Meet our Staff
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
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.
Gill Dallaway
Deputy Head (Maternity)
Joined the team in September 2017, currently on maternity leave.
Staff
Reception
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!
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
Alice Nicholls
Year 1 Teacher
This is my second year as a Year 1 teacher at Polegate School. I love working in such a nurturing, creative and ambitious environment, surrounded by such a positive and supportive team. When I'm not teaching I enjoy running, holidays and spending time quality with my friends and family.
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!
Hannah Blackwell
Year 1 Teacher
I have been carrying out my final placement at Polegate School and have really enjoyed my time here. I have enjoyed it so much that I will be continuing my teaching journey with you in September where I will be starting my first ever teaching job in Year 1! I love that every day is different and presents new challenges to overcome. In my spare time I enjoy walking my dogs and spending time with my friends and family.
Staff
Year 2
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.
Sarah Baker
Year 2 Teacher
I have had a fantastic first year at Polegate and I am still loving every minute of teaching! Working with such a great team of teachers and children makes it such a great place to work. Outside school, I don't give myself much time to rest as I am performing in shows as a dancer. When I do relax, I love spending time with my friends, travelling to new places and going to the theatre.
Rachel Burke
Teacher (Maternity)
Fresh into teaching, I joined Polegate in September 2005 and they havn’t been able to get rid of me since. I live in Polegate and love being part of the community along with my son. I love exploring and finding new places particularly if they involve an areoplane. I am currently in Reception and love the hands on learning.
Staff
Year 3
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!
Mary McGovern
Year 3 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.
Sally Barnard
Teacher - Maternity Leave
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.
Staff
Year 4
Emma Murphy
Year 4 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.
Leanne Dedman
Year 4 Teacher
I decided that I wanted to be a teacher after my first day of Primary School, I realised this ambition when I started my first teaching post in 2009. In my spare time I love to spend time with family and friends. I also enjoy watching films (especially at the cinema) and reading.
Staff
Year 5
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!
Jenny Whelan
Year 5 Teacher
I cannot wait to start my teaching career at Polegate School. I am completing my final year of a degree in Primary Education at Oxford Brookes University. To have my own class come September fills me with excitement and I am looking forward to becoming a member of the strong community at Polegate! In my spare time I love nothing more than to travel and scuba dive and when I am at my home in Eastbourne I enjoy running and spending time with friends.
Staff
Year 6
Amy Regan
Year 6 Teacher & Leader of Learning
I have been at Polegate School for three years and have loved every minute of it. During my spare time I love to walk my dog and getting muddy on a motorcross track!
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
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.
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
Sharon Trent
Nursery Manager/Teacher
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!
Emma Hanmore
Transition TA
Emma supports the children as they move to school in the autumn term and then returns to nursery for the summer to get to know the children ready for their big move up! When I’m not in nursery I like to keep active by going to the gym and long country walks with my family.
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.
Julie Naylor
Nursery Assistant
Awaiting Bio
Ruby Prior
Nursery Assistant
Awaiting Biography
Belinda Diprose
Nursery Assistant
Awaiting Bio
Staff
Teaching Assistants
Maxine Weyland
Teaching Assistant
Awaiting Biography
Natasha Stoneham
Teaching Assistant
Awaiting Biography
Aiden Keeley
Teaching Assistant
Awaiting Biography
Sophie Reynolds
Teaching Assistant
Awaiting Biography
Lisa Huggett
Teaching Assistant
Awaiting Bio
Monika Bailey
Teaching Assistant
Awaiting Bio
Heidi Ireland
Teaching Assistant
Awaiting Bio
Lorraine Wilkinson
Teaching Assistant
Awaiting Bio
Sue Heather
Teaching Assistant
Awaiting Bio
Amy Kincade
Teaching Assistant
Awaiting Bio
