My name is Libby Barnard and I am the Headteacher at Glenleigh Park Primary Academy and Nursery. I joined the team in April 2019. I love working at Glenleigh Park because the staff and children are so amazing and every day I get to learn something new! At home, I live with my two daughters, who despite only being 9 and 13 years old seem to have a better social life than me! I am not a huge sports fan but I do enjoy walking with my girls and my extended family. We love a seafront stroll or a muddy forest adventure.

When I was at secondary school, I received my bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, which involved a lot of walking up mountains in both Wales and the Lake District. Art is my passion and although I don't have that much time for it right now, when I do have a spare day, I enjoy visiting galleries and exhibitions of different artists. An interesting fact about me is that I have a piece of my artwork hanging in the library at my old university.

My name is Ed and I am the Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning at Glenleigh Park Academy. My teaching career to date has included Early Years experience in Australia, Middle Leadership in a Teaching School based in South London and a range of Senior Leadership positions in Sussex.  I feel very lucky to work in schools and I am passionate in supporting staff to provide irresistible opportunities to learn. I especially enjoy all things Geography and am always interested in researching different maps, flags and capital cities. Outside of school, I am a huge football fan – although I talk a better game than I can play! I have a young family and enjoy spending time on walks with them, in local woods or down on the seafront. I also enjoy different world food and although I’m not very good at cooking it, I am excellent at eating it! An interesting fact about me, is that even though I have a fear of heights, I have been up in a hot air balloon, a helicopter, a plane and a reverse bungee!

My name is Mrs Tanner, and I am the Assistant Headteacher (Inclusion Lead) and KS1 Lead at Glenleigh Park. I have worked in a variety of teaching and leadership roles throughout my career and I am passionate about developing teaching and learning, as well as creating inclusive learning environments where all children can thrive. Outside of school, I enjoy walking, travelling and exploring new places. I have a passion for sport and outdoor pursuits and enjoy hiking, snowboarding, CrossFit and running. Equally, I enjoy relaxing, eating good food and spending time with my family.

 

My name is Natasha Briggs and I teach part time in Reception while also leading Early Years at Glenleigh Park. I began my teaching journey here in 2015 and have remained ever since. It is a place I hold close to my heart, a school that truly puts children first, which is exactly what education should be. My passion for teaching comes from a deep love of learning, and there is something magical about helping young children discover that same joy. Those quiet little "aha" moments when something tricky suddenly makes sense are incredibly special. At home I have a three year old son who is teaching me all over again how children learn and grow. It is a very different experience when it is your own child, and it has given me a renewed appreciation for the wonder of early development. In my free time I enjoy being outdoors with my family and our dog, whatever the weather, and I especially love coming home to a warm hot chocolate and being cosy.

 

Mrs S Jeffrey - Class Teacher

I am Mrs Fry and I have been teaching at Glenleigh Park since September 2024 and there is nothing I love more than supporting children to reach their full potential. An interesting fact about me is that I once did a skydive to raise money for charity, even though I'm terrified of heights! It was an amazing experience. Also, I love cows, but as my garden isn't big enough for me to own one, I have two cats instead. When it's time to relax, I like to spend time with my two children or snuggle down with a good book.  

My name is Mr Green. I am a Year 5 teacher and KS2 English and Reading Lead at Glenleigh Park. I have been at Glenleigh for eight years and love working here. The children are so enthusiastic, and I love getting to know them all. I am a big sports fan. I love watching and playing lots of different sports. I particularly enjoy football and playing for a team on Saturdays. I also love running. You may bump into me running along the seafront! Make sure you give me a wave!

My other big passion is reading. I particularly love reading childrens' books. We are so lucky to have so many brilliant childrens' authors around at the moment. My current favourite author is Katherine Rundell and I would recommend reading all her books! An interesting fact about me is that I grew up living on a farm!

My name is Mr Marchant, I am a Year 6 teacher and the Physical Education Lead at Glenleigh Park Primary Academy. I have been part of the Glenleigh Park community since January 2020, and I have loved every minute. I feel privileged to work with so many amazing children and such a hard-working team! I have a strong passion for sport and general exercise. Who knew you could keep fit, feel good and have fun all at the same time!? I enjoy playing and watching a wide range of sports, but football has to be my favourite. I play for a 6-aside team once a week, and when I am not playing I often go to watch my favourite team – Brighton and Hove Albion. When I was just two years old, I was the You’ve Been Framed video star of the week for some crazy dancing in my high chair. Visiting the ITV studios and appearing live on the programme is my claim to fame. I am not sure that my dancing is as good these days!

My name is Miss Payne and I've been working in education for over 17 years. Being a Higher Level Teaching Assistant is incredibly rewarding. I love the variety and challenge of the role, from supporting learning in creative ways to building connections with the students. Outside of work, I cherish spending quality time with my family and friends. I enjoy watching a variety of sports and am an avid football fan. A day out at the London Stadium is my favourite day out. I also love building Lego, being cooked for, CrossFit and walking through nature, particularly trudging through muddy woods or on the sand when the tide is out.

 

My name is Amy Walsh and I originally started at Glenleigh Park in November 2020, in the Nursery as a Nursery Practitioner, when I moved down from London. I now work in the main school. I have always been into sports from a very young age especially football. I was offered an opportunity to move to the USA to play football there, but it was too far away from my family so I chose not to go. At the weekends, I enjoy going for walks and finding new places to visit, and going back to London to see my family and friends. Once a month I like to treat myself to my favourite takeaway, which is a Chinese.

My name is Miss Axell and I am a Teaching Assistant at Glenleigh Park Primary Academy. I also work in breakfast club too. I joined the team in September 2015. I love working at Glenleigh Park as no day is ever the same. I love working with my lovely colleagues, and I am lucky enough to work with a wide range of children from across the school. I like to get to know the children and seeing them flourish and grow. Outside work, I enjoy being active. I play netball for a local club, which is great as I get to see my friends as well as taking part in something I enjoy. I also enjoy going swimming and walking in the countryside with my extended family. I love history and enjoy visiting history museums and watching history programmes on TV. I went to Rome a few years ago, visiting the Colosseum, and seeing all the ancient ruins. It was amazing! When I was at secondary school, I received the ‘Sports Girl of the Year Award’ in my year group for my achievements in sport.

My name is Miss Kennard, and I am a Teaching Assistant at Glenleigh Park. I have been a TA for approximately 17 years. The best thing about being in my role is when a child you are working with has a ‘lightbulb’ moment. It is wonderful seeing their faces light up! My favourite food has got to be Marmite and chocolate, but NOT together. I tried that once and it was incredibly YUK! Four years ago I queued up for a very long time, at Chessington, to stroke a baby panda, only to realise after that it was in fact a robotic panda! One day I will travel around Europe in my Motorhome Bessie, chasing the sun! Oh, and I can wiggle my ears.

 

 

 

 

My name is Rachel, I joined the Glenleigh Park family last year. Primarily a reception based TA ,I enjoy nothing more than settling some of our youngest students into life at Glenleigh Park. I have a young daughter of my own who keeps me on my toes. We love a Sunday boot sale, a good craft, and a movie night. She is a competitive gymnast so most of my free time is spent being her biggest cheerleader.

I joined the Glenleigh Park family in 2015 and I relish the fast-paced, positive and rewarding environment the school has to offer. I am a member of the Pastoral team, and I am also a trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA). I work at the school providing support to children emotionally, socially and academically. My passion is to empower pupils, helping them build resilience, believe in themselves and achieve their full potential. Working with children is my dream and I love that no two days are ever the same!

At home, I live with my partner and our two sons. I aspire to be a fantastic mother and role model for them both. Family is hugely important to me and in my spare time I love spending time with family and friends, particularly in the outdoors. I studied at the University of Brighton and have a degree in Applied Social Science. One of my greatest achievements is hiking 26 miles across the South Downs for charity in 2019. I am a huge football fan, I support West Ham United and I have had a season ticket with my Dad for a few years!

I'm Miss Weeks and I am part of the Pastoral Team here at Glenleigh Park so I'm lucky to work with lots of children right from Nursery through to Year 6! I am also a trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) and really enjoy being able to work 1:1 or in small groups to help children overcome any challenges they may be facing. Sometimes you may even find me doing hot chocolate breathing or a silly dance, always doing my best to turn a frown upside down!

When I'm not at school my little girl keeps me on my toes! I love reading, watching stand-up comedy, camping and any opportunity to travel and explore new places. Something you might not know about me is that I have worked in Tanzania and I loved it so much I went back a second time!

 

Hi there, I am Miss Shepherd and I have been a Pastoral and Behavioural Assistant at Glenleigh Park since June 2022. I am also ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) trained and I help children to understand and express their emotions in a constructive way by empowering them to independently come up with strategies that are good for them and good for everyone. I get to know the children on a very personal level and every day is different which makes working at Glenleigh Park so special.

Before I came to this school I worked in nurseries across Germany, where I was born and raised for most of my life, worked as an Au Pair in Canada for two years and finally worked some more in Early Years when I moved to the UK seven years ago. 

Travelling is one of my favourite things to do, immersing myself in different cultures and meeting people from all different backgrounds has taught me a lot over the years. That’s why I get excited when we have days like Italy day or Peru day in school as I feel like it’s such a unique way to experience and learn about the world around us. 

When I am not travelling or working I love to spend my free time on the motorbike, reading, doing art and meeting up with friends and family - preferably as close to the beach as possible!

 

 

I joined the Academy in September 2024 and am thrilled to be the Nursery Manager across two wonderful Nursery sites: Glenleigh Park Academy and King Offa. My journey in Early Years began in 2000, and I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to my role. I am passionate about delivering high-quality provision and strive to create nurturing and stimulating environments where all children can explore, learn, and grow. I am committed to developing a love for learning that will last a lifetime.

Beyond my role at Nursery, I am mum to two fantastic grown-up boys and a lively six-year-old son who keeps me on my toes! I believe my experience as a parent allows me to connect with both children and families on a personal level.

Ms D Broad - Nursery Apprentice 

I am Desta and I am a Level 2 qualified practitioner currently doing my level 3 apprenticeship in the Nursery.

I enjoy lots of painting and messy play as well as singing in a group altogether. 

Miss E Hawkins Howson - Nursery Apprentice

I am currently doing a Level 3 Childcare Apprenticeship course in the Nursery. I love everything about messy play, putting smiles on the children's faces and making sure they have a fun day every day! It puts a smile on my face when the children learn new things and start to become more independent each day. Most of all, it's lovely to see their personalities start to blossom. 

My name is Caroline Young and I have been at Glenleigh Park Primary Academy for over ten years now. IN that time my role has changed and I am now the Nursery Finance & Administration Assistant for both Glenleigh Park and King Offa Primary Academies. I’ve been happily married to my husband, Martin, for over 25 years. I thoroughly enjoy working within Glenleigh Park and King Offa nurseries, as the staff and nursery environment are lovely to work within – they are focused on providing excellent childcare, the schools are great, and every day is different. I enjoy reading, walking, cycling and social gatherings. On an achievement front, I completed several London to Brighton and London to Cambridge bike rides in my younger years. I love anything to do with Christmas and would have the tree up all year round if I could, which has led my friends to nickname me Mother Christmas.

My name is Miss Gooch, and I am the Office Manager at Glenleigh Park Primary Academy - I joined the team in September 2020. I love working at Glenleigh Park because every day is different and there is always something new to learn! The staff team and children make work lots of fun and I really enjoy my role. At home, I live with my partner and our cat, who is always getting into lots of mischief! In my free time I like to go for long walks with friends and family, and I also enjoy getting creative and have been known to make gifts and cards for loved ones. During the summer holidays, my partner and I like to explore new places in the UK and our favourite place so far is the Lake District; we are hoping to continue our adventures this summer. An interesting fact about me is that I once took part in a Circus Skills workshop and found out that fire breathing is not for me!

Mrs K Towers - Office Manager (maternity cover)

My name is Mrs Towers and I joined the team in June 2025 - I have enjoyed my time so far getting to know the children and staff at Glenleigh.  I have four children and two granddaughters who I love spending time with.  My claim to fame is that I was on the round before the TV for Masterchef!  I love cooking and entertaining friends and family and am a big live music fan! 

 

 

 

My name is Lewis and I am the Site Manager at Glenleigh.  I have worked here since 2022.  In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and walking my dog.