Brighton Girls Our Teachers, Staff & Governors

Our Governing Body naturally plays a vital role in the life of the school.

The Governors bring an incredible variety of expertise from across the vibrant Brighton and Hove community. In addition, each Governor has an agreed special area of interest, which helps us make to form specific connections between the school and the community as a whole.

Clerk to the governors – tba.

Victoria Taylor, Chairperson

I was a pupil at Brighton Girls for 13 years before going on to read History at Oxford University. After graduating I worked in arts marketing for eight years, including roles at the Globe Theatre and the Barbican. I also spent time working abroad at the Perth International Arts Festival in Australia and Boston Lyric Opera in the USA. I joined the Civil Service in 2010 and have had a fascinating range of roles across government departments. I now work in Whitehall, live in central Brighton, and have three young sons.

Debbie Crossingham

I have enjoyed a long career in education, working in primary and secondary schools across three different local authorities and I have experienced many changes during this time. I have been in Headship for over twenty years, taking up my first appointment at Elm Grove Primary School in 1995 before moving to Westdene Primary School five years later. Both my daughters attended Brighton Girls and benefitted enormously from all that the school had to offer. I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm and experience with others to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Jane Raymond

I have been involved with Brighton Girls since the eldest of my two daughters joined Reception in 2000. Both girls chose to stay at the school all the way through to

Sixth Form and benefited from the education they received and breadth of opportunities offered. As a parent, I was actively involved in the PTA for many years as a Class Rep and also Chair. For most of my professional life I worked in the Banking sector and managed a variety of departments, including Support Services and both call and paper based Customer Services areas. Since January 2015, I have been volunteering at the Prep School and, as a ‘friend’ of the School, am currently Chair of the PTFA.

Faynia Williams

I am a multi-award winning international director and a producer of drama and documentaries for the BBC and Channel 4. I have been Artistic Director of four theatres and Artist in Residence at Universities in the US and UK. My productions have played globally and I have directed both here and in the States. I also hold the record number of Fringe First Awards for most enterprising productions.

I currently teach British Theatre and British Film at the University of Sussex. I am a Freeman of the City of London, former Chair of the Directors’ Guild of GB, and of the Equity Directors Committee, and President of the International Theatre Institute Dramatic Theatre Committee.

Jo Cresswell

I am an artist and work in mixed media, painting, collage and textiles. Current works in progress include a range of silk scarf designs, woven rugs and illustrations for a children’s book which are inspired by an amazing trip to Botswana.

As one of the owners of the original Redroaster Coffee House in Kemp Town I enjoyed curating exhibitions for local artists. My on-going association with The Old Market Theatre facilitates regular visits to the Edinburgh Festival which I really enjoy.

My other interests include a smallholding, gardening and reading, I have also been very fortunate to be able to travel and experience a diversity of cultures in many countries around the world.

John Gill

John has lived in Brighton since 1985. He has been a member of the board of The University of Brighton since 2016. He was formerly a member of the Joint Board of Brighton & Sussex Medical School. John holds degrees from the Universities of London and Sussex and in 2015–16 he was a Visiting Research Fellow at Harvard.

Jennie Lees

Sam Park

I attended Brighton Girls from 1993-2000, enjoying maths and science and went on to study Biochemistry – inspired by my Biology Teacher, Mrs Mashford – at Oxford University.  Following my 4 year MSc, I opted to follow a career in business, specifically in finance, which over the last 20 years has afforded me the chance to be a part of making key decisions and help businesses and products thrive.

I am a CIMA-qualified accountant with professional experience leading Finance teams in large corporations such as GSK, General Mills, and Intuit and most recently as Chief Financial Officer at Unibuddy, a small SaaS start up.

I’m excited to be a Governor of Brighton Girls. I’m hugely grateful for the opportunities I was given whilst at the school and look forward to being (a small) part of the team who are set to continue to deliver the same for many generations to come.

Ian McIntyre

I was born and brought up in Scotland and educated in the state system. Following a degree from the University of Glasgow and a Master’s at the University of London, I embarked upon an an 18-year teaching career in the independent sector, including two headships. From 2010-19, I ran Brighton College’s international schools arm, opening its first four sister schools in the Middle East and Asia. I am currently the International Development Director at Rugby, one of the UK’s most famous boarding schools.

Mrs Melinda Shead Head

Ms Sarah Griffiths Head of Prep; Designated Safeguarding Lead (Prep)

Mrs Alysia Woodcock Acting Deputy Head (Pastoral), Designated Safeguarding Lead

Miss Wendy Fox Deputy Head (Academic)

Mrs Poppy Pointon Deputy Head, Prep

Mrs Michelle Kirk Director of Finance

Mr Dan Vickery Director of Operations

Mrs Laura James Director of Marketing

Mr Paul Jones Head of Faculty – English and Humanities

Mr William Leonard Head of Faculty – Maths and Computer Science

Mr Guy Winter Head of Faculty – Science and Food and Nutrition

Mr Matthew Gregory Head of Faculty – Science and Food and Nutrition

Mrs Michele Cormack Head of Faculty – Languages, Classics and Latin

Mrs Kate Szkolar Head of Faculty – Creative Arts

Ms Miriam Bouche de Vitray Music Teacher

Miss Maeve Kelly MFL Teacher

Ms Frances Chiles Humanities Teacher

Ms Lauren Cook Sport Teacher

Ms Kerri Corcoran English Teacher

Mrs Tiffany Crisp Art Teacher

Miss Lydia Distin Science Teacher

Ms Aleutia Edgar Science Teacher

Mr Bailey Freeland-Jones Director of Sport

Mrs Irene Hawthorne English Teacher

Ms Amy Isles Art Teacher

Mr Louis Lias-Russell Drama Teacher

Ms Lizzie Lyons Computer Science Teacher

Miss Paula Martin Maths Teacher

Mrs Michelle Messenger Food and Nutrition Teacher

Ms Anne Parsons Science Teacher

Ms Chloe Patterson Geography Teacher

Miss Rebecca Pearson Head of Upper School; Geography Teacher

Ms Nicci Plank Head of Lower School; Sport Coach

Mr Kris Pointer Design & Innovation Teacher

Miss Hetty Richards Classics Teacher

Mr Cruz Rivas Dominguez MFL Teacher

Miss Antonia Spurgin Maths Teacher

Ms Florence Symes English Teacher

Mr Daniel Walton Music Teacher

Mrs Rebecca Warde Maths Teacher

Ms Maria Wilson SENDCo

Miss Nicci Plank Head of Middle School

Miss Rebecca Pearson Head of Upper School

Brian Ashworth Drums/ Guitar/ Bass

Nicholas Andrews Choir

Richard Baker Brass

Zoe Doano Voice

Sam Girling Piano

Evelyn Harrison Clarinet/ Saxophone

Heloise Hearn Piano

Mike Johnson Drums/ Guitar

Nicole Leclercq Flute/ Recorder

Jonathan Rattenbury Guitar

Andrea Slane Piano

Emily Steinitz Violin

Isobel Stoner Drama

Katharine Stoner Speech and Drama

Louise Thomas Voice

Sophie Willis Cello