Our Team

We have a team of dedicated and highly inspirational staff here at Gateway School.

Head

Mr Jonathan Coke Headteacher

Qualifications: BA Hons & NCTJ in Broadcast Journalism, GPT & QTS, Education

Jonathan has worked in senior leadership roles in schools for over twelve years and was previously Head of St Christopher’s Prep School in North-West London. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Head at Beechwood Park School in Hertfordshire and...

Mrs Samantha Woods Deputy Head teacher and Head of Early Years , Designated Safeguarding Lead

Qualifications: BA (Hons) in English Literature, University of Cambridge

Samantha brings eighteen years of teaching experience to our school, having joined us in 2020. Initially serving as Head of Lower Prep and EYFS, she advanced to the role of Deputy Headteacher in 2022. Samantha is also our Designated Safeguarding...

Mrs Rebecca Izard Head of Community and Operations, Head of Creative Arts, Deputy DSL, Educational Visits Coordinator, Tutor Year 5

Qualifications: MA, GGSM

Rebecca studied singing and piano at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. With a love for the performing arts, she has dedicated over 30 years to teaching and nurturing young talents. She completed a Masters in Music Education at the...

Mrs Harbi Sahota Head of Upper Prep

Qualifications: BEd. (Hons) with a speciality in Mathematics,University of Reading.

Harbi has three decades of teaching experience, of which twenty years have been in the Independent Sector. Having joined Gateway School in 2018 as Head of Mathematics, she was also specialist Maths teacher across Years 5 and 6, overseeing the...

Mr Tim Miles Head of Lower School, Senior Leader, Digital Strategist, Class Teacher

Qualifications: BSc - Biology (Birmingham), PGCE (Birmingham City University)

Timothy started teaching at St Francis Primary School, Birmingham in a Year 1 classroom close to the Cadbury’s factory. He taught there until starting to set up his own business, LitFilmFest, which focused on developing literacy across all primary years...

Miss Emily Patten Year 3 Teacher & SENCo

Qualifications: BA (Hons) in Education from Cardiff University and a PGCE from the University of Birmingham

Bringing 13 years of teaching experience to Gateway, Emily joined the school in 2025 as SENCo. She holds a BA (Hons) in Education from Cardiff University and a PGCE from the University of Birmingham. Before joining Gateway, Emily taught in...

PRESCHOOL

Abbie Smith, Preschool Manager. Degree of Diploma of HE in Early Years
Lizzie Allen, Pre-Reception Class Teacher, BA (Hons)
Lisa Bignell, Preschool Practitioner, Diploma in Nursery Nursing
Rochelle Newbery, Preschool Practitioner
Daisy Thomas, Early Years Teacher, BA (Hons)
Emma Tucker, Preschool Practitioner. Childcare and Young Peoples workforce Level 3

EARLY YEARS

Joanne Starkey, Reception Class Teacher. BA Early Years
Tegan Van Der Merwe, Reception Class Teacher, EYFS teaching diploma

LOWER PREP

Tim Miles, Year 1 Class Teacher. BSc (Hons), PGCE
Amy Topping, Year 1 Class Teacher. B.Ed
Lauren Gray, Year 2 Class Teacher. BA (Hons), PGCE
Emma Morrison, Year 2 Class Teacher. BA (Hons)
Lauren Ashmore, Year 3 Class Teacher BA PGCE
Emma Folker, Year 3 Class Teacher, BA (Hons) Primary Education
Rachel Grosse, Year 3 Class Teacher, Head of English B.Ed (Hons)
Seema Kyei, Year 3 Class Teacher, BA (Hons) PGCE (maternity cover)

UPPER PREP

Jowana Abou-Alfa, Year 4 Tutor (maternity cover)
Amber Armstrong, Year 5 Tutor, Subject Leader Humanities
Jessica Blacher, Year 5 Tutor, Subject Leader Science, Years 5 and 6 Science Teacher, BSc
Adam Blakeley, Year 5 Tutor, Head of Maths, MSc PGCE
Melanie Cartledge, Year 6 Tutor, BA (Hons), PGCE
Natashia Chambers, Year 4 Tutor, Director of Studies, BA Primary Education
Neil Dyson, Science Teacher, Farm School Lead. BSc (Hons) PGCE
Patricia Hitchin, Year 4 Tutor, Art Teacher, MA PGCE
Hilary Knight, Year 6 Tutor, Art/DT Teacher. BEng (Hons)
David Lloyd, Year 6 Form Tutor, Head of MFL. BSc PGCE
David Mitchener, Early Years and Lower Prep Music Teacher, BA (Hons) PGCE
Wendy O’Hare, Year 5 Tutor, Drama Teacher. B.Ed (Hons)
Emily Patten, Year 4 Tutor SENCO, BA (Hons), PGCE
Amy Stocks, Year 6 Tutor, BA (Hons) PGCE

SPORT STAFF

Alex Lafleur, Director of Sports and Activities, Year 5 Tutor, BTEC Diploma
Frankie Gallop, Head of Girls’ Sports, Assistant Tutor Year 5, BA (Hons) PGCE
Angie Sturgeon, PE Teacher, Year 6 Tutor, B.Ed (Hons)
Luke Roberts, Physical Education Teacher, Year 4 Tutor, SLQ Level 5 Primary School Physical Education Specialism
Sina Smith, Diploma, PCGE, PE Teacher, (maternity cover)

LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANTS

Melanie Dunford, Learning Support Assistant, Level 3 TA
Lara McGuire, Learning Support Assistant, MSc
Kelly Harman, Learning Support Assistant, Level 3 TA
Jade Hopcroft, HLTA, Year 5 Tutor
Satvinder Jutla, Learning Support Assistant. CACHE Level 3 Dip in Specialist Support for Teaching & Learning
Debbie Jung, Learning Support Assistant
Sarah Mullens, Learning Support Assistant. BSc (Hons)
Evie Mundy, Learning Support Assistant (GAP)
Emily Rose, Learning Support Assistant
Elinor Stockdale, Learning Support Assistant
Katalin Szimandl-Fesu, Learning Support Assistant, BA
Anita Thakker, Learning Support Assistant
Imogen Underwood, Learning Support Assistant (GAP)

SUPPORT STAFF

Admin

Iuliana Ancuta, Finance and Operations Manager, BSc
Andrea Appleby, Marketing and Admissions Manager
Helen Brown, PA to Head Teacher, BA (Hons)
Emily Grace, School Office Administrator

School Nurse

Roisin Clark, School Nurse, RGN

Groundsman

Peter Burke, Groundsman

Playground

Tara Shah, Lead Playground Supervisor
Claire Tighe, Playground Supervisor
Lindsay Soward, Playground Supervisor. BA

Kitchen

Kevin Ryan, Chef Manager
Daisy Dunn, Senior Kitchen Assistant
Lorraine Hall, Kitchen Assistant
Shakib Ahmed, Kitchen Assistant

Peripatetic Teachers

Julie Reading, Piano Teacher
Ian Lynch, Brass Teacher
Nick Tillyer, Guitar Teacher
Paul Mallyon, Drum Teacher
Emma Morrison, Piano Teacher
Rebecca Sackman-Smith, Piano Teacher
Nicola Summerscales, Flute Teacher
Nigel Kerry, Cricket Coach
Jo Rhyll, Netball Coach
Alan Scott, Judo Coach
Danielle Gaglione, LAMDA
Victoria Brown, Dance Coach
Biljana Puljic,Learning Support Assistant, 1:1
Daniel Wealleans, Judo Coach

Special Educational Needs

Julie Evans, School Counsellor
Claire Beever, Dyslexia Specialist
Mary Ann-Morton, Speech and Language Therapist