Meet our Staff

Polegate School is a very happy and welcoming school with a staff team that is fantastic, nurturing and inspirational.

Staff

Senior Leadership

Claire Martin-O’Donoghue

Headteacher

Debbie Jones

Deputy Headteacher

Sally Barnard

Assistant Headteacher

Una Holbrook

Assistant Headteacher & Inclusion Manager

Sharon Trent

Nursery Manager & EYFS Leader

Claire Martin-O’Donoghue

Headteacher

The school can’t seem to get rid of me! I joined the school as a newly qualified teacher and I’m still here. I think that says a lot about the whole school community. Apart from school obviously, my favourite place in the world is Killarney in Ireland. I think I am very lucky and feel privileged to have the best job in the world.

Debbie Jones

Deputy Headteacher

Lucky for me I started my teaching career at Polegate school as an NQT and ten years later I am still here and love every day. When I am not at school I am with my ever growing family which includes 4 daughters, 3 grandchildren and a very stressed, bald husband! As if life wasn’t busy enough we decided to add two mischievous puppy pugs called Betty and Ralph, who never fail to make me smile, just like the children every day at Polegate school.

Sally Barnard

Assistant Headteacher

I love teaching and all the challenges it presents on a daily basis, there is nothing better than being part of the excitement and buzz of an active classroom. I am proud to be a teacher and leader of learning at Polegate and enjoy working with all our fabulous children.

When I am not teaching I can be found having fun at the beach, Drusilla’s or swimming with my one year old daughter, Matilda.

Una Holbrook

Assistant Headteacher & Inclusion Manager

Awaiting Bio

Sharon Trent

Nursery Manager & EYFS Leader

I feel very privileged to have worked in early years for over twelve years. I love having a boogie, exploring outside, duvet days with my scrummy family and celebrating the small things. I also like getting creative in the kitchen albeit with playdough!

Staff

Reception

Cathy Young

Year 1 Teacher

Connie Hicks

Reception Teacher

Vicki Veness

Reception Teacher

Cathy Young

Year 1 Teacher

Hello, my name is Cathy and I am really looking forward to joining Polegate School in September! I am passionate about providing children with an education that is engaging, inspirational and fun and one which allows all children to access exciting learning topics and achieve their absolute best! I can’t wait to join Polegate School where I know I will work with likeminded teachers and amazing children. When not teaching, I enjoy reading, running, spending precious time with my family and going to the seaside!

Connie Hicks

Reception Teacher

Hello, my name is Connie! I have always wanted to be a primary school teacher and I am really excited to be starting my teaching career at Polegate Primary School in Reception. I cannot wait to have lots of fun and I am passionate about ensuring that children are actively engaged and inspired throughout their education. Outside of teaching I love running. I also love being outdoors, exploring and going on long walks in the fresh air!

Vicki Veness

Reception Teacher

Biography to follow

Staff

Year 1

Mary McGovern

Year 1 Teacher

Nikki Hadley

Reception Teacher

Sarah Cullinane

Teacher

Mary McGovern

Year 1 Teacher

I am originally from Birmingham and moved down to sunny Eastbourne in 2006. I have always wanted to be a teacher and was really excited when I first started my teaching post at Bourne School four years ago. I love animals, especially cats – of which I have two, the countryside, photography, period architecture of the Victorian and Edwardian era and I especially love watching films.

Nikki Hadley

Reception Teacher

I joined Polegate School in September 2008 as an NQT. I got married in 2010 to my childhood sweetheart. In 2013, my princess, Annabelle was born and our lives have never been the same. We enjoy spending time together at the weekends, particularly feeding the ducks and jumping in muddy puzzles!

Sarah Cullinane

Teacher

Hello! I am very much looking forward to joining the team at Polegate School in September and having my own class. I am currently completing my PGCE at Brighton University. Prior to this I was a teaching assistant in a local school for over 6 years. I am passionate about children’s learning and supporting them in fulfilling their potential. In my spare time I enjoy long walks on the seafront with my husband, daughters and cheeky 3 year old Maltichon, Buddy! I love watching films and relaxing with family and friends at the weekend!

Staff

Year 2

Amiee Ashdown

Year 2 Teacher & Leader of Learning

Emma Murphy

Year 2 Teacher

Sally Barnard

Assistant Headteacher

Gayle Howland

Year 2 Teacher

Amiee Ashdown

Year 2 Teacher & Leader of Learning

I joined Polegate school 5 years ago as an NQT after studying a degree in Primary Education with Science at Brighton University. Teaching in Key Stage One is a lot of fun - there is never a dull moment! I am also privileged to be the subject leader of Art in a school full of such talent! Researching how children learn to read is a passion of mine. I find it fascinating and enjoy my role of supporting the development of phonics at Polegate and in other schools across East Sussex.

When I manage to pull myself away from school I will always be stuck into a good book! On a sunny day I enjoy either relaxing in the garden or having long walks - but have to borrow my parents dog currently! I am a massive box set junkie so, if it isn't sunny, I will spend hours watching the latest big series. My partner, friends and family mean the world to me so half terms are often spent catching up and making memories with them.

Emma Murphy

Year 2 Teacher

I have been teaching at Polegate School since I started my teaching career, over 10 years ago and can honestly say there is nowhere I’d rather teach. I have always wanted to teach, and am still enjoying it as much as when I first started. Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my husband and my daughter. We love being creative and always have a ‘project’ on the go, usually involving Lego! When I get a quiet time for myself, I love to read or watch films.

Sally Barnard

Assistant Headteacher

When I am not teaching I can be found having fun at the beach, Drusilla’s or swimming with my one year old daughter, Matilda.

Gayle Howland

Year 2 Teacher

Hi, my name is Gayle and I was lucky enough to be placed at Polegate School as part of my PGCE teacher training course.

I am really excited to be coming back in September to join the staff team. I am passionate about children's learning and committed to making a difference, I cannot wait for the start of term and the start of a new adventure!

When I get some spare time I love to spend it with my family and we really love the great outdoors; camping, walking, rock pooling and picnics!

Staff

Year 3

Clare Marsh

Year 3 Teacher

Caroline Wheelhouse

Teacher

Amy Durbidge

Teacher

Clare Marsh

Year 3 Teacher

Since joining Polegate in September 2015, I have loved every minute! There is honestly no other job I could imagine doing! When not in school, I love to spend time with friends and family, watching my favourite music artists at concerts/festivals and travelling to new places, the hotter the better!

Caroline Wheelhouse

Teacher

Biography to follow

Amy Durbidge

Teacher

Awaiting Bio

Staff

Year 4

Sarah Baker

Hayley Giggs

Year 5 Teacher

I started at Polegate as an NQT and nearly 13 years later here I am still! I have dropped to 3 days a week however so I can spend more time in the sandpit with my children. I love teaching but I also have a passion for travelling, trashy American TV and chocolate!

Heidi Jabbari

Teacher

Awaiting Bio

Staff

Year 6

Amy Regan

Year 6 Teacher & Leader of Learning

Ruby Murphy

Year 6 Teacher

Amy Regan

Year 6 Teacher & Leader of Learning

I have been at Polegate School since 2012 and have thoroughly enjoyed working here. I am the maths subject leader across the school and am currently working really hard to work with other schools to improve their maths teaching. It's such a joy to work at a school who are so passionate about maths!

When I'm not at work you will find me exhausted on the sofa watching a good series! During the weekends you will find me at the cinema, shopping, going for long walks or a weekend away exploring new cities in our motorhome.

Ruby Murphy

Year 6 Teacher

I have worked at Polegate since 2010 and love teaching here. Outside of school I enjoy photography, spending time on the beach (either kayaking or with my nose in a good book), and travelling. I love everything to do with theatre, whether it’s traditional or street performances, and often can be found joining in!

Staff

Intervention Teachers

Becky Chadwick

Every child counts KS1

Mike Clayton

Teacher

Matt Trent

Teacher

Tracy Wallis

Reading Recovery

Becky Chadwick

Every child counts KS1

I have worked as a teacher at Polegate School for 14 years! Since having my three children I now work as a Numbers Count teacher delivering 1:1 teaching of maths which I find incredibly rewarding.

Mike Clayton

Teacher

I am semi retired. I always knew I worked at a good school but it took my venture into part time supply teaching to make me realise that I worked at a great school. Now I am happily working one day a week, mainly in Year 6, mainly teaching Maths and filling in as required when hard working teachers have non-classroom tasks to attend to.

Matt Trent

Teacher

Biography to follow

Tracy Wallis

Reading Recovery

I have such a rewarding job here at Polegate – helping children make amazing progress in reading and writing. Outside of school I enjoy playing stoolball and badminton and I love watching football and ice hockey. I even know the offside rule!!

Staff

Nursery

Katy Watts

Nursery Assistant

I like pirate walks on the beach, fairy hunting in the woods and sitting indoors listening to the rain and reading a good book. I also enjoy family gatherings.