Governors & Staff - Durston House

What are you searching for?

Search the durston site by filling in the form below

Connect with Durston

Stay in touch with our admissions team, know when our Open Day is and be reminded when to submit your registration!

Name

Mr G Entwisle

Headmaster

BA (Hons) Loughborough

Giles Entwisle joined Durston House in September 2020. For the previous seven years Giles was Headmaster of Bede’s Preparatory School in Eastbourne, the prep school of Bede’s senior school. Before that he was Deputy Head at Highfield School in Liphook, Hampshire, and Housemaster at Holmewood House in Tunbridge Wells. In total he has taught at five different prep schools, all of them with strong reputations and high standards of teaching and pastoral care.

Giles began his career as a languages teacher, qualifying from Bristol University in 1992. He has an Honours degree in Modern European Studies from Loughborough University, and is married to Regina, a Spanish teacher. They have two children.

Miss L Vallely

Deputy Head

BEd (Hons) (University of Glasgow) QTS

Lauren was born and raised in Lanarkshire, which is a beautiful area of Scotland close to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Loch Lomond. She studied Primary Education at the University of Glasgow and graduated in 2009. Lauren moved from Scotland to ‘The Big Smoke’ in 2010 and has worked at many leading independent prep schools. Most recently as Deputy Head Pastoral at Wetherby Kensington and Deputy Head at Parsons Green Prep. Lauren enjoys painting using oils and acrylics and loves visiting art galleries. During her spare time she volunteers in a range of projects within the Kensington & Chelsea district, sometimes with her cockapoo Larry who is a trained therapy dog.

Mrs J Twyford

Bursar

Jenny was recruited as Bursar at Durston House in January 2005, having previously been the Bursar at a Prep School and an Adult Education College. Born in South Africa but brought up and educated in Ealing, she has run her own business and worked as a Finance Executive in the industrial chemical manufacturing industry. Jenny has two children and five grandchildren; is a keen tennis player, having played competitively in the Middlesex League, and continues to play regularly.

Mrs C Saigau

Director of Studies

BA (Romania) PGDip (Romania) MTeach (IoE London) QTS

Cristina was born and educated in Romania with a degree in Philology, and began her teaching career in England in 2000. Starting Durston in 2008 as a Year 1 teacher, in 2010 she joined the Junior School team as a Year 3 teacher, and in 2015 became Head of Latin. Outside of work Cristina enjoys city walks, travelling, and trips to the theatre.

Mr D Stock

Head of Co-Curricular

BSc (Hons) (St Mary’s) PGCE

Dominic grew up in leafy Kent. He moved to London for his degree in Physical and Sport Education, at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Starting Durston in 2011, he has held positions in Junior School, Middle and Upper School, mixing class teaching, History and PE/Games, before joining the Senior Management Team, as Director of Studies, in September 2018. Always a keen sportsman, Dominic enjoys playing both codes of rugby, having represented Harlequins Rugby League and now playing on the wing for Twickenham Rugby Football Club.

Miss J Chisholm

Head of Studies Administration

BEd (Canada) QTS

Jennifer joined Durston House as Studies Manager in 2018. Born and raised in Canada, she has called London home since 2011. Jennifer has worked across a variety of school settings, most recently as a Year 3 and 4 Teacher and a member of the management team at a prep school in North London. She enjoys travelling extensively throughout Europe and is most at home in the mountains, having ski raced competitively as a child.

Miss P Orr

Head of Junior School

BEd (Australian Catholic University)

Philippa Orr completed a Bachelor of Education in Australia and has worked in various educational settings from early childhood to special education. Eager to travel and experience new horizons, she moved to London in 2016 and joined Durston House in 2017 as a Year 4 Form Tutor and has held a variety of roles in Middle and Upper School.

Originally from Melbourne, Philippa can’t help but have a keen love of food and coffee, and enjoys exploring London’s Gastronomic scene. When not eating or cooking, Philippa spends her time in London’s parks and looks forward to yoga classes, theatre and travelling abroad.

Ms D Finlayson

Head of Pre-Prep

BSc (Hons) (Middx) PGCE

Dawn has worked at Durston House since 2010, where she spent 3 years teaching in Year 1 and seven years as Head of Reception, before moving to Year 2 and becoming Head of Pre-Prep. Before her move to London, Dawn worked with 5-12 year olds in schools across Scotland, including the Highlands and the Lothians.

Dawn enjoys music, both as a performer and in the audience, and regularly plays her flute with the Durston School Orchestra. In the school holidays she can usually be found in a theatre or arena somewhere (not always in the UK!), enjoying some musical theatre or a pop or rock concert. Dawn has volunteered for many years with amateur dramatic groups, working backstage and front of house, and particularly enjoys preparing her pupils for performance opportunities throughout the year.

  • Governors

    Philippe Carpentier
    Business Developer, Private Investor & former Durston House parent

    Philippe Carpentier has a broad commercial background in the energy industry, having worked in the industry as well as in consulting roles. He is currently acting as a business developer in an energy start-up and managing his personal investment portfolio.


    Ms A Collier (LLB Hons)
    Solicitor, Business Consultant & former Durston House parent

    Ms Ann Collier originally qualified as a solicitor. She has also been a lecturer at the College of Law and more recently has been Head of Learning & Development in two large City law firms. She now works as an executive coach and business consultant. Former Durston parent with a son and a daughter.


    Dr J Gill 
    Cardiology Registrar & former Durston House parent


    Mrs S Girn
    Solicitor & former Durston House parent

    Mrs Shally Girn is a solicitor practising employment law, in house, in a global law firm, advising on partner and employee issues and disputes in the UK and International offices. She is a former Durston parent of two boys.


    Dr T Girn
    Chartered Accountant & former Durston House parent

    Dr Tom Girn is a Chartered Accountant and director of AP Benson management consultants. He specialises in corporate turnaround and finance.


    Ms J Honigsberger
    Data Analytics Consultant (Retired) & former Durston House parent

    Ms Julia Honigsberger retired in 2020 following a career as consulting director at Thorogood Associates, a global data analytics firm with its headquarters in West London.  Former Durston Parent.


    Ms Sally-Anne Huang  
    High Master, St Paul’s School 

    Sally-Anne Huang was educated at Bolton School prior to reading Classics and English at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.  She also has an MSc in Educational Leadership and Management and a Masters degree in Children’s Literature, which is a personal passion of hers. Sally-Anne is High Master of St Paul’s School and experienced in governance of both boarding and prep schools.


    Mr W Key
    Real Estate Associate and Chartered Accountant


    Mrs I Kurek Smith 
    Head of Data Partners, Baltic Exchange


    Mr K Mahoney BSc MRICS (Chairman)
    Chartered Surveyor

    Kevin Mahoney is a retired Chartered Surveyor with 35 years’ experience in commercial property, specialising in shopping centre development and asset management across Europe.


    Mr L Mak 
    Strategy Consultant, Private Investor & former Durston House parent


    Mr M Mudan
    Fund Manager 


    Dr Richard Maloney
    Headmaster of Uppingham School

    Richard joined Uppingham as Headmaster in September 2016 after seven years as Headmaster and CEO of the St Bede’s School Trust in East Sussex.


    Mr Ben Purkiss
    Headmaster at Caterham Preparatory School

    Ben is a Surrey Prep School Head who, over the course of his career has worked in a variety of Prep and Secondary schools across Kent, Surrey and Sussex in pastoral and academic leadership.


    Mr F Sayood


    Mr A Sokolowski 
    Private Equity Investor & former Durston House parent

  • Heads of Department

    Miss C Barnes BA (Hons) (London) MA (London) PGCE — Head of English

    Mr R Bester Higher HiDipED (Durban) — Head of Geography

    Mr S Glassington BSc (Hons) (Southampton) QTS — Head of PE / Games

    Mrs A Gorard BA (Liverpool) PCGE — Head of Learning Support / SENCO

    Mrs A Hryschuk BEd (Canada) — Head of Art

    Mrs E Jones BSc (Hons) (Cardiff) PGCE — Head of French

    Mr J Nicolaou BSc (Hons) (London) PGCE — Head of IT & CSc

    Mrs K Palamarchuk MA (Krakow) PGCE — Head of Music

    Mr D Rajah BA HDEd (Natal) QTS — Head of Mathematics

    Mrs C Saigau BA MA (Galati) MTeach (IOE London) QTS — Head of Latin

    Mr D Stock BSc (Hons) (St Mary’s) PGCE — Head of History

    Mrs M Verma BA MA (Gelati) MTeach (IOE London) QTS — Head of Science

    Mrs E Williams PDT AdvCertEd (Cape Town) — Head of PSHME

    Mr L Williams BA (Rhodes) BA (Hons) (W. Cape) DipTch — Head of TPR

  • Teaching Staff

    Mrs D Adhami BEd (Hons) (West Midlands College) — Pre-Prep

    Mr E U Bassey BA (Hons) (Nsukka) MA (Lagos) DipMusEd — Music

    Miss C Barr BSc (Ireland) PGCE — Pre-Prep/Junior

    Miss J Beaumont BA (Otago) QTS — Pre-Prep (Reception)

    Mr A Bendas BA (Romania) QTS — PE / Games

    Mr W Coetzer BA (Hons) (Johannesburg) PGCE — Junior School

    Miss A Derliunaite BA (Hons) (St Mary’s) FDA Early Years’ — Pre School

    Miss S Easton BA (Hons) (London) — Junior School

    Mr H Eghvay BSc (Hons) (Westminster) PGCE — Science

    Mrs K Figura BA (Hons) (Poland) MA PGDip QTS — Pre School

    Mrs C Fletcher BEd (University of Johannesburg) — Junior School

    Mr J Foxall BA (Hons) (Cardiff) MA (London) PGCE — French

    Miss J Gahir BSc (Hons) (St Mary’s) PGCE — Maths

    Mr K Gallick BSc (Hons) (University of Bedfordshire) PGCE — Maths & Games

    Mrs A Harridge BA (Hons) (USA) QTS MA (USA) — English

    Miss R Horne BA (Double Major) (Auckland) GradDipEd — Pre-Prep (Reception)

    Mrs K Katradis BA (Hons) PGCE (Southbank) QTS — Pre-Prep

    Miss K Maloney BEd (Canada) — SEN Teacher

    Mr D Matsuszaka BSc (Hons) (Open University) QTS — PE / Games

    Mrs T Outten LLB (Hons) (Reading) PGCE — Junior School

    Ms P Sandhu LLB (Hons) (St Mary’s) QTS — Pre-Prep

    Mrs H Sharp BA (Hons) (Oxford Brookes University) PGCE — Pre-Prep

    Mrs N Sharma BA (Hons) (London) PGCE — Maths and History

    Mrs A Singh BA (Hons) (Surrey) PGCE QTS — Pre-Prep (Reception)

    Miss S Smith – PE / Games — Teacher Training

    Miss H Sweeney BA (Griffith) GradDipEd — Junior School

    Mr K Trott BA (London) — Pre-Prep

    Mrs J Woolley BA (Hons) (Oxon) — Junior School

  • Administration Staff

    Miss G Budasz — School Secretary

    Mrs A Burrell — Main School Secretary

    Mrs E Elmer — Bursar’s Assistant – Finance

    Mrs C Ferns — Headmaster’s Secretary / Registrar

    Miss H Hammami — School Assistant (Main School)

    Mr P Khaunekar — IT Technician

    Ms S Laslett – Finance Assistant

    Mrs A Priya B Tech (Electrical), Associate CIPD — HR Manager

    Mr H Ross MEng CEng MIET — Head of Communications

    Mrs L Swaby — Pre-Prep Secretary

    Miss K Swanson — Senior School Assistant (Junior School)

    Miss R Togher BA (Hons) (Southampton) — Marketing Manager

    Mr A White BA (Hons) MA PGCE (Reading) — Librarian

  • Assistants

    Mr A Asgari — Sports Assistant

    Ms K Augustine — Pre-Prep Teaching Assistant

    Ms F Bezdany — Pre-School Teaching Assistant

    Miss C Dawson — Pre-Prep Teaching Assistant

    Mrs N De Jong — Pre-Prep Teaching Assistant

    Ms A Garvey — Learning Support Assistant

    Mrs A Latawiec — Pre-Prep Teaching Assistant

    Mrs R Namakerdi — Pre-School Teaching Assistant

    Miss M Reid — Pre-Prep Teaching Assistant

    Mr K Sedov — Gap Student

  • Support Staff

    Mr D Butler IOSH — Facilities & Premises Manager

    Mr M Liciu — Facilities Supervisor

    Mr J O’Brien MTC – Maintenance Assistant

    Mr B Sula — Facilities Assistant

    Mrs B Sandhu — Events Manager

  • After School Care

    Mrs N Brusnahan — After-School Care Supervisor (Pre-School/Pre-Prep)

    Mrs K Pomeroy — After-School Care Supervisor (Main School)

    Ms N DeJong — After-School Care Assistant (Pre-Prep/Pre-School)

    Ms A Grimshaw — After-School Care Assistant (Pre-Prep/Pre-School)

    Mrs A Latawiec — After-School Care Supervisor (Junior School)

    Mrs M Lloyd — After-School Care Assistant (Pre-Prep/Pre-School)

    Mrs R Namakerdi — After-School Care Assistant (Pre-Prep/Pre-School)

  • Dining Room and Playground Assistants

    Mrs N Brusnahan

    Mrs M Lloyd

    Mrs K Pomeroy

    Mrs A Sarnecka

    Mrs A Swiekatowska

    Ms K Wojton

  • Visiting Music Teachers

    Mr M Allen BMus (Hons) MMus (LCM) — Drums

    Mr M Blake CertEd (CNAA) LRAM — Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn,Tuba

    Mr F Brikcius MgA (JAMU) – Cello

    Mr T Crehan MMus (Perf) BMus (Hons) (RNCM) — Violin

    Mr C Goodman BMus (Hons) (RCM) — Clarinet, Alto Saxophone

    Mr M Hickman BMus (Hons) — Piano

    Miss M Ireland BMus (Hons) — Oboe

    Mrs A Pratley BMus (Hons) — Violin

    Mr K Proudlove Dip Higher Ed Music — Guitar/Piano

    Mrs Y Shon MMus BMus (Seoul) — Piano

    Mr G Ubeda Perf Dip (TCL) — Guitar

    Mr S Zakarian BMus MMus (RAM) LRAM —Piano

Where next?