Meet the Staff

• Melissa Fry
  Headteacher
  Melissa Fry

  I am enjoying the role of headteacher at Pangbourne Primary school and have been in post since January 2011. After successfully completing my NPQH (National Qualification for Headteachers), I was very excited to become headteacher at Dorchester St Birinus C.E. Primary School in Oxfordshire before moving to Pangbourne Primary. I was also a teacher for 13 years before this in West Berkshire and this included working as a numeracy consultant for schools across the county. During my time as a teacher I taught all year groups from Foundation Stage to Year 6.

  In May 2000 I was invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace by the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to recognise my achievement in schools. I trained as a teacher in Cheltenham and have a BEd Honours degree. For 3 years in the middle of my teaching career I moved to Alabama in the USA and was head of finance for a business corporation and an executive director of a school.

  In my spare time I love to paint very large pictures of Formula One cars racing.

• Fiona Wilson
  Deputy Head, Foundation Stage 1 Teacher
  Fiona Wilson

• Alice Vockins
  Foundation Stage 2 Teacher
  Alice Vockins

  I am the Foundation Stage Two teacher at Pangbourne Primary School. I am currently a newly qualified teacher, having recently graduated from the University of Reading with my PGCE. Before that, I studied Early Childhood Development at the University of West England Bristol. Even though I am fairly new to the wonderful world of teaching, I have lots of experience working with children, from working in many different schools around Thatcham and Bristol and working three summers in America at summer camps.

  A little bit about me; I enjoy sports - watching and taking part. I like watching rugby and tennis and I also play netball in a local league. I like going for long walks along the canal and I love reading and knitting too.

• Gareth Alder
  Year 1 Teacher
  Gareth Alder

• Lis Pattle
  Year 2 Teacher
  Lis Pattle

  I gained a B.Ed. from Birmingham University in 1983, studying art and design as a main subject. I began my teaching career in an Infant School in the London Borough of Redbridge, and after that taught in a Primary School in Solihull, West Midlands for several years. I came to West Berkshire and Pangbourne Primary in 1996. I have taught all age groups across the Primary age range. I am currently teaching Year 2 and am the art, design and technology co-ordinator.

  I love art and history especially and my interests are mostly connected to these. I love London, the Tube and interesting buildings. I enjoy visiting museums, art galleries, exhibitions and the theatre. I've followed the 70's band, Sparks, for many years and still go to their gigs. I love tennis and the Wimbledon Championships; I've been lucky enough to visit Centre Court several times in recent years.

  I have two grown up daughters and enjoy spending time with them.

• Rowena Hicks
  Year 3 Teacher
  Rowena Hicks

  I am currently the Year 3 teacher at Pangbourne Primary School in my third year of teaching. I am the Sports Coordinator which is a great privilege as I believe that physical education is important for childhood development. I enjoy organising a netball club in school and I play netball out of school for my local team.

  I went to school locally and studied English Language, Music and Textiles at A-level. It was while studying English that I became fascinated by the way children learn, acquire and develop language and I decided to become a teacher. Music is my passion; playing the clarinet and singing to grade 8 level and it has always been a big part of my life from singing in school choirs to playing in orchestras. I gained my degree in Primary Education from Oxford Brookes University and dedicated my dissertation research to the impact music can have on learning in the primary classroom.

  I have been very lucky to have had some fantastic teachers who have had an enormous impact on my life. To be able to do the same for my pupils is a privilege and gives me great satisfaction.

• Caroline Simpson
  Year 4 Teacher (3 days)
  Caroline Simpson

  I am currently one of the year 4 teachers and I have been teaching at Pangbourne Primary School since 2014, having completed my PGCE in 2012 at Oxford Brookes University. I am coordinator for History and Geography and lead on teaching German at Pangbourne. My first degree was in German and European Studies from Keele University, and I spent a year studying at Humboldt University in Berlin.

  Prior to re-training as a teacher I worked in London as an Associate Director for a social research agency. This means I analysed statistics and carried out qualitative interviews, groups and workshops. My specialist research areas were children and young people, benefit claimants and hard to reach groups around the country. I grew up in Aberystwyth which is on the west coast of Wales.

  
  I have lived in the local area since 2007 and I have three children, two of whom attend a local primary school and one who is pre-school age. When not playing taxi driver to my children I enjoy reading and trying out new vegetarian and vegan recipes. I try to go running regularly and in my pre-kids life I enjoyed going to the theatre and watching dance performances. I hope to re-start these pursuits in the not-too-distant future.

• Sam Radford
  Year 4 Teacher (2 days)
  Sam Radford

  I am very pleased to have just joined the team at Pangbourne Primary School. I studied at Oxford Brookes University where I completed my BSc(Hons) in Nutrition, Exercise and Health. I later returned (after lots of travelling) to study my PGCE for Primary School Teaching and have never looked back.

  I have worked in a few different schools in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Australia and am now in my 14th year of teaching. I enjoy being part of a team in a continuous learning environment and strive to make children have a love for learning so they can be lifelong learners.

  I have a real passion for sports. One of my greatest achievements so far has been being a member of the British Squad for Ice Skating. I represented GB at many international competitions including the world championships and held the British title for 8 years.

  I have three daughters that keep me very busy but around this I do try to fit in some of my other hobbies like baking (daughters' favourite one), reading and running.

• Tim Jackman
  Key Stage 2 Team Leader, Year 5 Teacher
  Tim Jackman

  I am into my third year of teaching at Pangbourne Primary School and really enjoy my role as KS2 Team Leader and teaching Year 5. I have recently taken on the lead for developing a new PPS Curriculum, added to coordinating Maths, ICT and Assessment. Prior to working here, I worked across the whole range of ages - I trained as a secondary PE teacher and have worked in secondary schools, Post-16 education and other primary schools. My favourite 'classroom' so far has been the press room at Oxford United!

  My degree was in Sport, PE and Community Studies from Birmingham University, where I also grew up. As a result, I am a big Aston Villa fan. I enjoy all sports, watching and playing and am an active part of my local cricket team.

  I also really enjoy playing board games, doing quizzes and crosswords and spending time with my two gorgeous children.

• Jo Wood
  Year 5 Teacher (1 day), SEND Support
  Jo Wood

  I currently work part-time, as a SEND support teacher and a Year 5 teacher. I am the Music Co-ordinator and run the gifted and talented music group-The Minstrels.

  We have lived in Pangbourne since 1991 and enjoy being part of the wider community. My three children all went to Pangbourne Primary School and attended many activities in the village.

  Prior to teaching, I spent my gap year, supporting Vietnamese refugees, travelling and working in my home town, at Guildford library. I did a B.Ed. Honours degree in Education and Music (1st study oboe) at King Alfred’s College, Winchester and began my teaching career at Romsey Abbey Primary School in Hampshire. On moving to Pangbourne, I taught at Hermitage Primary School for several years. I began supply teaching at Pangbourne Primary when my 3 children (now adults) were all of pre-school age and I have never left!

  I spend my spare time reading, gardening and pursuing various crafts. I also enjoy walking, cycling and spending time with my family.

• Sophie Hearn
  Year 6 Teacher
  Sophie Hearn

  I am the Year 6 teacher at Pangbourne Primary School in my fifth year of teaching. I am English Coordinator, Modern Foreign Languages Coordinator and I also run School Council and Eco Council. My first degree was in French and Italian at Bristol University, where I also spent a year abroad. Before entering teaching, I worked in politics for fifteen years and lived and worked in London and Brussels, with much travel in between. Even before I started my PGCE degree in London, I spent a lot of time in schools and knew that was where I wanted to be!

  I moved out of London three years ago with my family and have three sons who are at school locally. Our interests are mainly sport-related, and we all do a lot of running and orienteering. I am a committed rugby and football spectator too! I love going to France every summer for walking and paddle boarding, and I love cooking and reading.

• Annette Bieny
  HLTA (Cover Teacher)
  Annette Bieny

• Tania Sutton
  SEND Coordinator
  Tania Sutton