Our Staff
Who's Who at Mandeville
Leadership Team
Leadership Team (ID 1082)
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Cathy LonghurstHead Teacher
Cathy Longhurst
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Laura WilliamsDeputy Head Teacher & SENCO
Laura Williams
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James DickinsonAssistant Head Teacher
James Dickinson
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Kate FennerAssistant Head Teacher
Kate Fenner
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Debbie ConnollyAssistant Head Teacher
Debbie Connolly
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Kate EllinghamSenior Teacher
Kate Ellingham
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Natalie SpeakmanSenior Teacher
Natalie Speakman
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MollyHead Dog
Molly
Teaching Team
Early Years Teaching Team - Nursery & Reception
Early Years Teaching Team - Nursery & Reception (ID 1083)
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Debbie ConnollyAssistant Head, EYFS Lead, Class Teacher Butterflies
Debbie Connolly
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Mandy GloyneClass Teacher Bumblebees
Mandy Gloyne
Early Years Teaching Assistants
Early Years Teaching Assistants (ID 1084)
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Kathy McElroy
Kathy McElroy
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Tyler Danks
Tyler Danks
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Kathryn Taits
Kathryn Taits
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Hana Jamshaid
Hana Jamshaid
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Bev Davey
Bev Davey
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Aurora Cuni
Aurora Cuni
KS1 Teaching Team Y1 & Y2
KS1 Teaching Team - Y1 & Y2 (ID 1085)
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Natalie SpeakmanSenior Class Teacher, Penguins
Natalie Speakman
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Jade ColePuffins Class Teacher
Jade Cole
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Kate FennerAssistant Head, KS1 Leader, Wrens Class Teacher
Kate Fenner
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Emma DollinKS1 Teacher
Emma Dollin
KS1 Teaching Assistant Team
KS1 Teaching Assistant Team (ID 1086)
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Anne Breeze
Anne Breeze
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Louise Clark
Louise Clark
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Zakia Shamsher
Zakia Shamsher
Year 3 Teaching Team
Year 3 Teaching Team (ID 1087)
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Paloma CastilloSwallows Class Teacher
Paloma Castillo
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Megan NicolsonSwans Class Teacher
Megan Nicolson
Year 4 Teaching Team
Year 4 Teaching Team (ID 1088)
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James DickinsonAssistant Head, KS2 Lead, Hawks Class Teacher
James Dickinson
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Eloise PeelHerons Class Teacher
Eloise Peel
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Lauren BerryTeacher
Lauren Berry
Year 5 Teaching Team
Year 5 Teaching Team (ID 1089)
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Jo DaviesKingfishers Class Teacher
Jo Davies
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Felix Leonard-FoxKites Class Teacher
Felix Leonard-Fox
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Lauren BerryTeacher
Lauren Berry
Year 6 Teaching Team
Year 6 Teaching Team (ID 1090)
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Katie EllinghamSenior Class Teacher Ospreys
Katie Ellingham
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Claire SargentOwls Class Teacher
Claire Sargent
Teaching Assistants Team - Year 3, 4, 5 and 6
Teaching Assistant Team - Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 (ID 1091)
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Vicky Wright
Vicky Wright
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Sara Grimshaw
Sara Grimshaw
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Alejandra Gochez
Alejandra Gochez
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Tsz-Yan Li
Tsz-Yan Li
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Kellie Turner - SEN TA
Kellie Turner - SEN TA
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Shanta Mazumdar - SEN TA
Shanta Mazumdar - SEN TA
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Jyoti Sindhi
Jyoti Sindhi
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Tracy Fernandes
Tracy Fernandes
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Rebecca Douglas
Rebecca Douglas
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Alen Halimic
Alen Halimic
Subject Teaching Team
Subject Teaching Team (ID 1092)
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Simone LeibovitchTutor
Simone Leibovitch
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Madi DoellingSEN TA
Madi Doelling
Admin Team
Admin Team (ID 1093)
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Patsy HardingSchool Business Manager
Patsy Harding
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Jen ChilcottSchool Office Manager
Jen Chilcott
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Claire CokerWelfare Office
Claire Coker
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Alison WilsonSchool Administrator
Alison Wilson
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Vanessa SharpSchool Administrator
Vanessa Sharp
Premises Team
Premises Team (ID 1094)
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Kevin ByrneSite Manager
Kevin Byrne
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Charlie WilsonAssistant Caretaker
Charlie Wilson
Lunchtime & Breakfast Club Team
Lunchtime and Breakfast Club Team (ID 1095)
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Sarah BedellMidday Supervisory Assistant
Sarah Bedell
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Amanda BozierMidday Supervisory Assistant
Amanda Bozier
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Trisha LawrenceMidday Supervisory Assistant
Trisha Lawrence
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Nancy BroadbentMidday Supervisory Assistant
Nancy Broadbent
Spirals After School Care
Spirals After School Care (ID 1096)
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Sarah BedellAfter School Club Lead
Sarah Bedell
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Trisha LawrenceAfter School Club Assistant
Trisha Lawrence
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Amanda BozierAfter School Club Assistant
Amanda Bozier
Meet the Governors
Meet the Governors (ID 1097)
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Ed HollowayChair of Governors & Community Governor
Ed Holloway
I'm Ed Holloway and I've recently been appointed as Chair of Governors at Mandeville.
I live in the local area and have two children at the school, so you can often see me doing the morning drop-off.
As a governor, my role is to work alongside the school's leadership team to help set a strategy for the school, and to provide support and challenge to the leadership team. However, it's important to remember that we don't get involved in the day-to-day management – that's the job of the headteacher and other staff.
I feel so fortunate that we have such a wonderful school in our local committee, and am proud to be able to play a small role in helping it to continue to provide a fantastic education for every pupil.
In my day job I work in the charity sector, currently as CEO of a benevolent organisation in London. Please don't hesitate to say ‘hi' when you see me around school.
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Cathy LonghurstHead Teacher
Cathy Longhurst
I came to Mandeville in 2001 after teaching in London in the early part of my career and have lived in St Albans since then with my family. I was appointed as the leader of the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 and then became Deputy Head Teacher in 2005. As the school is a designated ‘National Support School' I was asked to support a local school in challenging circumstances in February 2012 and enjoyed four terms as acting head teacher there before coming back to Mandeville as the substantive head teacher in September 2013.
I am so proud of being part of Mandeville's journey to success. The school has almost quadrupled in size since I started teaching here and is unrecognisable from the school it was then. We have achieved so many great things in that time, including the slightly disruptive but very worthwhile £5.5 million building project and an outstanding Ofsted.
I love the diversity that the children and families bring to Mandeville and the importance that we place on developing the whole child whilst not taking our focus away from continually striving to raise standards. Mandeville is such a happy environment for everyone who learns and works here, both children and adults, and every day presents a new and exciting challenge. That's why I have stayed so long!
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Laura WilliamsAssociate Governor (Deputy Head)
Laura Williams
I became a governor in September 2015 afterjoining Mandeville in September 2013 as the Year 6 class teacher and Assistant Headteacher with a responsibility for Key Stage 2. The following year I moved to teach in Nursery and took the role ofEarly Years and Foundation Stage leader. It was a big change that I welcomedand an excellent opportunity to learn! I have become passionate about early education and using children's interests to achieve their next steps. I am extremely proud of the EYFS unit and team and believe we provide outstanding provision for our children. I love that everyday is different and totally led by the children and Ireally value the opportunity to have a role in setting children up ontheir educational journey.
I undertook my teacher training in Essex after completing a Psychology degree at Nottingham University.Prior to moving to Mandeville, I spent 5 years teaching at St Peter's just half a mile away. I predominantly taught in Key Stage 2 and was on the senior leadership team with a responsibility for teaching and learning across the school. During this time, I also did a Masters in Education.
In September 2015, I became the acting Deputy Headteacher and SENCo which became mysubstantive role in June 2016. It has been a fantastic opportunity and I have thoroughly enjoyed increasing my knowledge and understanding of inclusion and SEND within education.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and being active.
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Mandy AbleyVice-Chair & Co-opted Governor
Mandy Abley
I have worked in education for over 30 years, the last 11 of them as head teacher of Aboyne Lodge primary in St Albans. I have a degree in English literature from UCL, studied for my PGCE at the Institute of Education in London and returned there to complete a Masters in Educational Leadership and Management., and my NPQH.
In 2017 I was invited to join the first cohort of the Herts for Learning Executive Head Teacher training programme and in September 2018 took over as headteacher at Templewood Primary in Welwyn Garden City, alongside my headship at Aboyne Lodge. I remained head at both schools until August 2021.
I was appointed a local leader of education in 2013 and supported many schools across Hertfordshire, until I became a Hertfordshire Improvement Partner in 2017. While I have now retired from Headship, I continue to work as a HIP, offering support and challenge to school leaders across the County.
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Katie EllinghamStaff Governor
Katie Ellingham
I joined Mandeville in 2004 after moving to England from Australia where I had been a teacher for four years. After gaining my degree in psychology and history at Monash University, I then went on to secure a post-graduate diploma in education.
My main teaching experience is in KS2 and I am now the phase leader for Year 3 and 4. I am very passionate about giving children a rounded experience in primary school by building academic confidence as well as developing lifelong resilience skills. I am qualified to teach the Penn Resilience Programme and the mindfulness programme known as. Breathe. Throughout my time at Mandeville I have lead many curriculum subjects and am currently in change of English across the school. During the last three years, I have taken on extra duties as a senior teacher and am often asked to demonstrate teaching and learning to less experienced teachers
I have always enjoyed working with children and love the way that every day is different. Mandeville is by far the best school I have ever worked at, and I passionately believe in the principles which drive everyone to do their best for every child who walks through the door.
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Martin ReedParent Governor
Martin Reed
I was born in the UK and have always had a passion for the arts. I have a BA in Graphic Design and a Post Graduate Diploma in creative writing. I lived in London for 10 years with my wife before moving to St. Albans in 2012. I have over 20 years experience in the world of advertising and marketing, with a mixture of self-employed and full-time experience.
In terms of schooling background my mother was a primary school teacher for 40 years and I often helped in her classroom as a learning assistant. Mandeville continues to impress me with its inclusive attitude to child development and I cherish the opportunity to uphold that commitment to the school and local community.
I have a son in reception and a daughter in Year 5, giving me daily exposure to both ends of Mandeville's learning journey. I work in the creative industry, and would love to contribute in any way I can and to particularly help children learn to expressive themselves creatively.
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Kelly DrewCommunity Governor
Kelly Drew
I have lived in St Albans since 2004 and have three children, my eldest left Mandeville in 2023 and is now at secondary school, my younger two are in year 5 and year 3.
I was the PTA Treasurer from 2016 to 2019 which links to my background in Finance & Accounting.
I am a Chartered Accountant and have worked in the NHS for over 20 years and have always had a passion for helping people, part of the reason I decided to say yes to the Finance Governor role.
I'm really looking forward to joining the amazing team at Mandeville.
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Penny SlaterParent Governor
Penny Slater
My name is Penny and I live in Colney Heath with my husband, Luke, and our two daughters, Juliette and Marissa. Both our daughters have benefitted from a fabulous education at Mandeville: Juliette is now at secondary school and Marissa is ready to move into Year 6. We used to live in Tavistock Avenue hence the choice of Mandeville.
When we moved in 2016, we couldn't bear to leave such a wonderful school, so we decided to commit to a daily commute. It has been well worth it as we have loved seeing our girls thrive in the Mandeville environment.
I am a qualified teacher and have worked as a Deputy Headteacher in a Hertfordshire school. Now I work for a school improvement organisation called HFL Education. One of my passions is improving reading outcomes for pupils. I lead on HFL's Reading Fluency Project which is an intervention designed to significantly improve reading outcomes for struggling readers. This programme is used in schools across the country and is currently the focus of a Department for Education funded trial. I am proud that Mandeville was one of the very first schools in the country to engage in this programme.
Beyond work, my hobbies include dog walking, yoga and reading. At one point, I was a member of 3 book clubs! I knew I was over-stretching myself when I was talking about the wrong book at the wrong club! Now, I have limited myself to one club, but I can still often have 3 or 4 books on the go. Please always feel free to stop me in passing and offer me a book recommendation.
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Patsy HardingAssociate Governor
Patsy Harding
Having moved to St Albans in 2007 I became a parent at Mandeville in 2010 when my daughter started in Reception during the rebuilding project.
I had previously worked as a buyer for a London Department store so have a background in managing budgets and financial accountability. I am now the School Business Manager responsible for the school's finances, HR, recruitment and contracts.
