Meet our Staff

Headteacher

Mr Gloag has been Headteacher at Saint Christina’s since 2018. He was inspired to become a teacher because as a student he used to help out at Crusade Summer Camps. He had so much fun he decided that teaching was what he wanted to do.
For him the best part about being Headteacher at Saint Christina’s is the people.
“Saint Christina’s is a fantastic community full of fun, love and support for each other – and that’s just the staff!”
His best ‘Saint Christina’s moment’ was the Space Launch.
“I really enjoyed witnessing the excitement and sense of ‘awe and wonder’ that our launch created across the whole School. A great education should be peppered with these amazing ‘wow’ moments”.
One of the most memorable things Mr Gloag has done was to sit at the top of Poon Hill and watch the sun rise over some of the tallest peaks in the world whilst trekking in the Himalayas on a School expedition.

MS FRANCES RANDLE

NURSERY TEACHER & HEAD OF EYFS

Ms Randle has been at Saint Christina’s since 2018. She has always had an interest in Early Childhood Development and was particularly inspired by Carol Dweck’s book ‘Mindset’ which explains the crucial role teaching can have on a child’s long term happiness and success.
What she enjoys most about being a teacher at Saint Christina’s is that it is an incredibly fun place to work and thinking outside of the box is celebrated. No idea is too big which means that the experiences the children enjoy are always authentic and exciting.
Her best ‘Saint Christina’s moment’ was when Mr Burke took on the role of the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk. A huge beanstalk was erected from the floor to the roof light and Mr Burke went to the top of the beanstalk.
“The look on the children’s faces as they wondered if it really was a magical beanstalk was amazing and months later it is still talked about”
When she is not busy in Nursery, Ms Randle is a keen runner

MS ANWARA BEGUM

TEACHING & LEARNING ASSISTANT

MS SANDRA ESTEVE

NURSERY TEACHING & LEARNING ASSISTANT

MS ALICIA NUNES

RECEPTION CLASS TEACHER

Ms Nunes has been at Saint Christina’s since April 2017. She always enjoyed interacting with children but had her heart set on a creative profession, so after Design School she worked at an architecture firm. However, she realised something was missing and qualified as a teacher.
“Teaching is the most creative profession…in what other career are you building a robot, making crowns and planning a treasure hunt in the same day?”
What she enjoys most about being a teacher at Saint Christina’s is the sense of community. She also enjoys the delicious lunches and proximity to the parks.
Her best ‘Saint Christina’s moments’ come from working in Reception because she has the honour of experiencing so many firsts in a child’s life.
When she is not busy in the classroom, Ms Nunes enjoys all types of crafts. She has recently started growing her own mushrooms and building miniature sets and tiny objects.

MISS ORLA HIGGINS

RECEPTION CLASS TEACHER

Ms Higgins arrived at Saint Christina’s in 2020. She was inspired to go into teaching because of her experience running summer camps for children, which she really enjoyed.
“I had a lot of fun and knew that I wanted to become a teacher”
What she enjoys most about being a teacher at Saint Christina’s is that everyone in the School community is so friendly, welcoming and always smiling.
Her best ‘Saint Christina’s moment’ was welcoming everyone back to school after online teaching.
‘They all worked very hard at home but I missed having all the smiles in the classroom’
When she is not in the classroom, Ms Higgins enjoys learning about different sports which are popular in England as she grew up playing soccer, camogie, and Gaelic football in Ireland.

MISS FABIANA SALAZAR

TEACHING & LEARNING ASSISTANT

MISS ISABELLA CLARK

TEACHING & LEARNING ASSISTANT

MR DANIEL BURKE

YEAR 1 CLASS TEACHER & HEAD OF KS1

Mr Burke has been at Saint Christina's since 2015. Mr Burke loved school growing up and was inspired to be a teacher himself by Mrs Cooke, his Year 5 class teacher. Not only that but Mr Burke comes from a big extended family of teachers!

For Mr Burke, the best thing about Saint Christina's is the warmth and care shown by all children and staff in the school community.

Mr Burke's best Saint Christina's moments are during weekly assemblies, where he is assisted by many EYFS and Key Stage 1 pupils. Not only that, but Mr Burke looks forward to the parent teacher race at Sports Day every year!

When he isn't in school, Mr Burke loves to run - he has completed the London Marathon twice, going to gigs as well as spending time with friends and family

MISS ADITI DEB

TEACHING & LEARNING ASSISTANT

MR SIMON HIRST

DEPUTY HEAD & YEAR 2 CLASS TEACHER

Mr Hirst has been at Saint Christina’s since 2011. He started life as an accountant but was inspired by a friend to train as a teacher and has never looked back.
What he enjoys most about being a teacher at Saint Christina’s is the huge variety of events that happen at School.
“I like the fact there is always something interesting going on. Every day provides a great learning experience with no two days being alike – I am never bored!”
Mr Hirst says it is difficult to pick just one best ‘Saint Christina’s moment.’ Highlights over the years have included taking Year 6 to Sheffield for the epic space launch, visiting Paris on the Eurostar with Year 6 and fossil hunting in Osmington Bay on PGL.
“Also, I really enjoy the weekly Masses led by the children with my favourite one being International Mass when everyone is dressed in their national colours.”

MISS MCQUILLAN

YEAR 2 CLASS TEACHER

Ms McQuillan arrived at Saint Christina’s in 2020. She became a teacher because she was inspired by her own teachers in primary school in Ireland.
“The best teacher I ever had was able to make school fun and exciting every day and it is my goal as a teacher to bring the same passion and love for learning into my classroom”
What she enjoys most about being a teacher at Saint Christina’s is the community and the way in which they all support one another.
“The school community all act as a team with the same goal in mind, that the Saint Christina’s pupils will be supported in becoming confident, successful and independent life-long learners”
Her best ‘Saint Christina’s moment’ was the children’s first day back after online learning.
When she is not busy in the classroom, Ms McQuillan enjoys reading, swimming and travel, especially to her native Ireland.

MR ARTUR KALINOWSKI

TEACHING & LEARNING ASSISTANT

MS LISA SEPHTON

YEAR 3 CLASS TEACHER

Ms Sephton has worked at Saint Christina’s for 18 years. She was inspired to go into teaching after doing voluntary work in a school when she was a student. She found it such an exciting and stimulating environment and knew that teaching was going to be more rewarding than any other profession.
What she enjoys most about being a teacher at Saint Christina’s is that the pupils inspire her every day with their kindness to each other, their enthusiasm for learning and willingness to go above and beyond her expectations.
“I was so impressed by the School and the pupils here, that I enrolled my son here. He is now at St. Paul’s School”
Her best ‘Saint Christina’s moment’ is being the Year 3 teacher because the pupils receive two sacraments during the year, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the First Holy Communion.
“I find both of these occasions extremely moving; they really encompass the inclusive spirit of Saint Christina’s where every child in the class plays a part”
Ms Sephton enjoys travelling. Her travels have taken her all over the world, including teaching for a year in Sydney, Australia.

MISS SOPHIE WILLIAMSON

YEAR 4 CLASS TEACHER

Ms Williamson has worked at Saint Christina’s since Easter 2019. She always wanted to work in a job that helped people. She tried work experience in different settings and found that when she returned to her old primary school, she enjoyed it like nothing else.
What she enjoys most about being a teacher at Saint Christina’s is the enthusiasm that the children have for their learning because it makes every lesson so enjoyable to teach.
“Their engagement means we can have fantastic discussions and create really intricate and imaginative projects across the curriculum”
Her best ‘Saint Christina’s moment’ was taking part in International Week where her class studied China.
“We ate some Chinese food, created some Chinese art and some of the children taught each other how to write numbers in Chinese”
When she is not busy in the classroom, Ms Williamson is also a keen runner.

MRS LOUISE ELLISDON

YEAR 5 CLASS TEACHER & HEAD OF KS2

Ms Ellisdon has been at Saint Christina’s since 2015. She wanted to be a teacher because of her own experience in primary school. Growing up she worked at several summer camps and before doing her teacher training she worked in a boarding school and loved it.
What she enjoys most about being a teacher at Saint Christina’s is the people, the community and the way in which everyone looks out for each other.
Her best ‘Saint Christina’s moments’ are the residential trips with the children
“One particular moment that stands out is doing a dance routine with the whole group at a disco”
When she is not busy in the classroom, Ms Ellisdon enjoys being in the countryside and going on long walks with her husband and dog.

MS FEONA FERNANDES

TEACHING & LEARNING ASSISTANT

FR RUDOLF LOEWENSTEIN

YEAR 6 CLASS TEACHER

Fr Rudolf has worked at Saint Christina’s for over 16 years. His interest in teaching goes back to when he was a small child.
For him, there are three key things which he enjoys about being a teacher at Saint Christina’s. Firstly, the way in which he is able to work together with parents and children to decide upon the best way of teaching something. Secondly, he enjoys being free to experiment with new ideas for teaching particular topics. Thirdly, he loves enabling children to believe in themselves, getting them to realise that they really can do things!
His best ‘Saint Christina’s moments’ are the celebrations the School held for his 50th and 60th birthdays.
When Fr Rudolf is not busy teaching he enjoys many hobbies and interests such as reading, recreational mathematics, puzzles, learning modern languages, cooking, crochet and cats.

MS KATIE CHAPMAN

SENCO

Ms Chapman has worked at Saint Christina’s since 2019 after moving from Canada. She was inspired to go into teaching because of her love of reading and learning about everything.
“I wanted to share this enthusiasm and now my favourite part of teaching is when children get excited because their reading is improving”
What she enjoys most about being a teacher at Saint Christina’s is the people and the lunches.
Her best ‘Saint Christina’s moment’ was watching the Christmas carol service in the Chapel for the first time.
“It was so beautiful and it felt magical, like a fairy tale or Harry Potter world!”
In her spare time, Ms Chapman enjoys reading science fiction books and going to live music gigs. She also loves finding interesting film scores to listen to.

MS ELBA BRETONES

ART TEACHER

Miss Bretones is working as an art teacher for Year 1, 2 and 5. She is very excited about creating amazing art work with her children and see how they explore their creativity.

How long have you worked at Saint Christina’s?
After a long maternity break she has just joined the Saint Christina’s family again. S

What do you enjoy most about working at Saint Christina’s?
What she enjoys the most is to work in such a friendly and familiar environment. She has always felt supported and loved by colleagues, parents and pupils.

What is your best ‘Saint Christina’s moment’?
Her best Saint Christina’s moment was when she came back at the beginning of January after 4 years of maternity break. She felt like no time had passed. It was very emotional to see and chat with the girls that she taught in reception some years ago.

Do you have a hobby, or something interesting that you that you don’t mind sharing with the parents and children? (It could be that you have a cat! It could be that you have climbed a mountain. Nothing too deep or personal).
When she is not at work or looking after her little ones, she loves going on adventures around the city with her family.

MR PAUL RUSSELL

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

MRS MANDY OVERING

ICT CO-ORDINATOR

Mrs Overing has been at Saint Christina’s for 21 years. She was inspired to go into teaching by her family because her mother and four sisters were all teachers.
What she enjoys most about being a teacher at Saint Christina’s is the children and her colleagues.
Mrs Overing says her best ‘Saint Christina’s moment’ is that lightbulb moment when she realises the children get what she is teaching them.
For Mrs Overing the best way to relax in her spare time is listening the sound of the sea whilst reading a book.

MR JAMIE RAVENEY

DIRECTOR OF SPORT

Mr Raveney started working at Saint Christina’s in April 2021, having previously worked for twelve years in a 3-18 Catholic independent school, as the Head of Key Stage 3 and leading Junior PE.
He always had a love for sports and was inspired to go into teaching by his parents, who were both teachers. Mr Raveney had hoped to be a professional cricketer but things didn’t quite work out.
What he enjoys most about being a teacher at Saint Christina’s is being part of the School family.
“The children are so enthusiastic and positive, and it is lovely chatting with them and getting to know them”
His best ‘Saint Christina’s moment’ is seeing the children enjoying their sports lessons and trying their very best. He also loves hearing about children who have enjoyed their lessons in school so much that they start attending sports clubs at the weekend.
Mr Raveney is a big Tottenham Hotspur fan. He also enjoys travelling and spending time with his young family.

MRS ELIZABETH PORTEOUS

SENCO

Mrs Porteous has had two stints at Saint Christina’s. She originally worked at the School as a class teacher at the beginning of her career and returned in 2013, having spent 15 years as Deputy Head in another independent school.
What Mrs Porteous enjoys most about being at Saint Christina’s is the caring, supportive atmosphere in which pupils, teachers and parents all come together to form a very special community. It was this sense of community that made her want to return to the school after a career break.
Her best ‘Saint Christina’s moment’ is Prize Giving at the end of each year. Watching the Year 6 pupils make their hand over speeches and perform their farewell concert fills her with pride.
“As I look at these confident young people on the stage I have no doubt that they will be successful…they will look back and say it all started at Saint Christina’s”
When she is not busy in the classroom, Mrs Porteous enjoys being by the sea with her family and new puppy.

MISS MICHELLE HAMILTON

MISS GEORGIA DJIABOURAS

MISS CHLOE SUMPTER

MR STEVE CLARKE

MRS JOANNE REILLY

BURSAR