Ashbourne Staff

MSc (London); BApSc (Toronto); MInstD

Mike Kirby founded Ashbourne College in 1981 and has since presided over its continuing academic development and growth in reputation.

Mike studied Aerospace Engineering at the University of Toronto and Statistics in London. He is a key figure in the promotion of independent education in the UK through bodies such as the Council for Independent for Further Education (CIFE). He is a former main member for the Admissions Panel for Medicine at UCL.

Mike is Head of Faculty for Maths and teaches at A level.

Lee provides individual attention and support to each student in order to oversee and ensure their academic and personal success whilst at the college.

He collaborates with the Heads of Faculty, Personal Tutors, teachers and the Operations Team to motivate and support students in all aspects of their education so they can reach their potential.

Lee has been instrumental in building a strong and dynamic team of staff and is responsible for supporting and facilitating staff development and overall operational management of the college. He is also Ashbourne’s SENDCO and Deputy Safeguarding Lead.

Lee has a passion for all things Vietnamese and has spent much time in the country performing as a singer songwriter and professional football player. He is a qualified FA coach and has also played semi-professionally in the UK.

MEng Civil Engineering with Business Management (Warwick University); QTS

As Head of Sixth Form Sean plays a very active role offering students the high levels of individual attention and support required to enable them to reach their academic potential and make the right decisions for the next stages of their lives.

Sean teaches A level Maths and Further Maths at Ashbourne and worked in investment banking before joining the college in 2015. Students benefit from his experience and guidance as well as his enthusiasm for them to thoroughly enjoy their experience at the college. He is keen sportsman, drummer and volunteers and fundraises for charities.

MA Modern Literatures in English (Birkbeck, University of London); BA English Literature (University of Wales); PGCE English (King’s College)

James has made an outstanding contribution to the academic development of the college, since joining in 2007. As well as leading the hugely successful English Faculty, he has been pivotal in establishing Drama as a vital part of Ashbourne’s curriculum.

James has also enriched the college’s cultural life with initiatives that have ranged from the college newspaper to very popular critical theory seminars, which he runs with Wesley Rykalski.

As Assistant Director of Studies and Leader of Faculties, James has guided and motivated countless Ashbourne students

BSc Neuroscience (Kings College, London); QTS

Studying Neuroscience was what first motivated Amy to share her love of science, and expertise, with others. She is particularly fascinated by human biology and immunology and, not surprisingly, does a fantastic job inspiring and enabling her students to explore and develop their own passions.

Amy joined Ashbourne in 2015 as Head of Faculty for Natural Sciences and leads Ashbourne’s Medical School Programme, providing the practical support and guidance students require to make successful applications for highly competitive university degree courses in medicine and dentistry. She draws on years of experience as head of science, teaching and as a UCL Medical School interviewer.

As Ashbourne’s Head of Sixth Form, Amy also offers students the high level of individual support and encouragement they need to ensure they find the right career pathway, achieve their academic potential and secure a place at their chosen university.

Master of Fine Arts (Ohio); BA History and Drama (Liverpool)

Fran plays a critical role as Ashbourne’s Designated Safeguarding Lead. She has many years experience delivering specialist programmes in student health and wellbeing and plays a key role in PSHEE education and developing policy at Ashbourne.

She believes that supporting students in all aspects of their lives is one of the key factors helping them reach their personal and academic potential.

Fran has plenty of teaching experience too and was formerly head of drama.

Fabio manages the day-to-day running of the college’s premises and communications systems. He is responsible for health and safety at the college as well as data protection and security of the college IT system.

Fabio has played a major role in the development of the college’s databases and is instrumental in the running of the college. He has been working at Ashbourne since 2005.

Fabio is passionate about football and has played professionally and semi-professionally in the UK. He manages Ashbourne’s successful Allstars Football Team.

MSc International Finance (University of Westminster); BA Account, Finance and Management (University of Nottingham)

Hien manages Ashbourne’s Administration team as well as offering support to students, teachers, parents and everyone else involved with the college.

Hien is also responsible for many aspects of the college’s compliance with current education legislation; she has played an absolutely essential role in fulfilling the college’s obligations. She also manages Ashbourne’s Easter Revision Programme.

MA Government and Political Studies (London Metropolitan University); BSc Hons Sociology (Kingston); NVQ L4 Print Journalism (Richmond Adult Community College); PGCE (Greenwich)

Dennis is a senior member of staff and has been working at Ashbourne for many years. He teaches a broad range of subjects including Politics, Film, Media, Law and Psychology. He is also a team leader for Politics A level examiners

Dennis takes a multidisciplinary approach to teaching and combines his technical expertise and years of experience to create lively and engaging classes for his students. As a result Dennis’ students consistently achieve excellent grades and rate their overall learning experience highly.

Dennis is a lifelong film enthusiast.

MA Hispanic Studies (UCL); BA English Language Studies (University of Santiago de Compestela, Spain); Teachers Training Certificate (University of Santiago de Compestela, Spain)

Alberto is Faculty Head of Languages at Ashbourne and has been teaching at the college since 2000. He teaches Spanish, English Literature and Film Studies. He is also principal examiner for the Spanish AS topics and texts unit.

Alberto has a lifelong passion for film and the world of filmmaking. He specialises in national cinema – Spanish and Latin American cinema in particular – and auteur theory, especially when applied to classic Hollywood directors.

MA History of Art (University of Edinburgh); BA Art History (University of Edinburgh)

Will teaches History of Art and leads Ashbourne’s successful Oxbridge Programme providing the practical support and guidance students require to make successful applications to Oxford or Cambridge universities.

He is passionate about sharing his own love of art and its history, having studied both Western and Eastern art history, and is the author of several art-historical publications.

Will has been teaching at Ashbourne for many years but has also taught at the Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies, among other places, and has assisted with research and cataloguing at the Ashmolean Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

MSc Climate Science and Policy (University of Bristol); BSc Biological Sciences (University of Warwick)

As Head of Middle School and Lower Sixth, Philip plays a pivotal role in supporting and guiding year 10, 11 and 12 students in their academic progress, welfare and personal development during their time at the college.

He is passionate about environmental issues and not only brings his research experience in this area to his Biology teaching but also in genetics and evolution, animal and plant biology, clinical microbiology and ecology.

Navid supports and guides year 12 students in their academic progress, welfare and personal development during their time at the college.

He helps run the A level Politics clinic for students and the College’s Model United Nations club, as well as being a member of the administration team.

Navid is a successful former student and is currently reading Law at Queen Mary University, London, to become a solicitor.

MA Contemporary Art Theory and Criticism (Essex); BA English Literature and History of Art (Joint Honours) (Birmingham); PGCE (UEL)

Katie supports and guides year 12 students in their academic progress, welfare and personal development during their time at the college. She also manages the IELTS programme.

Katie has been teaching History of Art and English at Ashbourne for many years. She is passionate about engaging students’ interest and encouraging them to develop their enthusiasm for literature and art history both in and outside the classroom.

She has played various roles in the arts sector in London, including working for the Institute of Contemporary Arts, Anne Thorne Architects and the Olympic Delivery Authority, for which she collaborated with internationally acclaimed artists on innovative and high-profile art projects in and around London’s Olympic Park.

Before teaching at Ashbourne, Katie established History of Art A level at the International School of Creative Arts, the only specialist day and boarding school run in association with University of the Arts London.

BA English; PGCE Secondary English (UCL)

Abigail is a Year 12 Personal Tutor who supports and guides students in their academic progress, welfare and personal development during their time at the college.

As a teacher, she is enthusiastic to share how English literature and language can engender empathy, provide a platform for many voices and empower both the author and reader. Her teaching experience and passion for the subject have been instrumental in helping students achieve excellent results.

Abigail takes inspiration from nature and is a keen runner and explorer. She is also studying for a masters in creative writing.

BSc Psychology (Leeds University); PGCE Psychology (Canterbury Christ Church)

Leona supports and guides year 12 students in their academic progress, welfare and personal development during their time at the college.

Leona teaches A level Psychology at the College and is a qualified AQA examiner.  She has many years’ experience teaching in state and private sector education and was a former Head of Psychology and Forensic Science. She also has experience working with rehabilitating offenders.

Leona loves snow and surf and is a ski instructor and competitive wakeboarder. She also rides horses, is a keen travel photographer and textile designer.

BA Applied Foreign Languages, English and French Literature (University of Nanterre, Paris); BA Portuguese, Society and Culture (University of Lisbon); PGCE Modern Foreign Languages (University of North London)

Benvinda joined Ashbourne as a part time language teacher after attaining her PGCE in Modern Languages.

Benvinda speaks Portuguese, Spanish and Italian. She is a keen runner and has competed in a few marathons.

MA English in Education (Kings College London); BA English Language (Kent); PGCE (Canterbury)

Snaa is an experienced and passionate English teacher whose focus is building students’ confidence, helping them to develop and practice examination technique and revise effectively. She applies her thorough understanding of the current debates in education, the examination process and assessment to her teaching.

She is a fitness enthusiast and enjoys trying out creative and healthy recipes with her family.

PhD Bioengineering (Imperial College London); MSc Engineering Physics (Liège and Cambridge)

Andrea loves to share his academic and technical expertise with his students to help them discover the wonders of engineering.

Andrea is a senior engineer in medical diagnostics who is dedicated to advancing diagnostics through innovative technology and making a real difference in the world of healthcare.

Andrea is also multilingual and has a diverse range of interests that include painting, music and martial arts.

MSc Philosophy of Mental Disorder; BA Philosophy (King’s College London)

Joseph is an experienced and passionate educator with a fascination for psychological and philosophical issues. He is dedicated to fostering curiosity and critical thinking in his students.

Beyond teaching, Joseph enjoys painting and sculpture, especially from the early Renaissance, and often draws inspiration from art and culture to enrich his lessons.

MA Transatlantic Studies (Birmingham); BA Political Science (Padua University, Italy)

Klara brings a wealth of experience, linguistic expertise and a broad understanding of literature, history and culture to the classroom. She is fluent in Russian, Italian and English and takes a keen interest in translation. She uses innovative strategies to engage her students that help develop their confidence and abilities in language learning.

Klara enjoys yoga, traveling, cooking and meditation.

MA Cultural Policies (London City Univerisity); BA Italian Literature and Contemporary Art (Milan Catholic University)

Cristiana has been teaching Italian at Ashbourne for many years and draws on her love of contemporary literature and art for inspiration in her classes. She has experience teaching in Germany, Austria and Italy with students studying a variety of levels.

BA History (Leeds); PGCE (Manchester Metropolitan University)

Joanna has been teaching history at Ashbourne for many years. She offers her students excellent levels of individual attention and a thorough exam-based approach to the subject as she is also an Edexcel examiner.

Joanna taught overseas before joining the college in 2010. She is a keen traveller and loves the great outdoors.

BA Hons (University of Thessaloniki); BA Hons (Cologne); PhD study (Cambridge); PGCE (London)

George teaches Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation, and has been head of Ashbourne’s Classics department since 2003. He is a member of the Association for Latin Teaching and is an assistant examiner for the OCR exam board and the Cambridge Pre-U.

MA Fine Art (Chelsea College of Arts, UAL); BA Hons Fine Art (Staffordshire University); PGCE Art and Design (Bath Spa University)

Nick brings a wealth of experience and passion for teaching art to Ashbourne. He is a practising artist who has exhibited his work across the UK and has been teaching for more than seven years. He has also been an Edexcel exam moderator for GCSE and A level. Nick joined the college in 2016.

BEng Electrical Engineering (Imperial College, London); QTC in ICT (Hertfordshire University)

Irwin has been teaching Mathematics and Computer Science for more than 30 years, as well as lecturing in Electrical Engineering. Along with this extensive experience he brings a wealth of expertise in programming robotics and applying high-level programming languages. 

In his spare time, Irwin loves playing the piano, singing and writing children’s books. He is also a football coach and ref.

BSc Psychology (University of Birmingham); PGCE PCET (Birmingham)

Harry teaches his students to become independent thinkers capable of effectively conveying and critiquing theories of psychology. He has experience teaching A level Psychology and Criminology and is particularly interested in memory and schema within cognitive psychology.

Harry is also a keen football fan, plays volleyball and is a long distance runner.

Maths integrated masters (Bath University); PGCE Secondary Maths (Oxford University)

Richard has experience teaching Maths from pre-GCSE level all the way up to first year undergraduate. He has taught in both state and private sector schools in the UK and Australia. Richard also worked as a software developer for a company providing services for major UK retailers. He currently teaches GCSE and A level Maths at Ashbourne.

MSc Computer Science and Engineering (NITK); BSc Computer Science and Engineering (Kerala University)

Sree Vidya has extensive training and years of professional experience as a senior software developer with major tech companies, as well as teaching Maths, Computer Science and Engineering. She loves to make complex concepts easy to understand by digging into the detail and finding creative ways for students to examine them.

Sree Vidya combines her technical skills with creative storytelling to produce and edit videos. She is also a passionate advocate of gardening for wellbeing and sustainability.

BA Psychology (Missouri University of Science and Technology); PG Dip Education (Open University of Sri Lanka)

Wishanka is continually exploring and deepening her own understanding of psychology whilst sharing her knowledge and experience with her students. She has been teaching for more than nine years at GCSE and A level as well as working as assistant head of sixth form at her previous school. 

Wishanka loves singing.

BA Philosophy with Mathematics (Cambridge); CertHE Mathematics (Birkbeck); QTS (NMAPS)

Alice loves maths and takes great pleasure in teaching her students how to confidently approach and understand complex topics and abstract concepts. Before teaching Alice was a lawyer and a writer.

Master of Education in Teaching Arabic to Speakers of Other Languages (Universal American University); BA English Literature (University of Aleppo)

Zeinab has many years’ experience teaching university students and international students in Singapore, as well as adult learners and language students in the UK. She loves exploring foreign languages and developing her teaching resources. She particularly enjoys organising language-based cultural events relating to the arts, music, food and competitions. 

BSc Pure and Applied Mathematics (Sheffield University); PGCE (Sheffield University); NPQH (Lancaster University)

Luke has more than 30 years’ experience in education as a teacher, teacher trainer, head of department and vice and acting principal. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to help his students achieve the best results. 

He loves film, dance and theatre, sings in a band and played semi-professional football, which he can coach as well as and other sports.

BA Philology with English; Teacher training (University of Seville)

Susana has been teaching for many years with excellent results and loves to enrich her student’s learning experience through extracurricular cultural and language events including cinema, theatre and art.

She has plenty of experience working within in a modern foreign languages department and providing academic and pastoral support as a personal tutor.

Susana is a native Spanish speaker from Seville. She loves theatre and going to exhibitions.

MA and BA Fine Art (Central St. Martins); PGCE Art and Design (Institute of Education, University of London)

Caterina is a practising fine artist who has plenty of experience curating exhibitions and working with galleries. She has been teaching art and design for many years to a wide range of age groups including at GCSE and A level and joined Ashbourne’s Art Faculty in 2016.

BSc Maths; PGCE Education (Durham)

Gabriella is not only passionate about bringing her expertise in Maths to the classroom but also shares stories about the subject, its history and related areas, such as music, on her own ‘maths channel’. She has six years’ experience and a comprehensive theoretical foundation for effective teaching.

Gabriella loves outdoor adventures, is a keen pianist and ballet dancer and makes her own handicrafts.

BA History of Drawing and Printmaking (UAL); Pattern cutting and fashion courses (LCF); Interior Design diploma (KLC); PGCE (Greenwich)

Julia’s passion is textiles and art, and alongside teaching she runs her own interior design business. She is an ardent supporter of sustainability, which is reflected in her own fashion work and interior design, as well as in the classroom. She particularly enjoys helping to tease out the best in her students and as a former AQA textiles examiner she also shares valuable insights around the exam process.

MSc Mathematics (The Open University); PGCE (University of Greenwich); BEng (Hons) Electronics and Communication (University of North London); BSc Physics, Pure Mathematics and Statistics (University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka)

Chella has been teaching Mathematics and Physics for more than twenty five years. Year after year he remains one of Ashbourne’s most popular Maths teachers. He has also headed up the college’s astro-physics club for many years.

Chella’s research interests are number theory and the development of renewable energy sources.

BA Economics (University of Wisconsin, USA); PDip Education (Chinese University, Hong Kong)

Bruce is an expert in conveying abstract economic concepts and models through the use of real-world examples to help students appreciate the relevance to their lives and to foster a deeper understanding of the topics. He has many years’ teaching experience, in both Maths and Economics, and is well-equipped to engage and motivate students individually and in groups.

Bruce is a doubles tennis player in local leagues and was a previously a competitive swimmer and coach. 

BSc Analytical Chemistry with Quality Assurance (Munster Technological University); PGCE Secondary Education – Chemistry (Bishop Grosseteste University)

Paddy is dedicated to unlocking student potential and inspiring a love of learning. He sets an excellent example with a first-class honours in Chemistry, a prestigious scholar award and a Pfizer Gold Medal for academic excellence. His industry experience as a QCL analyst at a multinational pharmaceutical company enables him to bring real-world applications to the classroom, making lessons engaging and relevant.

Outside of teaching, Paddy enjoys listening to music and playing strategy games.

BSc (Hons) (CSci), CChem (FRSC)

Virash has been teaching at Ashbourne for many years. Before joining the college he held the roles of Director of Studies and Head of Chemistry, as well as teaching Biology and Chemistry. In addition to his teaching roles, Virash has worked as an analytical chemist in industry, and was awarded a fellowship from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Virash helps prepare students for entry onto medicine related courses, as well as Oxbridge and offers instruction and guidance to students in their UCAS applications.

BD Hons, DipTheol (London); BSc Hons (Birmingham) Religious Studies, Mathematics and Philosophy

Michael has been teaching Philosophy at Ashbourne for many years now and enjoys a philosophical debate with anyone and everyone. Students benefit from his research, enthusiasm and knowledge.

Michael has a broad academic background with his first degree in Physics. He did doctoral studies in methodology and hermeneutics in Philadelphia and returned to lecture to under- and postgraduate students in the UK.

Michael is also a keen chess player and runs Ashbourne’s club with Chris Todd who teaches Chemistry.

MA Land Economy (Cambridge); PGCE Secondary Education (Institute of Education)

Rose brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom and loves the challenge of helping students explore the practical implications of the theories they study. She is a former Head of Department, sixth form tutor and teacher trainer.

Outside of teaching Rose loves cooking and exploring new cuisines.

MA Medieval Studies (UCL); BA History (UCL)

Wesley teaches History and co-runs a very popular weekly Critical Theory seminar with James Wilkes, English teacher and Head of Faculties. Wesley is also responsible for research development for teaching at the college.

BSc (Hons) Physics (Imperial College London)

Imran has been teaching Maths and Physics at Ashbourne for many years.

Imran is a keen sportsman and takes promotes a better understanding of science in society.

MSc International Management (Roehampton University); BA Business Communication (Middlesex University)

Chunzi has been studying and working in the UK for many years, largely in the business sector. She really enjoys helping students learn Chinese and begin to discover different aspects about the country and culture.

MSc Science Communication (UCL); BSc Theoretical Physics (Edinburgh University)

Dominic is passionate about developing students’ understanding of the natural world through physics and maths. Having completed his master’s in science communication at UCL, he is also interested in science’s wider role in society. Previously, Dominic taught physics at the International Pathway College at the University of York, where he helped students from around the world get into Russell Group universities.

Beyond his teaching, Dominic is an enthusiastic contributor to college life with diverse interests including improvised comedy, jazz, French, and salsa dance!

BA in Applied Arts (Photography) (Silapakorn University, Thailand)

Jak has helped develop a flourishing graphics department within the Art Faculty at Ashbourne over the many years she has been teaching at the college. She is a photographer, loves film production and has a wealth of experience working in the advertising industry and as a television director in Thailand.

BSc Discrete Mathematics (Warwick); PCGE Computing with QTS (King’s College London)

Joshua loves to help his students create ambitious programming projects, from chess engines to games to analysis of planetary bodies. He is particularly passionate about exploring and uncovering unique practical methods and games to understand complex theoretical concepts. He is an experienced Maths and Computer Science teacher and Raspberry Pi educator.

If Joshua is not in front of a screen he might be found centre stage performing at his local theatre.

MA English: Issues in Modern Culture (University College London); BA (Hons) English Literature (University of California); PGCE (Institute of Education, UCL)

Lauren’s love and enthusiasm for English inspires her students to find their own passion and embrace all that the subject has to offer. She is one of Ashbourne’s most encouraging and effective teachers who has played a full and active role in the college’s academic and cultural life since joining in 2014.

MSc Politics Sociology (Birkbeck College, University of London); BA Politics (SOAS)

Michael has been teaching at Ashbourne for many years. He previously worked as a researcher at the Home Office gaining first-hand insight into the nature of the UK political then he has been involved in freelance social research work at the University of Surrey, and he tutors on some of their undergraduate courses in Sociology.

MSci Physics (Imperial College London)

Leon’s students benefit from his extensive knowledge of physics and ability to convey difficult concepts. In his classes, he places particular emphasis on examining the underlying assumptions that are so often hidden in plain sight. In addition to teaching physics and maths, Leon is an active organic farmer with a keen interest in ecology and climate change.

MA Music, Historical Musicology (King’s College, London); BA Music (King’s College, London); PGCE Harpiscord and Conducting (Guildhall School of Music and Drama); PCGE Secondary Music (Institute of Education, University of London)

Yat-Soon is a professional musician, conductor and musical director who has performed extensively as a solo harpsichordist and in ensembles at many prestigious and historic venues in the UK and Europe. He has also conducted widely acclaimed productions of baroque opera and vocal music including for the London Baroque Opera and is musical director with Opéra de Baugé in France.

Yat-Soon has been sharing his love of music and wealth of professional and educational experience for many years as teacher and director of music at schools, including St Paul’s Girls and Lady Eleanor Holles, and Birmingham University.

BSc (Hons) Biochemistry (Southampton University)

Mark teaches Science and Biology at Ashbourne. He has been teaching since 2011 and was head of Biology at his previous college.

Mark is a qualified tennis coach, keen cricketer and loves a visit to the zoo.

BA (Hons) French and German (King’s College London)

Suzanna is responsible for finance and all applications and admissions to the college as well as managing overseas visa requirements and working with educational agents worldwide. She also produces marketing materials for the college. Suzanna joined Ashbourne in 2014.

BA (Hons) English and American Literature and Spanish (University of Kent)

Marcus assists with the welfare of the students, manages agent relations as well as overseeing students from Europe and Turkey. He also currently helps coordinate administration at the college.

He joined Ashbourne after graduating from university. He spent a year abroad in Alicante, Spain, where he studied translation along with developing his language skills.

Marcus loves literature and languages, and speaks Spanish and English, and moderate German and Italian.

BA (Hons) Graphics Design New Media (University for the Creative Arts)

Anh plays a main role in recruiting and welcoming new students to Ashbourne. She works closely with overseas agents to promote and facilitate student enrolment and often represents the college at recruitment events. She creates marketing materials and manages social media.

Anh loves world cuisine, performing arts and languages. She is fluent in English, Vietnamese and French.

Christelle works as part of Ashbourne’s dynamic admin team and offers academic support to students.

She has previous experience as a volunteer teacher with an NGO working with orphaned children in Lebanon. She is also a recent Ashbourne graduate who achieved outstanding A level results and is now studying for MSc in Physics with Theoretical Physics at Imperial College London.

Christelle loves meeting new people, has taken to playing volleyball and really enjoys hiking with her university society.

BA Fine Art (Loughborough); Dip Art & Design (City and Guilds)

Nicola plays a key role in developing both Ashbourne’s internal and external relationships; her communication and collaboration with external schools and organisations is key to connecting Ashbourne to its wider community.

Nicola also assists the Admissions Team within the Marketing department, helping to promote the college both within the UK and overseas. She has been an enthusiastic member of the Ashbourne community both as a successful former student and having worked directly for the Director of Studies. She brings marketing and publicity experience to the role, which she gained through her time working in the care sector.

Nicola enjoys making art, running and is a mean contender in the staff versus student go-kart competitions.

George is an active member of the administration team. He has plenty of valuable experience in many aspects of College life as a successful former student.

He is currently completing his degree in Computer Science at King’s College London and has recently undertaken a range of internships from data analysis and software engineering to investment banking.

George is a champion robotics engineer. He loves Formula 1, boxing and is a Taekwondo black belt.

MSc Marketing and Data Analytics (Nottingham Trent); BA Business Administration (Foreign Trade University, Vietnam)

Emily’s strong admin background, excellent communication skills and love of learning make her a great member of the admin team. She also has marketing training and experience to share.

In her spare time Emily loves outdoor sports, getting creative in the kitchen and engaging with friends.

Sharan plays a crucial role at Ashbourne monitoring, analysing and helping to improve student attendance, which is vital for academic success. This also involves making sure government regulations are met and that student welfare and safeguarding concerns are identified early. She has more than 16 years’ experience in education administration and safeguarding.

Sharan enjoys running, playing squash and sitting down to read a good autobiography.

BSc Psychology (UCL)

Gianna provides academic and welfare guidance for students at Ashbourne with a particular focus on supporting international students. She works closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and offers administrative support to the Safeguarding Team. Gianna joined the College in 2022 while completing her degree course.

Gianna loves fine art, singing and creative writing.

Nam is an enthusiastic member of the admin team who is committed to doing his best to help the college run smoothly. He has previous experience working in catering and hopes to develop his skills within the education sector. Nam is also an excellent pianist and keen sportsman.

Nefeli is a valuable member of the busy admin team to which she brings excellent organisational skills and fluency in different languages, including French, Italian and Greek, among other things.

She is also a former Ashbourne student who excelled in her exams and is now studying History of Art at UCL. She is especially interested in architectural art history and film as an artistic medium.

BSc Physics and Philosophy (King’s College London)

Victor is a former student with a first class degree who is now completing an MSc in Environmental Technology at Imperial. He is a great asset to the admin team and is particularly involved in examinations, compliance and day-to-day operations at reception.

Victor has a keen interest in sustainability, jazz and Brazilian guitar.

Diploma French (Institut Francais du Royaume Universite); SPLD Diploma (Hornsby International Dyslexia Institute)

Simone is a dyslexia tutor and specialist assessor qualified to carry out the Access Arrangements tests for examination concessions. Simone is responsible for ensuring all Form 8s, required for Access Arrangements, are processed for SEND applications. Simone is the Nominated Safeguarding Director, responsible for overseeing the management and adherence to safeguarding policies and procedures at the college.

MPhil in Critical Approaches to Children’s Literature (Cambridge University); BA Linguistics (UCL)

Catherine organises student activities and events and provides academic and pastoral support for the Middle School, as well as assisting A level students with UCAS and overseas applications. She helps plan the careers programme and produces marketing material. Catherine also chairs Ashbourne’s Creative Writing Club.

Catherine was the President of UCL Writers’ Society as well as Cambridge University Poetry and Prose Society, and led UniSlam teams for both universities. She is a lover and prolific writer of poetry, short stories, novels and scripts for online games.

MA TESOL (King’s College London); BA History, Teacher Education (South China Normal University)

Zilan is a member of Ashbourne’s busy Admin team and helps to manage the Easter Revision programme, individual tuition programme and Parents’ Evening. She has three years of international experience in the education sector both as an EFL teacher and administrator providing specialist advice on learning skills and goals, and working in recruitment.

Zilan loves being out and about in nature, meeting new people and enjoying quiet time to read.

BSc Exercise and Sport Science (University of Exeter)

Sean is responsible for a wide range of clerical and administrative duties at Ashbourne largely at our Old Court Place premises.

Sean loves football, plays violin and took part in London Youth Games 2010.