027 and has previously served as Vice Chair of HMC, Chair of HMC South West Division and as a member of the HMC Inspection Sub Committee.
Chris is married to Georgie and they have three children.
Senior Staff
Managing Director & Bursar
Mr D J Brook OBE, FI MarEST, CEng, MA, Defence Studies, BSc, Air Transport Engineering, University of London
Deputy Head (Co-Curricular)
Dr D Neill, BSc, Thames Polytechnic, PhD, University of Warwick
Deputy Head (Pastoral)
Mr R Redwood, MA (Oxon)
Deputy Head (Academic)
Mr I Weir, BA, Durham University, PGCE, University of Warwick
Assistant Head (Academic)
Mr R J Baldwin, BEng, University of Bath, MSc, University of Wales, PGCE, University of Bath
Assistant Head (College)
Ms Julia Bird, BA, University of Oxford
Academic Head of Lower School
Mr E Johnson, MSc, Imperial College, PGCE, University of London
Head of Enrichment
Mr J Ings, BA Hons, University of Southampton, PGCE, Buckingham University
Chaplain
The Revd P A Jack, BA, University of Nottingham, BA, Oak Hill Theological College
Director of Finance
Mr T Brown, ACMA, BSc Durham University
Director of Estates
Mr A J Bruce, MA University of York, BSc, MRICS
Director of Human Resources
Mrs A Phillips, FCIPD, FCMI
Director of Development
Miss R Gaston, PGCert, Coventry University, CIM, FAETC
Teaching staff
- Art
- Biology
- Business and Economics
- Chemistry
- Classics
- Computer Science
- Design Technology
- Drama
- English
- Geography
- History
- Mathematics
- Modern Languages
- Music
- Philosophy and Theology
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Politics
Art
Biology
Business and Economics
Chemistry
Classics
Computer Science
Design Technology
Drama
English
Jennifer Plater
Head of Department
BA, MA (University of London)
PGCE and QTS (University of Buckingham)
PGCE and QTS (University of Buckingham)
Rachel Dawick
MA (Bath Spa)
MDev (Victoria University of Wellington,NZ)
BA (Auckland University, NZ)
PGCE (London Metropolitan University)
CELTA (Stafford House, London)
BA Hons (Auckland University)
MDev (Victoria University of Wellington,NZ)
BA (Auckland University, NZ)
PGCE (London Metropolitan University)
CELTA (Stafford House, London)
BA Hons (Auckland University)
Andrew Farbridge
BA (University of Leicester)
MA (Open University)
PGCE (DeMontford University)
MA (Open University)
PGCE (DeMontford University)
Tom Owens
MA (University of St Andrews)
MSt and Dphil (St Johns College Oxford)
MSt and Dphil (St Johns College Oxford)
Hannah Ryan
MA (Edinburgh)
PGCE (York)
Med Inclusive Education (Open Uni)
PGDip SpLD/Dyslexia (Bath Spa)
PGCE (York)
Med Inclusive Education (Open Uni)
PGDip SpLD/Dyslexia (Bath Spa)
Kathryn Watts
BA (University of Sheffield)
PGCE (University of Durham)
PGCE (University of Durham)
Geography
Alex Boulton
Head of Department
BA (University of Exeter)
MA (University of London)
PGCE (Cantab)
MA (University of London)
PGCE (Cantab)
Sascha Deblander
BSc (University of Southampton)
MA (University of Nottingham)
PGCE (Oxon)
MA (University of Nottingham)
PGCE (Oxon)
James Ings
BA (University of Southampton)
PGCE (University of Buckingham)
PGCE (University of Buckingham)
Bryony Snooks
BSc (University of Southampton)
PGCE (University of Canterbury)
PGCE (University of Canterbury)
History
Mathematics
Stuart Gordon
Head of Department
BA, PGCE (University of Southampton)
Richard Baldwin
BEng (University of Bath)
MSc (UCNW, Bangor)
PGCE (University of Bath)
MSc (UCNW, Bangor)
PGCE (University of Bath)
Jessica Craig
BSc (University of Bath)
Cert HE (University of Bristol)
PGCE (University of Exeter)
Cert HE (University of Bristol)
PGCE (University of Exeter)
Jonathan Cumberlege
BA/MA (Cantab)
MBA (INSEAD)
PGCE (Northampton)
MBA (INSEAD)
PGCE (Northampton)
Modern Languages
Esther Saurel
Head of French
BA, MA (Université Michel de Montaigne, Bordeaux)
PGCE (Open University)
PGCE (Open University)
French
Shao TZU-Ling
Mandarin
BA (King Alfred’s College, Winchester)
TCSL (Fo Guang University, Taiwan)
TCSL (Fo Guang University, Taiwan)
Other MFL
Anne-Sophie Harrison
BA (Open University)
PGCE (University of Southampton)
PGCE (University of Southampton)
French, Spanish
Marianne Marns
MA (Université de Pau, Académie de Bordeaux)
PGCE (University of Bath)
PGCE (University of Bath)
French, Spanish
Nathalie Elias
BSc (University of Sussex)
MA (University of London)
MA (University of London)
French
Sally Finn
Head of Spanish
BA (Durham University)
PGCE (University of Cambridge)
PGCE (University of Cambridge)
Spanish
Gresimar Guanche
BEd, MA (Universidad Católica Andrés Bello)
CELTA (University of Cambridge)
PGCE Secondary Education Spanish Language with QTS (Bath Spa University)
CELTA (University of Cambridge)
PGCE Secondary Education Spanish Language with QTS (Bath Spa University)
Spanish
Elizabeth Haynes
Spanish Language Assistant
BEd (Universidad Normal 10)
BA (Universidad del Valle de Mexico)
BA (Universidad del Valle de Mexico)
Spanish
Ester Pellejero
MA
Accredited Teacher in Higher Education (Accr THE)
Accredited Teacher in Higher Education (Accr THE)
Spanish
Music
Music Staff
William Ings
Head of Department
MA (University of Cambridge)
PGCE (Bath Spa University College)
PGCE (Bath Spa University College)
James Belassie
Assistant Director of Music
BA Music (St Catharine's College, Cambridge)
QTS
QTS
Alistair Hardie
Assistant Director of Music (Academic)
BA (University of York)
MA (University of Durham)
PGCE (University of Buckingham)
MA (University of Durham)
PGCE (University of Buckingham)
Visiting Music Staff
Philosophy and Theology
Sam Leiper
Head of Department
BA (University of Manchester), MA (University of Birmingham), MA (University of Nottingham)
PGCert (Cantab)
PGCert (Cantab)
Ieuan Weir
Deputy Head Academic
BA (University of Durham), PGCE (University of Warwick)
Phil Jack
Chaplain
BA (University of Nottingham), BA (Oak Hill Theological College)
Physical Education
Academic PE
Physical Education and Wellbeing
Tony Diprose
Director of Sport and Physical Wellbeing
BSc (University of Loughborough)
Natasha Wilson
Assistant Director of Sport
BSc, PGCE (University of Brighton)
Melissa Clinton
Head of Wellbeing and Physiotherapy Services
BSc (Brunel University)
MSc (University of London)
MSc (University of London)
Matthew Collison
Head of Academic PE
BSc, PGCE (University of Bath)
Ellie Gibbons
Head of Netball
BSc Hons (University of Exeter)
PGCE (University of Birmingham)
PGCE (University of Birmingham)
Matt Smith
Head of Athletic Development
BSc (University of Bangor)
MSc (University of Loughborough)
MSc (University of Loughborough)
Charlotte Toogood
Assistant Head of Rowing
BA (University of Nottingham)
Physics
John Allison
Head of Department
BSc (University of Newcastle)
PGCE (University of Bristol)
PGCE (University of Bristol)
Richard Carpenter
BSc (University of Nottingham)
PGCE (Nottingham Trent)
PGCE (Nottingham Trent)
Paul Scott
MPhys (University of St Andrew's)
MSc (University of London)
PGCE (Oxon)
MSc (University of London)
PGCE (Oxon)
Emma Thornburrow
BSc (University of York), PGCE (University of Bath)
Politics