Who's Who

With nearly 20 years’ experience in the UK independent education sector, boarding and day, she has led on whole-school change, including the creation and management of meaningful, ground-breaking pastoral programmes, major curriculum and assessment reform, and ensuring that teaching and learning is innovative, robust and future-focused. Fionnuala has written for major national print and digital media such as The Times & The Telegraph, contributes regular educational think pieces for the TES, appeared on panels & podcasts for the FT and ITN news. She takes very seriously her role as a passionate advocate of equality and education for young women, and speaks regularly at festivals & conferences, nationally and internationally.

Fionnuala studied English Language & Literature at Exeter College, Oxford, and then worked briefly in publishing before moving into teaching. She was a choral scholar at Oxford and choral singing remains a major passion. In her spare time, she also enjoys theatre and stand-up comedy, is a voracious reader, and practises Pilates to stay well.

Sarah Chittenden has spent her teaching career to date working in a number of independent preparatory schools in London. She was Deputy Head of the Junior School at Streatham and Clapham High (GDST) before the birth of her two daughters and, most recently, she has held the posts of 11+ Lead and Head of Assessment at Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School. Sarah is passionate in her belief that schools must enable pupils to learn in a multi-disciplinary way, transferring knowledge and skills across subjects and applying them to a range of different contexts both within and beyond the classroom. From September 2024 Sarah will be acting Head of Juniors, with the support of Head of Wimbledon High School Fionnuala Kennedy, while a recruitment process for Claire Boyd’s successor takes place.

Kathryn Jones has a degree in Geography from Exeter University. She qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants with Morgan Stanley and then continued her career with IBM Global Financing as a Financial Consultant covering the Investment Banking Sector.  After a career break to bring up a young family, Kathryn joined Wimbledon High in the Finance Team moving on to cover to Finance & Operations. She leads on Finance, Estates, Human Resources and Administration Support and is currently working with other members of the senior management team on the WHS sustainability strategy.

Ben Turner becomes Senior Deputy Head in September 2023. He joined Wimbledon High School as  Assistant Head Pastoral, becoming Deputy Head Pastoral in September 2020. Prior to Wimbledon, Ben was at Whitgift School in South Croydon, leaving as Deputy Head of a Sixth Form of over 400 boys. Ben is a passionate History and Politics teacher, and before completing his PGCE at the Institute of Education, read History at undergraduate and postgraduate level at Royal Holloway, University of London. Before settling in his beloved South East London, Ben spent time travelling and working across the world. Spending three years in California, working with children from inner-city San Francisco, and training as a ski instructor in the Italian Alps.

Rachel Brewster is a keen linguist and spent a number of years working abroad before completing her Masters in International Relations. From being a reporter for the foreign press in London, she moved into PR, where she worked in the City and at PriceWaterHouseCoopers in their corporate press office. After a career break with her young family in Australia, Rachel started working at Wimbledon High School part-time, moving to full-time and the SMT in 2011 and SLT in 2022. Having been at GDST school herself, she is passionate about girls’ education and the need to allow students to use their voices for good. Rachel was also a Trustee of Apollo Music Projects for two years.

Jenny Cox joined Wimbledon High in 2003 as Head of PE having previously taught in the state sector for 10 years. In 2011 she stepped into the role of Director of Co-curricular and Partnerships (adding Philanthropy now too, in recognition of the school’s work with charities) and is passionate about working collaboratively with local schools as well as providing opportunities for the students to flourish both inside and outside the classroom. Jenny’s first degree is from Brunel University, in Sports Science and Leisure Management, from there she then went onto complete a PGCE in Physical Education. With a passion for Sports Psychology she completed an MSc at Roehampton University in 2012 and is currently undergoing supervised experience as a Sport and Exercise Scientist, in Psychology.

Chrystal Cunningham joined Wimbledon High School in September 2022. She began her career in education as a Teach First Leadership Development Participant and since been a Head of Physics and Deputy Head of Sixth Form. Alongside her Master of Physics degree, Chrystal has completed a Psychology of Education MSc at the UCL Institute of Education. Chrystal is passionate about developing and maintaining an inclusive community through use of social and cultural psychological research.

Ferdinand Doepel joined Wimbledon High School in September 2022. After completing the Teach First programme in a school on the outskirts of East London at the start of his career, he joined the independent sector. Alongside his BSc in Economics, he holds an MA in Educational Leadership from UCL. Ferdinand joined WHS from Trinity School in Croydon, where he was Head of Economics and Business, having previously taught at Hampton School. He’s passionate about Economics, in particular its practical applications to current events which help students make sense of the world around them. In his spare time he enjoys cycling, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Ed Griffiths joined Wimbledon High School in January 2023. Ed is a passionate and experienced Sixth Form educator, believing strongly that the final two years should represent the pinnacle a student’s time at school. He joined WHS from Whitgift School in Croydon, where he was a Head of Year in the Sixth Form since 2018, having previously taught at Cranleigh School. As a Chemistry graduate, Ed is a champion for women in STEM, encouraging the next generation of WHS students to maintain our traditional strengths in this area. In his spare time, he enjoys singing, running and watching his beloved Harlequins.

Dr John Parsons joined Wimbledon High in 2015 and has taught in high achieving girls’ schools since the completion of his PhD in 2005. A Music graduate, John’s doctoral work looked at performance practice in early twentieth century violin playing, and he caught the bug for teaching whilst teaching undergraduate courses at university. Having been Director of Sixth Form for 8 years, he is now Senior Tutor, focusing on staff wellbeing.

TBC

Kate Harper-Tarr graduated from the University of Manchester in 2012 and went on to complete both a PGCE and Master of Education (MEd) at the University of Cambridge. Having worked for three years in the state sector she joined Wimbledon in 2016 as a Year 3 class teacher and Leader of English. Kate subsequently became Leader of our extensive co-curricular programme, in addition to having a key responsibility in the pastoral care of the Junior girls. She now leads the Upper Junior School and is keenly interested in Junior Education; particularly its role in building resilience and a love of learning.

Elizabeth Jenkins has experience teaching and leading across the curriculum in a wide range of schools within the independent, state and international sectors. In her career, she has held a variety of roles which have had impact across multiple academic areas, such as Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning, Lead Practitioner, Assessment Chair, English Lead and Humanities Coordinator. Elizabeth has a passion for teaching and learning, coupled with a keen interest in educational research and innovative teaching practices. She is committed to the principles of lifelong learning and the importance of creating inclusive learning environments where all can achieve their potential.

Alexandria Rowland started her career at Dundonald Primary School then Hollymount School where she successfully led the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage One, before starting at Wimbledon High in 2020. Alexandria believes all girls should be encouraged to be creative, critical, risk-taking thinkers and problem solvers. As such, learning opportunities should involve playing and exploring, active learning and establishing experiences allowing girls to succeed as they step into their Wimbledon High journey. Alexandria is passionate about empowering our youngest members of the school community to thrive and for all to embrace the opportunities and challenges presented to them.