Staffing News

We have put the last piece in the staffing jigsaw for next year this week, appointing Steve Wickes to the role of Site Manager of the Junior school. Steve, who has a background in facilities management having been duty manager at Heston Pool, will be joining the Strand team from Monday. Steve will be working alongside Babu for the next few weeks until he learns the ropes. We are very grateful to Babu, who has been our interim caretaker for the majority of this academic year. He is a great handyman and has been responsible for painting various rooms around the school as well as fixing toilet doors, coat hooks and hanging pictures. We are sure his knowledge of the site will be invaluable as he leads Steve through his induction. Steve has a passion for motorcycles and 6 children and step children, ranging from 11 to 17, who keep him very busy. If you see Steve next week be sure to extend a warm Strand welcome. The other new member of staff joining the teaching team next year will be Catherine Rigby, known to the children as Mrs Rigby. Catherine will be joining us as an NQT having completedher PGCE at St Mary’s college. Catherine was a lawyer before joining the teaching profession, specializing in commercial property transactions, and is a keen netball player – both her negotiation skills and quick reactions will stand her in good stead when taking a class at Strand! Catherine will be visiting us in the latter part of the term to acclimatize and find her feet before joining us in September. Catherine impressed us at interview back in March and the children gave her Poetry lesson on "In Flanders Field" a resounding thumbs up. We are sure that Catherine will be an asset to the team.