Meet the Team
We are a warm, caring team of highly trained teachers. Our policies are made jointly by all staff with the child at the heart of this process.School Leaders
Audrey Reeder
Audrey founded The Olive Tree School in 2010. She continues to lead the development of the project and teaches drama in addition to her responsibilities as Headteacher.
Audrey loves stories, poetry and art and being in the world of nature.
Theresa Brooks
Theresa joined The Olive Tree School in 2012 as a primary teacher and has been Head of Primary since 2015. She has decades of teaching experience in the UK and Spain.
Theresa is a keen traveller and explorer of different cultures. She has two grown-up sons.
Maria Iriarte
BSc. Chemistry, University of Madrid
M.A. Sustainable Development, EOI, Madrid
PGCE Secondary and Primary, University of Nottingham
IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning MYP, UCJC Madrid
Maria loves travelling and the adventures her four young children bring every day.
Saplings / Early Years
Olivia Hughes
Early Years Team Leader
BA in Primary Education, Brighton University, with a specialism in international education. Olivia enjoys multi-cultural cooking, travel, wildlife, performing arts and water sports.
Montse Ausin
Teaching Assistant Saplings
Degree in Administration. Seven years experience as a teaching assistant in our Early Years. Montse loves doing art and crafts, photography, reading and getting lost in nature.
Rebecca Rohde
She likes running with her dogs and doing triathlons.
Primary
Marie Fowler
Key Stage One Coordinator
BA English Language & Literature, University of Liverpool
Certificate of Higher Education in Speech and Language, Manchester Metropolitan University
PGCE Primary, Liverpool Hope University
Marie is a keen portraitist.
Lulu Melotte
Music and Choir Teacher
NCFE Cache Level 3 Certification in Supporting Learning & Teaching in Schools
Lulu is a trained actress who loves musical theatre and singing jazz.
Dan Sumner
PE teacher
PGCE Performing Arts and English as a second language.
Dan loves reading, music and making art.
Sam Lane
Primary Maths Coordinator
BA Business Management, University of Wales
PGCE, Sunderland University
Sam enjoys cooking, running and walking with her family and dog
Karen Bell
BSc(Hons) Social housing – Demontfort university, Leicester
certificate in Management studies
PGCE, Derby
Karen enjoys travelling in her Motorhome with her family.
Joshua Rutledge
After school football coach.
PGCE, Sunderland University
Josh is passionate about cooking and enjoys football and running.
Hannah Tait
Class Teacher Year 4
Primary Art Coordinator
Hannah loves skiing, travelling and making jewellery.
Helen McKetty
BA Hons, German, University of Nottingham
PG Dip, Speech and Language Therapy, London City University
GA Level 3 Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, i-to-i
Helen enjoys reading, cooking, swimming in the sea and walking in the countryside.
Clare Oxberry
Key Stage Two Coordinator
Clare loves walking in the country with her two dogs.
Rachael Cameron
1:1 SEN support worker
COBIS – Diploma International Teaching Assistant (DITA) including SEN.
She enjoys art, walking, cooking and travelling with her family.
Anna Johnson
Secondary GCSE drama teacher
Creative Arts Coordinator
BA Hons in Drama
PGCE Primary Education University of York
Anna loves musical theatre, singing and playing the piano.
Francisca de Teves Costa
BA, English Literature, University of London.
Francisca loves reading, travel and film.
Secondary
Katie Galvaey
Masters Degree in Teaching and Learning
PGCE Secondary Physics (with all Sciences and QTS)
Bachelors Degree in Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology
Katie likes to explore in her campervan and by foot. She enjoys being in the sea and has a keen interest in learning about local history, wildlife and culture.
Paula Heatherington
B.Ed Mathematics (Univ. of Canberra); Dip. Teaching Mathematics & Science (Univ. of Technology, Queensland); Qualified Teacher Status (De Montfort Univ., Bedford)
Paula is our Maths and Science teacher for Years 7 & 8.
She loves cooking, especially cakes.
Natalie Ribbans
BA English Literature (Univ. of Hull); Qualified Teacher Status, Graduate Trainee Programme, Suffolk, 2007;
Natalie is our teacher of English and Psychology to GCSE. She loves creating art & walks with her dog, Scout.
Krista Meisch
BA Spanish Education, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
Master Teaching and Learning, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
Krista enjoys spending time with her two boys, Noah, and Jack as well as running with her standard poodle on the weekends.
Brooke Cairns
A Geography (Univ. of Newcastle); PGCE Secondary Humanities (Univ. of Sunderland)
Brooke is our Humanities teacher.
She loves reading and hiking.
Sara Carmona
BA Translation and Interpreting, Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Master Teaching Foreign Languages, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Master Certificate of Education, Universitat Internacional de Valencia.
Sara loves travelling and skiing.
Elisabeth Levavasseur Byrne
BSc Marketing & Communication (Sciences Com, Univ. of Nantes); MOOC Cert. Teaching French as a Second Language (Alliance Française)
Elisabeth is our French teacher up to GCSE level. She also teaches a range of creative projects as part of our Enrichment project in Years 7, 8 and 9.
Elisabeth loves cooking and sharing her ideas & recipes on her blog
Aileen Hamilton
Aileen teaches art projects to all pupils up to GCSE in painting, drawing, modelling, photography and ceramics.
Nicole Lewis
A Maths, English & German (Univ. of Texas Tech.); PG Dip Music (Univ New England); PGDip Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound (State Univ. of Tennessee); MSc. Genetics (Univ. of Kent)
Nicole teaches GCSE Music, as well as a range of string, keyboard and woodwind instruments to Grade 8 level. Nicole also teaches GCSE Science one-to-one to pupils who want to follow the triple Science option.
Jerry LinehaN
BA Industrial Design , Carlow Institute of Technology, Ireland.
PGCE, University of Sunderland.
In addition to teaching PE, Jerry is a Forest School practitioner and teaches Forest School practice across the school.
Jerry loves the outdoors and being in nature. He enjoys hiking, cycling and football.
Mark Thomas
Mandi Tucker
BSc. Speech and Language Therapy, University of Wales
BTec National Diploma Business and Finance, Exeter College
Mandi organises and delivers SEN support across the whole school. She also liaises with Pearson Edexcel organising the iGCSE exams.
Mandi loves gardening and travel.
ADMINISTRATION
Saray Gallego
Saray is qualified in Red Cross first aid care (ASI Asistencia Sanitaria Immediata Level II) and lifeguard training.
Saray loves to travel and read.
James Hoyle
MA History (Oxford University)
James is responsible for business administration and finance and is also the school’s data protection officer.
James loves cooking, mountain-biking and walking with his beagle, Nina.
Ursula Ragettli
Degree in Accountancy, KLZ Zurich
Ursula dances tango and loves art and being in nature.
