Meet the Team

Brenda Davies – Headteacher

Mrs Davies has been Headteacher at Barwell CE Junior School since August 2001. Before coming to this school Mrs Davies was Acting Headteacher two County Primary schools - Mowsley St Nicholas CofE Primary School near Market Harborough and Newlands Primary School here in Barwell.

Mrs Davies is married with two grown up sons. She also has a cat called Fox, and a collection of over twenty penguins!

When Mrs Davies has some spare time her hobbies include going on holiday (she loves the USA, or anywhere hot), reading, meeting friends, going to the cinema and ‘playing’ on the computer – especially making DVDs from videos and digital photographs, and developing web-sites (for family and school)!

Mrs Davies also enjoys singing, both in school and out of school in regular church worship and in the Christian Praise choir.

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Jo Adcock - Learning Support Assistant and Lunchtime Supervisor + FoBS Leader

Mrs Adcock began working with us in August 2005, however her links with our school as a parent go back many years.

Mrs Adcock supports children in the classrooms and has put her craft skills to very good use already, supporting topics with groups in our Creative Curriculum afternoons.

Mrs Adcock has also supported our drama productions, providing many fantastic props and costumes from her own secret store!

Mrs Adcock is also a dedicated member of our FoBS Team and serves on the planning committee.

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Sue Allcock - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Allcock is a Learning Support Assistant and has been at the school for six years. She finds the role a versatile and interesting one. She enjoys all aspects of school life and especially likes the chance to join in with art and craft activities.

Mrs Allcock helps run the Nearly New shop in school.

Mrs Allcock is married with two daughters, who keep her very busy with Ballet, Netball and Football. She has taken up running to keep fit and raise money for charity. She has completed a number of 5 and 10 km races.

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June Bevins - Lunchtime Supervisor

Mrs Bevins has worked at our school for over 24 years, supervising children during their lunchtime in the hall and on the playground.

During her spare time Mrs Bevins likes to grow organic vegetables on her allotment.

For the last 28 years Mrs Bevins has been a member of Girl Guiding UK. She is a District Commissioner and runs a Rainbows unit in Earl Shilton for girls aged 5 - 7 years. Every year Mrs Bevins especially enjoys Brownie Camp where she helps with First Aid.

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Jean Bray - Administrative Officer

Mrs Bray is the lady whose smile you will see if you call into reception. If she can't answer your questions she will find someone who can. Her outlook on life is 'Think happy thoughts and smile'.

Mrs Bray has always worked and lived locally and has been happily married to Tom for 28 years. They have two 'grown up' children - Emma and Adam and a grandson who brings them a huge amount of pleasure.

.Mrs Bray loves her garden. Her favourite flowers are freesias because she loves their smell.

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Jane Crowson - Cleaning Staff

Mrs Crowson has been a member of the cleaning staff team at our school for many years. She works in the school every evening, arriving just as the children leave, and leaving after most of the other staff have gone!

Mrs Crowson enjoys seeing the classrooms looking clean and tidy, all ready for the teachers and the children to arrive the next day.

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Marion Crump - Midday Supervisor

Mrs Crump works three lunchtimes each week, supporting and helping children during lunchtimes. Mrs Crump joined our staff during Autumn Term 2007. She enjoys seeing the children having fun and behaving well.

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Jenny Derrick - Class Teacher

Miss Derrick joined our staff at the beginning of Autumn Term 2007. Previously Miss Derrick was a teacher at Townlands CE Primary School in Earl Shilton.

Miss Derrick teachers in Year 3 and is also responsible for the leadership of ICT and RE throughout the school. She works in close partnership with Mrs Russell on the technical aspects of her ICT role.

Miss Derrick is also a skilled musician, and plays the piano really well. She supports Mrs Stewart in developing singing in school and leads the school choir.

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Sue Foulkes - Leadership Team - Maths

Mrs Foulkes has worked at our school for many years and is presently fulfilling roles of Maths Leader and Educational Visits Coordinator. She supports PE in the school in a voluntary capacity.

Away from school Mrs Foulkes' main hobbies are based around football; supporting Leicester City and acting as Club Secretary for Leicester City Ladies Football Club.

Mrs Foulkes is a qualified FA coach and referee.

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Sandra Hackett - Cleaning Staff

Mrs Hackett joined our staff in September 2005. Together with the rest of the Premises Team Mrs hackett works hard every afternoon after the children have finished lessons to make sure that the school remains a clean, tidy and safe environment for pupils and staff to work in.

Be for joining us at Barwell Mrs Hackett worked as a cleaner at one of the Hinckley area High Schools. She also helps to keep the local Bowling Club spick and span.

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Katie Harris - Class Teacher

Miss Harris joined our teaching staff in October 2007 to take Mrs Sargeant's place. Miss Harris leads class 4H (formerly 4S) during Mrs sargeant's maternity leave.

Miss Harris has many interests and hobbies. She is keen on sport and enjoys PE lessons with her class.

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Sharon Harris - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Harris is married, has three children and lives in Barwell. To work with children has always been Mrs Harris' ambition. She has worked at our school since January 2000, both as a Learning Support Assistant and a Lunchtime Supervisor.

Mrs Harris has a ginger and white cat called Tiggi.

Mrs Harris' favourite hobbies are reading and swimming.

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Lisa Haughey - Class Teacher

Miss Haughey joined us in August 2005 and teaches a Year 6 class.

Miss Haughey settled in really quickly, sharing her particular skills with the team. She particularly enjoys drama and is also very good at ICT.

Miss Haughey and Miss Kirkham lead an after school Netball Club for pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 each Tuesday from 3.30p.m. - 4.30p.m.

Miss Haughey is a fan of Coventry City FC!

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Nick Holt - Assistant Headteacher

Mr Holt joined our staff in August 2007, having previously taught at St Peter's CE Primary School in Market Bosworth.

Mr Holt teachers a Year 6 class and has responsibility for the development of English, Art and Design Technology throughout the school.

Mr Holt also enjoys music and drama. He plays the guitar, leads the X-Factor Club, and has a complete collection of football cards!

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Jenny Houghton - Unit Manager Catering

Mrs Houghton has been our Cook Supervisor for many years. The staff and children who have hot dinners are always pleased with the quality and variety of meals that she prepares for us.

Mrs Houghton actually works for a firm called Initial Caterers who are responsible for the school meals service in our school. Mrs Houghton leads a team of three ladies who work all morning to make sure that there is a plentiful selection of hot food and salads for our school and two other local Primary Schools every day.

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Mandy Hughes - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Hughes lives locally in Barwell. She is married and has two grown up children and three dogs.

Mrs Hughes has been associated with the school for a long time as her children attended here some years ago and her husband was recently employed as an LSA.

Mrs Hughes has worked at the school 'officially' since August 2004. Her role involves her in supporting children's learning, mainly in Year 5 and Year 6.

Mrs Hughes is also a trained football coach and enjoys helping Marc Saunt in after school sport activities.

Mrs Hughes is an accomplished decorator of cakes - her designs call for great skill, care and patience - almost too good to eat!

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Amelia Kirkham - Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Miss Kirkham has worked at the school since 2002 and was promoted to the post of Higher Level Teaching Assistant in August 2007 after studying and working hard to complete her training.

Miss Kirkham's interests are music and socialising and she loves fairies and angels. She is exceptionally good at Art and Design and is skilled at ICT. Miss Kirkham works closely with our Art and Design Leader to organise Display throughout the school.

Miss Kirkham also runs after school clubs in Art and Dance Aerobics. Miss Kirkham and Mrs Larsen run Breakfast Club together every morning.

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Ann Larsen - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Larsen is a Learning Support Assistant who works mainly in Year 5 and Year 6. She has worked at our school for many years and enjoys all aspects of school life.

Mrs Larsen is a staff governor and works alongside Miss Newman, taking an active part in the school council. She also runs an after school computer club with Mrs Russell. Mrs Larsen is a qualified first aider and has for may years accompanied children and staff from Year 4 and Year 6 on residential visits.

Outside of school Mrs Larsen's hobbies include 'do-it-yourself' and traveling. She also loves animals, especially her cats Muffin and Sooty.

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Jackie Lovell - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Lovell has enjoyed working as a Learning Support Assistant at our school for over ten years.

Mrs Lovell also has many interests and hobbies. She enjoys keeping fit.

Mrs Lovell also enjoys sugarcraft, gardening and sewing, including patchwork, quilting and applique.

Home and family life are very important to Mrs Lovell. She has two lively grandsons who bring lots of joy and many 'mad' moments, like running around the garden and being told by a four year old what to do!

As a couple, Mrs Lovell and her husband enjoy traveling.

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Heather Markley - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Markley has worked at the school since 1995. Her roles include Learning Support Assistant, Lunchtime Supervisor and First Aider.

Mrs Markley is married with two children. She is a member of the St John's Ambulance Brigade and is welfare officer for Barwell Athletic Football Club and Barwell Athletic Sports and Leisure.

In her spare time Mrs Markley enjoys aerobics and going to the gym.

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Kate Marston - Leadership Team - Bursar and Premises Manager

Mrs Marston has been Bursar at the school since 1992. Her role is a very varied, busy and demanding one. Mrs Marston works closely with Mrs Davies, Mr Duncombe and the Governing Body to ensure the smooth management of all matters relating to school finance, personnel and premises.

Mrs Marston is married with two grown up sons. In her spare time she enjoys family life, taking delight especially in her three grandchildren.

Mr and Mrs Marston also enjoys walking with their springer spaniels in the countryside. Her other interests include reading, keeping fit, gardening, decorating and D.I.Y.

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Marion McMillan - Adult Learning Tutor

Marion McMillan works with us to support adults in learning about how children learn in school today.

Marion mostly works with parents and other interested adults who want to join in with our 'Keeping Up With The Children' programmes to learn about modern teaching methods in English and Maths.

Adults wo take part in these courses sometimes progress to take formal qualifications at Level 1 and Level 2 in Maths and English.

Classes are held in school during the day or early evening and are free. Refreshments are included and all taking part say theu thoroughly enjoy coming and that the classes help them to understand and support their child's learning at home.

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Rachel McMillan - Cover Supervisor

Miss McMillan joined us as a part time Cover Supervisor during Autumn Term on a short term contract. She works in all classes throughout the school.

Miss McMillan enjoys sport music and drama. She is a skilled gymnast and artist and can also play the flute. We are pleased to have her as a member of our team - even if just for a short while.

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Chris Moon - Sports Coach

Chris works with us in school each Tuesday and Thursday.

Chris works for a local firm called In2Sport, coming into school to support PE teaching in every class, and to lead after school sports clubs for boys and girls in every year group.

We are delighted to have Chris as part of our regular teaching and coaching team.

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Penny Neale - Class Teacher

Mrs Neale joined our staff in August 2007, returning to teaching part time to share the responsibility of a Year 5 class with Mrs Stewart.

Mrs Neale's specialist responsibility is Modern Foreign Languages (MFL). In our school this means French! Mrs Neale is a graduate in French and speaks the language fluently. She is keen to develop our French curriculum, including the exciting prospect of twinning with a school in France.

Mrs Neale has also organised for a Latin Club to run after school each week for invited children from

Years 4, 5 and 6.

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Vicky Newman - Assitant Headteacher

Miss Newman started teaching at our school in August 2002.   She thoroughly enjoys teaching and seeing her pupils develop. She has really enjoyed using the developing ICT resources in school, and has developed excellent skills in developing drama and dance.

Miss Newman has changed teaching duties this year, moving from Year 5 to Year 3. Miss Newman was promoted to the role of Assistant Headteacher in August 2007.

Miss Newman enjoys the challenge of her role as Inclusion Leader. She is also responsible for the development of PSHE, including heading up the School Council.

In her spare time Miss Newman loves anything to do with horses.  Riding them, reading about them, painting/drawing them and making them out of clay.

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Lita Parker - Learning Support Assistant and Lunchtime Supervisor

Mrs Parker has worked with us since 2004. On most days Mrs Parker can be seen doing a fantastic job at lunctimes on the playground or in the dining hall.

Mrs parker has recently begun to help pupils with their learning in the classroom. Pupils and teachers in Year 3 and Year 4 are especially thankful for her support.

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Lorraine Payne - Learning Support Assistant and Admin Assistant

Mrs Payne enjoys supporting children in and out of the classroom through all areas of the school curriculum, She is also brilliant at office tasks and helps Mrs Bray out each morning. She is a whizz at balancing the dinner monies!

Mrs Payne is married with two sons. As a family The Paynes enjoy cycling and swimming. Their special interest is in exploring France and seeing as much as possible of the various beautiful regions.

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Rachael Peace - Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Miss Peace has worked as a member of our support staff for almost five years. She enjoys working with children of all ages in all curriculum subjects, and as an HLTA she now leads learning, covering for short term teacher absences as well as supporting teachers in the classroom.

Miss Peace's hobbies include reading, cooking and gardening. She is very good at cross-stitch and makes lots of cross-stitched cards and gifts. Miss Peace has even cross-stitched our school badge.

Miss Peace has become proficient in theatre lighting and usually operates the follow-spot in our termly productions.

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Amanda Read - Learning Support Assistant and Midday Manager

Mrs Read is a qualified Nursery Nurse (NNEB). She has worked in two special schools and was involved with The Cedars Playgroup for four years before joining our school staff in 2001.

Mrs Read is also our Midday Manager and leads a team of seven Midday Supervisors. As a Learning Support Assistant Mrs Read works with in all year groups to help children in their lessons and to help teachers with their administration.

Mrs Read's main hobby of over 30 years is horse riding.

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Mrs Helen Russell - ICT Technician + Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Russell joined the staff of Barwell CE Junior School in September 2004 as Learning Support Assistant with specific responsibility to support teaching and learning related to ICT. Mrs Russell therefore can be found mainly supporting pupils in the ICT suite, or helping with the upkeep and development of ICT equipment - a very technical job!

Before Mrs Russell joined our staff she worked in industry where she gained substantial skills in ICT. She works closely with Mrs Larsen to organise ICT after school club for lots of interested children, and with Miss Derrick to ensure that technical aspects of ICT are well organised.

Mrs Russell also has experience of leading learning with children in an early years setting.

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Cheryl Sargeant - Class Teacher

Mrs Sargeant joined us in August 2005 (as Miss Hibbert) to teach a Year 3 class. Mrs Sargeant taught at Ellistown Primary School before coming to Barwell.

Mrs Sargeant celebrated her wedding in Summer 2006.

Mrs Sargeant likes teaching all subjects, especially PE and ICT. As well as teaching her class, Mrs Sargeant leads whole school development in History.

Mrs Sargeant taught a Year 4 class until October 2007. Mrs Sarggeant gave birth to her first child in November 2007, and is currently on maternity leave.

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Lisa Stewart - Class Teacher

Mrs Stewart has been teaching at our school since 2002, having previously taught for nine years at a school near Loughborough.

Mrs Stewart has recently had her first baby and returned part time to teach a Year 5 class in Autumn 2007. Mrs Stewart shares this role with Mrs Neale.

Mrs Stewart leads music in school, and is an accomplished musician. She plays piano, however the flute is her favourite instrument.  

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Gwynneth Taylor - Cleaning Staff

Mrs Taylor has been working as part of the Premises cleaning team since 2003. She works a late afternoon shift each day, arriving in school just as the children are leaving, and working through when most other staff have gone home.

Mrs Taylor takes great pride in her work. She finds it very satisfying to see the classrooms spick and span after she has finished cleaning. Her duties are mostly confined to the rooms in the new extension where children in Years 5 and 6 are taught.

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Sharon Wale - Lunchtime Supervisor

Mrs Wale is a part time member of our Lunchtime Supervisor Team, working two days each week to help children enjoy their lunchtimes.

Mrs Wale loves supporting children in school. She particularly likes to see children playing happily together and often ehlps this to happen by taking an active part in organising games with them.

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Louise Wheeler - Lunchtime Supervisor

Mrs Wheeler has worked at our school for many years. She has two children - a son of 30 years and a daughter aged 20. Pets in the family include a guinea pig and a chinchilla rabbit.

Mrs Wheeler's hobbies include reading, baking fruity cakes and collecting and growing Japanese maples. When time permits Mrs Wheeler thoroughly enjoys sitting and working in her garden and enjoying the richness and abundance of the natural world.

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Diane Wightman - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Wightman joined our staff in August 2007 having gained experience in this role in a voluntary capacity in schools in her local area.

Mrs Wightman usually works with children in Year 4 and is thoroughly enjoying her support role. She enjoys seeing children making good progress, trying hard and enjoying their learning.

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Jenny Williamson - Class Teacher

Mrs Williamson has taught throughout the junior age range in both Leicester and Barwell for more years than she cares to remember! She has seen generations pass through the school and always enjoys hearing how past pupils are getting on in their further education and their employment.

Mrs Williamson is the subject leader for Geography throughout school - a subject she enjoys very much.

Family life is all important to Mrs Williamson - the family being husband, two children and two very loveable guinea pigs called Max and Freddie. Although Mrs Williamson thoroughly enjoys gardening and art and craft activities, her favourite 'occupation' is relaxing at home with her family.

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Alison Wilkinson - Class Teacher

Mrs Wilkinson has taught in school as a supply teacher since 2003. She joined our regular staff part time last year and now teaches part-time in Year 4.

Mrs Wilkinson is our PE subject leader and shares her responsibility for teaching a Year 4 class with Mrs Williamson.

Mrs Wilkinson has two young children who keep her busy. When she has time to herself she enjoys a wide range of sports including cycling, running and tennis.

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Roger Young - Premises Officer

Mr Young joined our staff in November 2007, following the retirement of our previous Premises Officer.

Mr Young is responsible for leading the Premises Team to make sure that all buildings and grounds are kept clean, tidy and in a good state of repair. Mr Young also works closely with our Site manager Mrs Marston.

In his spare time Mr Young also works in a voluntary capacity on conservation projects and with the Fire Service as a Retained Fireman.

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