BELHAVEN HILL SCHOOL TRUST LIMITED - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Head of French ( Maternity Cover )
Isabella joins Belhaven in September 2022 as a French teacher to cover for Lindsay Grey. After qualifying, she taught at a London Academy for several years before deciding to move to Scotland to pursue her love of the outdoors. Since being in Scotland she has taught in schools in Dumfriesshire and Midlothian. Isabella was brought up in Kinross-shire and remembers playing Belhaven in matches as a pupil herself. She has spent time in both France and Spain and hopes to have many more adventures abroad in the future.
Job Titles:
- Pre - Prep Class Teacher ( Maternity Cover )
Leanne joined Belhaven Hill in April 2023 as Maternity Cover for Mrs Semple. After graduating from the University of Dundee, she taught in a small, rural school in Fife for several years. Looking for a new adventure, she made her way to Dulwich College in Shanghai where she spent three years fully immersing herself in the language, culture and traditions. Working in an international setting inspired her to broaden her horizons and begin exploring the world! She has since travelled to almost 50 countries and is always planning her next adventure! She has lived in Dubai for the past three years but is now excited to make her way back to Scotland. When she's not working, you can find her at the beach (come rain or shine), playing netball or padel and catching up with family and friends. She is passionate about photography. She has taught across many year groups, from Early Level/Foundation Stage to Second Level/Key Stage 2. She strives to develop a love of learning in all her students and set high expectations for herself and her class.
Marian started teaching violin in 2005 working privately, as well as for Highland Council, Midlothian Council, and Cargilfield Prep School. Marian qualified as a Primary classroom teacher in 2011 but decided to focus on instrumental teaching after missing it too much. Marian spent 3 years training as a violin teacher with the Suzuki method and loves the depth of knowledge this training provides. Marian started at Belhaven in 2022 as a strings VMT and is now delighted to be taking Pre-Prep pupils for music and choir. When not listening to Brahms string quartets at maximum volume, Marian can be found in the garden training her sweet peas, dead-heading roses, and talking to her chickens.
Job Titles:
- Teaching & Boarding Assistant Sports Coach
Job Titles:
- Teaching & Boarding Assistant Sports Coach
Angus joined Belhaven as a gap student in September 2020 and has since become a permanent fixture! He is now a Boarding & Teaching Assistant and Sports Coach in the Prep and Pre-Prep. He loves the outdoor environment at Belhaven and is a keen all-round sportsman, specialising in cricket. He gained his Level 2 coaching qualification at Hampshire Cricket College and plays for Hampshire & England Physically Disabled Cricket Teams, making his debut for England in 2019 in the Disability World Series in Worcester. angusbrown@belhavenhill.com Miss Sophie Illingworth Teaching & Boarding Assistant; Sports Coach Miss Sophie Illingworth BSc (Oxford Brookes) PGCE (Cumbria) Teaching & Boarding Assistant; Sports Coach Sophie is very excited to become part of the team in September. As a former student of another Scottish prep school, she remembers visiting Belhaven for cross-country races! She has been teaching for eight years, the last five of which have been at The Banda School in Nairobi. She is going to have to get used to a bit of a chillier climate compared to Kenya! She loves sport, art and camping, and is looking forward to getting stuck in with Belhaven's amazing boarding environment and extracurricular activities! sillingworth@belhavenhill.com
David joined us in April 2022 to cover Kay Holliday's maternity leave. During the pandemic he returned to the UK having been Deputy Head (Pastoral), at the new Rugby School Thailand. Until 2017, he was Director of Studies and Housemaster at Fettes College Prep School. He started his career as a land agent managing large private and commercial country estates and property; and as an international manager with Unilever, living in Tanzania and Malaysia. He is married with three adult children.
Job Titles:
- Head of PE & Sports Coach
- Head of PE, Sports Coach & Junior Science
Job Titles:
- Head of Boys' House
- Housemaster of Boys' House
- Housemaster of Boys' House Maths
Jack joined Belhaven in September 2021 from Marlborough College Malaysia, where he was the Assistant Boarding Housemaster and Head of Year 7. Trained as a Secondary Maths teacher whilst working at Barnard Castle School, he made the transition to Prep School teaching and loves the variety that it brings. He is a keen sportsman and outdoor enthusiast and is really enjoying exploring the East Lothian coast with pupils, his wife Vicky and young daughters, Rosie and Grace.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Head Academic
- Deputy Head Academic ( SMT )
John joined Belhaven in 2019, having been at Windlesham House School in Sussex for seven years. He held a range of positions while at Windlesham, including Head of Classics, Housemaster, and Director of Studies. John teaches senior English at Belhaven. His favourite book is The Count of Monte Cristo.
Noel started at Belhaven in 2008 and during the last twelve years has held a range of positions including Forms 3 and 4 Tutor and Housemaster. He is also Head of Cross-Country and is a keen runner himself. Noel has four children, two of whom are at Belhaven. Noel speaks fluent Swedish, is a keen Leeds United football fan and, having been a brewer professionally before turning to teaching, enjoys brewing and drinking real ale.
Olly joined Belhaven as Headmaster in September 2020 having taught at Ludgrove (2005-7) and Radley (2007-20). He is married to Rosie and, together, they ran J Social, a boarding house at Radley for seven years before jumping at the chance to run one of the country's best prep schools. Their three children, Alexander (now in Form 6 at Belhaven), Cleo and Lettie and Nelson, the Labrador, are all very excited to meet you!
A native South African, William joined Belhaven Hill in 2004. William lives on site in the South Lodge has one son currently at Belhaven and two other children who, having been through the school, are now at Strathallan. On winter weekends off, William can often be found refereeing or umpiring local rugby or hockey club matches and in the summer, playing cricket for the Borderers CC.
Job Titles:
- Pre - Prep Lead & Class Teacher
Alice joined the staff in September 2015 as a junior class teacher. She taught Form 4 for a year then moved to Form 6 where she worked on developing our 6 & 7 year olds. The past 18 months have been an exciting challenge, as we have worked together to create a wonderful Pre-Prep department. This collaboration will help the seamless transition for the children as they move into the Prep school. Alice is joined in Form 6 by her lovely Labrador Cora, who enjoys the attention from the children. Alice was previously a co-director of the junior play and will now be involved with the Pre-prep Nativity play. She is a qualified make-up artist, which has been useful for school productions as well as teaching the children face painting. Alice is a keen skier and netballer and loves going on walks with Cora.
Job Titles:
- Head of Girls' House
- Housemistress of Girls' House Drama
Anna joined Belhaven in September 2020 after working both pastorally as a residential tutor and as an academic lead as Director of Drama at Fettes Preparatory School. Prior to this, Anna worked as Head of Drama at Hartland International School in Dubai. Anna trained as an actress at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before commencing teacher training as part of the Teachfirst programme. She is passionate about pastoral care and looks forward to developing confident young women in her role as Girls' Housemistress.
Job Titles:
- Health & Wellbeing Lead
- Pre - Prep Teaching Assistant ( Outdoor Ed )
Caroline's passion for working with children and in the outdoors started at Gordonstoun. She then went on to Oxford Brookes where she trained as an Occupational Therapist. She worked in the NHS for over 20 years. Caroline also set up and directs a local Outdoor Nursery. She loves the ethos of Belhaven and is really excited about helping to provide the magical education that the school gives all the pupils. She is a keen walker, sea swimmer and tennis player
Isabella joined Belhaven in 2023, having led the Foundation at Sedbergh School for 5 years. Isabella has over 15 years' experience of schools' operations, and has also run a successful small business. Isabella joins Belhaven with an ever-growing team of Welsh Terriers who regularly compete in championship dog shows across Europe.
Karen joined Belhaven in 2014, having taken a career break to raise her three boys, living for five years in Virginia, USA, during this time. Karen has held a variety of positions at Belhaven, including teaching junior french and maths. Her current position is as Head of Learning Support. Her youngest son, Fin, is a Belhaven pupil.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Head Pastoral ( SMT )
- Deputy Head Pastoral / Child Protection Co - Ordinator
Katie joined Belhaven in 2001 and lives in the North Lodge. During her time at the school, she has taught maths throughout the school, junior science, and took over as Head of Maths in 2009. She currently coaches the 1 st Netball and Rounders teams and is a supporter of Hull City Football Club. She has a son, William, who spent 6 years at Belhaven before moving to Merchiston Castle School where he is currently in his second year.
Lesley has taken on various teaching roles at Belhaven, starting in 2004, with some time out to have 3 children. Since 2015, she has been a Form 4 form tutor and teacher. Lesley lives on site in the South Lodge. Her 3 children, having been through Belhaven, are now at Strathallan.
Job Titles:
- Head of French & Form 3LS
Lindsay studied French, Spanish and International Relations at the University of St Andrews. Originally from the Highlands, she has spent a lot of time living and working abroad in France, Spain, Mexico and Chile. After university and working abroad, she completed Teach First in the North East of England and has just moved back up to North Berwick after spending four years in London where she was Head of Modern Foreign Languages at an inner-city secondary school. Lindsay is keen sportswoman and loves running, cycling, sea swimming and Munro climbing.
Job Titles:
- Night Matron Girls' House
Job Titles:
- School Admissions and Registration
Rachel has recently moved to Dunbar and loves the community feel of the town. She is looking forward to working at Belhaven (from Sept 2022) with its close-knit community and extensive opportunities for play-based and outdoor learning. After completing her Masters degree, Rachel took a teaching post in Edinburgh where she was awarded the Probationer of the Year Award for her teaching and learning. In her spare time, Rachel is now working towards a Doctorate which focusses on social justice and pupil voice - areas of education about which Rachel is passionate.
Job Titles:
- Pre - Prep Teaching Assistant
Job Titles:
- Headmaster
- Modern Languages
Rosie is a mother of three (Xander, Cleo and Lettie), a teacher of Italian and French and a freelance designer. Currently she has responsibility for all things uniform and she aims to become increasingly involved with marketing the school and encouraging young Italianists! She is loving living by the sea and getting to know the treasures of East Lothian.
Job Titles:
- Night Matron Girls' House