New Faces

At the start of every term, it is always wonderful to see and welcome our new boys and find out all about them, and this goes for new staff too.

This year we warmly welcome Ms Charlotte Heywood, Mr Greg Thomas, Mr Sam Powell, Mrs Kashta Dale, Ms Rania Kashi, Miss Molly Orme and Mr Daniel Mason.

Ms Charlotte Heywood

Ms Heywood is our new Deputy Head who joined us last June from St Matthew’s Academy in Blackheath, where she was Assistant Headteacher. Ms Heywood has a keen interest in theatre and dramatic arts (she is also LAMDA Speech and drama qualified to Grade 8). Outside school, she enjoys playing netball and tennis.

Even though Ms Heywood was only with us for a few weeks at the end of last year, the warmth and friendliness of the school clearly made an impression, as she told us, “Bedford School is a really special place to work because of the wonderful community that has been created here between staff, pupils and their families.”

Mr Greg Thomas

Mr Thomas is our new Director of Studies and is in charge of the development of teaching in the Prep School, with the aim of improving the learning experience of pupils. Mr Thomas was previously at Swanbourne House School, where he was English Faculty Leader, and Teaching and Learning Co-ordinator. He also coached rugby, cricket and football at Swanbourne House. Outside of school, he plays football and cricket for local teams and played badminton to a high level in his teens.

Mr Sam Powell

Mr Powell is Head of Year 3 and Year 4 in the Prep School and oversees all elements of the school’s provision for boys in those year groups. Mr Powell joins the school from Dulwich College, Singapore, where he was a Head of House and a Y4 and a Y5 class teacher. Beyond the classroom, he is a Level 2 cricket coach and represented Cambridgeshire up to Under 25 level; he also coaches rugby and hockey and plays golf off a nine handicap.

Mrs Kashta Dale

Mrs Dale joins us as a computer science teacher and Y8 Tutor from Spring West Academy in Feltham. Not only has she been an ICT subject leader, but Mrs Dale has also taught literacy, KS3 English and art, been an NQT mentor and a diversity and equality team member. Outside of school she has an interest in art (particularly printmaking and digital art from photography to more illustrative styles), languages (she is currently learning German, Farsi and Spanish!) and sport (she plays in a local netball team).

Ms Rania Kashi

Ms Kashi joins us as a maths teacher and Y7 Tutor from Ark Academy in Wembley. Her interests include modern history and international politics, in particular Middle Eastern and South Asian. She is also fluent in Arabic and Hindi, an expert sugar-crafter and cake decorator, and is looking forward to sharing some of those interests with the boys in the form of activities.

Miss Molly Orme

Miss Orme joined us in June to cover for Madame Comani while she is on maternity leave. Miss Orme has a degree in Classical Studies and Creative Writing and a masters in Antiquity with Ancient Greek Language and teaches Latin. Outside of school, Miss Orme enjoys all things creative, from embroidery to knitting to crochet, as well as Greek mythology and film.

Mr Daniel Mason

Mr Mason joins us as a science teacher and Y7 Tutor from Hitchin Boys’ School, where he was also their Director of Cricket, Head of Radcliffe House and EPQ co-ordinator. Outside of school, he coaches the Ladies’ 1st and 2nd XI at Bedfordshire Hockey Club. Mr Mason is also an excellent sportsman, having played National League Hockey at Cambridge, Bedford and Belper Hockey Clubs, not to mention a club cricketer and a squash player. Mr Mason is looking forward to getting involved with both curricular and extra-curricular sport.