LANCING COLLEGE - Key Persons

Abbi Willetts

Job Titles:

Graduate Sports Assistant

Abbi recently graduated from Oxford Brookes with a degree in Sports Coaching and Physical Education. During which she learned not only how to coach but also about working with people to enhance their confidence, motivation, and drive. She is a keen Lacrosse and Tennis player, but also enjoys Netball, Hockey, Cricket, Golf, and Athletics. She believes that sport is essential and that it can (and should!) be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their ability. She's an advocate for all of the social, mental, and physical benefits that sport provides participants.

Alistair Coakes

Job Titles:

CCF Schools Staff Instructor

BA Brighton

Job Titles:

Teacher of Mathematics

Andy joined Lancing in September 2023 as a teacher of Mathematics and Assistant Explorer Scout leader for the Lancing College Minerva Explorer Scouts Unit. He has been teaching Maths for the past 12 years, having graduated from Brighton University with an honours degree in Mathematical Education. Prior to teaching, he worked previously in banking, IT, and even in the West End! He is a very keen traveller and has taken students to Kenya, the USA, and all over Europe. He has been lucky enough to support students on foreign exchanges and teach that the real value of travelling is meeting people within their communities, learning from them, and sharing in the richness of their lives and cultures. He also loves the great outdoors and can always be found around a campfire cooking ... and/or singing!

BA Cardiff Metropolitan

Job Titles:

Head of Hockey

As Head of Hockey here at Lancing College, it is my job to produce and deliver a strategic plan for the development of boys' and girls' hockey across the Club, ensuring we offer a balance of opportunities at both elite and social levels. Building and leading a culture of excellence and participation throughout all sections of the Hockey Club, with a strong focus on learning and development that supports long-term individual athletes and team success. From the outset, Lancing College has given me the opportunity to fully develop a new strategy and vision for hockey, incorporating ideas that cater not only for the elite pathway, but to also work with other sports and departments to inspire young people to feel passionate about the game of hockey. We are also balancing students' opportunities to grow in multiple sports and we co-ordinate this to ensure maximum pupil participation and enrichment which I find extremely rewarding. I have thoroughly enjoyed my coaching experiences across a range of age groups from our Year 3 and 4 age groups from both Lancing Preps, all the way up to our Senior U18s. My passion for playing top level hockey has grown and developed into a desire for passing on skills, knowledge and the desire to inspire others. I have been working closely with the other heads of sport and coaches to drive the junior and senior programme, ensuring a balance of participation and excellence by supporting and facilitating recruitment, selection, and coaching. Alongside the appointed team of coaches, we are ensuring that all students are made to feel valued within the hockey programme here at Lancing.

BA Durham

Job Titles:

Teacher ( Music ), Assistant Housemistress - Manor

BA Gloucestershire

Job Titles:

Teacher ( Mathematics )

BA London

Job Titles:

Teacher ( English )

BA Loughborough

Job Titles:

Teacher ( D & T ), Assistant Housemistress ( Field 's )

BA Malaga

Job Titles:

Head of Spanish

BA Newcastle

Job Titles:

Assistant Head of Languages, Head of French, Head of Army ( CCF )

BA Oxon

Job Titles:

Teacher of Classics

BA UCL

Job Titles:

Head of Economics, Head of Business

BA Winchester

Job Titles:

Head of Football

BA. MEd

Job Titles:

Director of Admissions

Captain Graham Robinson

It is with great sadness that the College hears of the death of one of its most loyal and respected OLs. Graham Robinson (Gibbs' 1958-1962) passed away peacefully on Saturday 23 March 2024 at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester after a short illness...

Caroline Bates

cb..@lancing.org.uk

Job Titles:

Marketing and Communications Executive

Claire Martin

Before gaining a PGCE in teaching English, Media Studies, and Drama from Goldsmith's University in London, Claire graduated from Birkbeck University in London with a BA in English Literature. In previous roles, Claire has navigated the posts of Head of English, Head of Year, Head of Media Studies, and Assistant Headteacher. Claire trained to be a SENCO at Liverpool Hope University in 2021, and her role as Head of Learning Support at Lancing College brings all of her professional experiences together. Claire would describe herself as a life-long student and has studied education both at Chichester University on their Education MA programme and at Liverpool Hope University, where she completed her SENCO training. Claire is interested in education leadership and has also completed a National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership. In 2023, Claire qualified to be registered with the British Psychological Society (BPS) as an educational test assessor, which enables her to assess and investigate cognitive profiles for students at Lancing College. Claire joined teaching after a career in Public Relations, where she worked for health charities building brands and working on communication strategies. Claire is committed to making learning accessible and ensuring school populations are inclusive and diverse. To stay abreast of national SEND policy, Claire acts as a governor at a local Woodward Trust state secondary school.

Cory Swinfield

Job Titles:

Undergraduate Assistant

Dr Adrian Robinson

Job Titles:

Teacher of Science

Adrian joined Lancing College and Gibbs' House in September 2022, following a 15-year teaching stint teaching in international day and boarding schools on the banks of Lake Leman in Geneva, Switzerland. By training, he was initially a biology and general science teacher in the UK state system, but currently he is teaching significant amounts of GCSE Physics and Chemistry. He has always had a keen interest in animal care, following a PhD in chicken neuroendocrinology at the University of Reading and various jobs working with pigs and milking cows.

Dr Amanda Currie

Job Titles:

Teacher ( Learning Support )

Dr Arnold Reesink

Job Titles:

Teacher ( Geography )

Dr Christy Edwall

Job Titles:

English Teacher

Dr Damian Kerney OL

Job Titles:

Head of History
Head of the History Department

Dr Damian Kerney OL is Head of the History Department and Head of Sixth Form Enrichment. He is a graduate of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he was a Choral Scholar. His doctorate was in Medieval History at the University of Sheffield, and he is currently writing a series of articles for publication on the religious life of the 11th and 12th centuries. He was a bass lay clerk at Sheffield Cathedral and has worked with choirs including the Cambridge Consort of Voices, English Voices and the London Handel Festival Choir. He is a Fellow of the RSA.

Dr Elizabeth Keane

Job Titles:

Head of Politics and Teacher of History

John holds a BA and PhD from the University of Birmingham where he also taught and lectured in English literature, conducting research on modernist fiction, particularly the work of E M Forster. He has held English teaching posts at King Edward VI School, Southampton, and King Edward's School, Birmingham, before serving as Head of English at Christ's Hospital, Horsham, for a decade. While at Christ's Hospital, he also served as Assistant Housemaster, Director of Rugby and Head of Teaching and Learning and was a member of the school's Senior Management Team. At Lancing, he oversees academic and disciplinary matters as Deputy Head and continues to teach English. John is married to Dr Elizabeth Keane, Head of Politics and teacher of History at Lancing. They have two daughters. When not teaching, John is a keen sportsman and writer of fiction.

Dr Jennie Hartley

Job Titles:

Head of Academic Music / Field 's House Tutor

Dr John Herbert

Job Titles:

Deputy Head

Dr Kate Sellers

Job Titles:

Teacher of Psychology

Dr Marica Dowell

Job Titles:

Head of Physics / Handford House Tutor

Marica graduated from the University of Malta (BSc (Hons) Chemistry and Physics) before moving to the UK to pursue a PhD in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance at the University of Exeter, which turned out to be the start of a long and successful career in academic research. Upon the completion of her doctorate at the University of Glasgow, Marica accepted a position as a Research Fellow in renal imaging at the Radiology and Physics Unit at University College London, where she worked for 7 years until she decided to move into education. Marica did her teacher training PGCE course at the University of Sussex. She taught at Uckfield College for eight years, five of which were spent as the College's Assistant Curriculum Leader for Science (Physics). In 2023, Marica joined Lancing College in the role of Head of Physics.

Dr Mark Walsh

Job Titles:

Head of Chemistry

Mark graduated from the University of Leeds (BSc Chemistry) before completing his DPhil (Inorganic Chemistry) at Balliol College, Oxford. Mark's first Chemistry teaching job was at Rugby School, where he also studied part-time for a PGCE in Secondary Science (University of Surrey). He has worked at several independent schools as a teacher and Head of Department, including Harrow School, Ardingly College, and Bradfield College. Mark rejoined Lancing College in January 2023, having previously been Head of Department here from 2013 to 2018. He lives in Lancing with his wife, Jess, and son, Samuel. He loves walking his dog, Obi, cooking, and fishing.

Dr Richard Bustin

Job Titles:

Head of Geography, Head of Innovation & Pedagogy

Richard Bustin joined Lancing College as Head of Geography in September 2019. He has worked in a number of schools as a geography teacher, head of department and most recent Deputy Head Academic. He is an award winning writer on geography education. His book, Geography Education's potential and the capability approach: GeoCapabilities and Schools is based on his Doctoral research into the school curriculum. This book won the Publishers award from the Geographical Association; he has twice won the 'award for excellence in leading geography' for academic articles in the Geographical Association's journals. He sits on the editorial board of Teaching Geography journal and is a fellow and chartered geographer of the Royal Geographical Society.