At the start of each new academic year, it is always wonderful to see and welcome our new boys and learn all about them; this goes for new staff, too.
This year, we warmly welcome Miss Octavia Cavill, Mr David Harries, Miss Lisa Emms and Mrs Chloe Neilson.
Miss Octavia Cavill joins us as a Y3 teacher and has loved meeting the youngest and newest members of the Prep School as they started out this week. Miss Cavill joins us from Great Ouse Primary Academy, where she also taught Y3, was PSHE subject lead and was designated Senior Mental Health Lead. Miss Cavill is very sporty and has competed at county and regional level in tennis, hockey and badminton, and at international level at lacrosse and athletics – gaining a silver medal competing for England at international level!
Mr David Harries joins us as a maths and games teacher and tutor for Y7. Mr Harries comes to us from Kingshott School, where he also taught maths and games and was Head of Y5 and Y6. Before Kingshott, he taught in another Prep School, Lockers Park, and has considerable experience in the state sector, including a Deputy Headteacher role at Windermere Primary School. Mr Harries is no stranger to the school as his two sons came through Bedford Prep School and are both currently in the Upper School.
Miss Lisa Emms takes over as our new Science Technician. Lisa knows The Harpur Trust well, having attended Dame Alice Harpur School and taught science and chemistry at Bedford Modern School. She has also been a police officer with Thames Valley Police. Miss Emms is very sporty too – a keen badminton player (although, by her own admission, not in the same league as her sister, silver Olympic medal winner, Gail!) and loves all things outdoorsy and adventurous. Boys can expect to see her outside of lessons at Climbing Club and Care of Animals Club.
No stranger to many, Mrs Chloe Neilson joins us permanently as a French and Spanish teacher and Y8 tutor. Mrs Neilson joined us last term as maternity cover for Mrs Loader, but we are delighted to say she is here to stay! Before joining us, Mrs Neilson taught French, Spanish and Italian at Mark Rutherford School and led the department in her last term. She has also previously led a modern foreign languages department in another state secondary school. Outside the classroom, Mrs Neilson is a keen traveller and spent the summer exploring California. She will be sharing her adventurous spirit with boys as they learn new languages with her in Language Club and scale new heights at Climbing Club.