Tutors & Staff
Principal
Steve Boyes BA, MSc, PGCE read Geography at Lancaster University and went on to postgraduate research in Employment Law at Durham University. He is a former Chairman of CIFE, the professional association for independent sixth-form colleges, an inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate and a former governor of an independent school in Sussex. He was also a senior examiner for Edexcel for 10 years.
Vice Principals
SIMON HORNER read Biology at the University of North London. He subsequently held a number of senior science teaching and lecturing positions in schools and universities and became Head of Faculty for Sciences and Mathematics at MPW in 2010. He co-ordinates the college’s preparation programme for prospective medical, dental and veterinary students.
DEE ROBINS read Physical Education with QTS at the University of Brighton. Prior to taking up her current position she was Associate Deputy Head at Roedean School and, before that, Head of PE at Parliament Hill School. She is the college’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
RACHEL SHERMAN read Geography at the University College London and obtained her PGCE at the Institute of Education, where she also completed an MA in Geography. She is an Advanced Skills Teacher and before joining MPW has held a number of school leadership positions, including the Vice Principalship of David Game College.
JOHN TAYLOR read Classical Studies and English at the University of St Andrews and obtained his PGCE from the University of Strathclyde. Prior to taking up his current position he was Principal of schools in Scotland and Kuwait and most recently was the Foundation Head of Boarding at Mill Hill School. John is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Director of Operations
CHRISTINE GAVIN read Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Exeter. Before joining MPW in 2001 she worked for a telecommunications firm and for the Office for National Statistics. She leads MPW’s Registry team and is a Director of Studies. Read Christine’s full bio.
Heads of Faculty
MATTHEW CARMODY read Philosophy at Queens’ College, Cambridge and has an MPhil and a PhD in Philosophy of Language from King’s College, London. He became Head of Faculty for Social Sciences at MPW in 2018. He is MPW’s co-ordinator for Oxbridge and the author of Getting into Oxford and Cambridge.
DUNCAN CHAMBERLAIN read Geography and Political Science at the University of Birmingham. He has run his own business, served as a school governor and, prior to joining MPW, was Head of Sixth form at Trent College, Birmingham. He is Head of Faculty for Humanities and the Head of Professional Development.
Directors of Studies
ANNA ARDIZZON read Modern Languages at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice; she also has an MA in Language Sciences and a Professional Master’s Degree in Teaching Italian Language and Culture to Foreign Students from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Before joining MPW in 2018, Anna taught in a number of schools in Italy. She is also a qualified dance instructor.
PHILIP CARR read English Literature at Queens’ College, Cambridge and has an MA in Victorian Studies from the University of Leicester. He has held the position of Head of English at a number of other schools, most recently at Ealing Independent College. Read Philip’s full bio.
GARETH DAVIES read Anatomy and Developmental Biology at University College London and obtained his PGCE at the Institute of Education. Prior to joining MPW in 2019 he was Principal at Kensington Park School.
SUZANNAH GORDON read English Literature at the University of Sussex, where she also completed a Masters degree. Prior to joining MPW she worked as a tennis coach before becoming a research assistant for a financial services company.
EGLE PLIOPLYTE read Linguistics and English Language Teaching at the University of Greenwich and subsequently gained an MA in Applied Linguistics from King’s College London. Prior to joining MPW in 2019 she taught Academic English at a number of schools and colleges.
JONATHAN PRATT read Combined Studies at Coventry University. Prior to joining MPW in 2019 he taught Academic English at Abbey College and DLD.
EOIN RAFFERTY read English at Trinity College Dublin. He joined MPW in 2013 and became a Director of Studies in 2017.
ERICA STILLWELL read English and Classics at the University of Florida and subsequently gained an MEd in Specific Learning Disabilities from Marymount University. Prior to joining MPW she worked with the US Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer before starting her career in teaching. She has taught in several schools, most recently as an Academic Support teacher at Bedford School. She is the Head of GCSE. Read Erica’s full bio.
BETTINA WEICHERT read Russian at Queen Mary College, London and subsequently gained an MSc in Russian and Post-Soviet Studies from LSE. Prior to joining MPW she was a teaching fellow at the University of Exeter, a journalist and producer for the BBC World Service and, most recently, a teacher of Modern Languages at Manchester Grammar School.
RYAN WRIGHT read Drama at the University of East London, where he also completed a PGCE. Prior to becoming a qualified teacher he worked in retail management.
PETER ZHAO read Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London. Prior to joining MPW in 2018 he was a mathematics teacher and Personal Tutor at Lansdowne College. Read Peter’s full bio.
Head of Personal Development
NIKKI MORRIS is a qualified specialist in mental health support and safeguarding. Before joining MPW in 2020 she was Head of Student Support at David Game College.
Teaching Staff
ANA ABAD JARA* BA, Murcia, MFL; MA, London, Comparative Literature; MEd, Cambridge, Language Acquisition
ANNA ARDIZZON BA, MA, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Languages
ROY ASHMAN BA, Nottingham, American Studies
ANGELA BERKELEY-OWEN BA, Sussex, English; PGCE. Read Angela’s full bio.
LORENZA BOSCAINI-GILROY BA, Venice, Modern Languages; MA, Westminster, Translation
KATE BRETT BA, West Surrey College of Art and Design, Three-dimensional Design. Read Kate’s full bio.
LISA BYRNE MA, Royal College of Art, Photography; PGCE
DANIEL CALLAGHAN BA, MSc, PhD, London, Social Science
JOHN CAMERON* BA, Southampton, History and Politics; MPhil, Cambridge, History of Art
MATTHEW CARMODY** BA, Cambridge, Philosophy; MPhil, PhD, London, Philosophy of Language
PHILIP CARR BA, Cambridge, English Literature; MA, Leicester, Victorian Studies. Read Philip’s full bio.
ROSS CATER BSc, Liverpool, Marine Biology; PGCE
MATTHEW CAWSON BA, London, English Literature and Drama; MA, PhD, London, Theatre; PGCE
DUNCAN CHAMBERLAIN* BSc, Birmingham, Geography and Political Science; PGCE
CECIL CHAN BSc, London, Chemistry; PhD, London, Chemistry; PGCE. Read Cecil’s full bio.
MARK CHEESEMAN DipRA, Royal Academy School
RICHARD CORBETT MA, Cambridge, Natural Sciences; PhD, Belfast, Laser Plasma Physics; PGCE. Read Richard’s full bio.
DAVID COSTIN* BSc, London, Mathematics. Read Dave’s full bio.
MICHAEL DANZELMAN BSc, Sheffield, Mathematics; PGCE
GARETH DAVIES BSc, London, Anatomy and Developmental Biology; PGCE
LOUISE DE LA HEY BSDip, London, Fine Art
JONNY DOBBS-GROVE BSc, London, Environmental Science
DRINA EVANS BSc, Edgehill, Information Systems; PGCE
ALEXANDER FAIRBAIRN-DIXON BA, UEA, English and American Studies; MA, London, Shakespeare; PGCE
ENIO FERNADES BSc, King’s College London, Computer Science; PGCE
JAMES FEWTRELL BA, Durham, Combined Arts; MA, Sheffield, Historical Research; PGCE
KONSTANTINOS FOSKOLOS* BA, Athens, Media Studies; MSc, UCL, Child Development; DPhil, Oxford, Child Psychopathology
JAMES FOSTER BA, London, Fine Art
FEI-TZE FU MA, London, Mathematics Education; PGCE
CHRISTINE GAVIN BSc, Exeter, Computer Science and Mathematics. Read Christine’s full bio.
VALERIA GIVONE Licence ès Lettres, Geneva, Modern Languages; MA, London, French Literature
ANNA GOLC* BA, Teachers’ Training College, Sosnowiec, English; MA, University of Silesia, English Philology
SUSANNAH GORDON MA, Sussex, English Literature
ALLA GOSTICK MA, PhD, Herzen University, Russian and Education
BUSHRA HAMEED* BSc, Birmingham, Biochemistry; PGCE
ROBERT HEGGIE* BA, Southampton, History; MA, London, International History
SIMON HORNER** BSc, North London, Biology
GREGORIS IOANNOU* BA, Athens, Fine Arts; MA, University of the Arts, Fine Art (Painting)
LUKA KATIC BA, Economics, Novi Sad; MA, Cognitive Science, Vienna; DPhil, Experimental Psychology, Oxford
JIM KENT BEd, MA, Manchester, Business Economics and ICT
RAVINDER KHAMBAY BSc, London, Chemistry; PGCE
LAETITIA KOUZMENKOV BA, MA, Paris, Journalism and Media Studies
JOHN LAUGHTON MA, Cambridge, Mathematics; PGCE
KATHERINE LUCAS Cert Ed, London, Art
JONATHAN LUKE* MA, Cambridge, English
BRIAN LYNCH BSc, Keele, Chemistry and Geology; MA, Open University, Education; PGCE
MICHAEL MILLOY BA, MA, London, Art
EAMONN MARREN BSc, Kingston, Sociology; MA, Goldsmiths’ College, Sociology; PGCE
RICHARD MARTIN* MA, Cambridge, English. Read Richard’s full bio.
RICHARD MCMILLAN BA, MA, Cambridge, History; PhD, London, Post-war History of Indonesia
ANDREW MCROBBIE MSc, Manchester, Chemistry
FRANCESCO MONTARESE BA, MA, PhD, London, Classics
ANDREW MOORE BSc, London, Psychology; MSc, PhD, London, Research Methods and Psychological Assessment
MAYA MOUNAYER BA, MA, London, Law
AMELIA MULLINS BA, London, Textile Design; MA, Royal College of Art, Textiles
PETER OLIVE BA, Oxford, Classics
STEVE PETFORD MA, Cambridge, English; PGCE
EGLE PLIOPLYTE BA, Greenwich, ELT and Linguistics; MA, King’s College London, ELT and Applied Linguistics
JONATHAN PRATT BA, Coventry, Combined Studies
EOIN RAFFERTY BA, Trinity College, Dublin, English
IMRAN RAHMAN BSc, City, Sociology and Political Economy; MA, Middlesex, Criminology
PETER RAPPS BA, Oxford, Mathematics; PGCE
SARAH RATCLIFFE* BA, Oxford Brookes, Law and French; MA, London, Applied Linguistics
SUSAN REPKO BSc, Connecticut, Education
GAIL ROBERTSON BA, West Surrey, Ceramic Design; PGCE
DEE ROBINS BA, Brighton, Physical Education; PGCE
ISABEL SIMOES RODRIGUES BA, London, Spanish and English; MA, King’s College London, Portuguese Studies
ALAN SHAW LLB, London, Law
RACHEL SHAW** MA, Oxford, Modern History; PGCE; AMCIS
HINA SHERAZI BSc, Brunel, Business and Management; MSc, Institute of Education, Child Development
RACHEL SHERMAN** BA, University College London, Geography; MA, Institute of Education, Geography; PGCE
KATIE SMALL BA, Tennessee State University, International Affairs; MA, KCL, Applied Linguistics
JOHN SOUTHWORTH BSc, Leicester, Engineering; MSc, Cranfield, Defence Technology
NICHOLAS SOWICZ BA, Oxford, Mathematics
CAROLINE STEELE BSc, Robert Gordon’s Institute of Technology, Mathematical Sciences; PGCE
ERICA STILLWELL BA, Florida, English and Classical Studies; MA, Marymount, Specific Learning Disabilities. Read Erica’s full bio.
ANDREW STOCKLEY* BSc, Cardiff, Genetics; PGCE
EVA STRAUSS BA, Cape Town, Economics; PGCE
CHRISTOPHER STUTTARD BA (Econ), Manchester, Economics; PGCE
JOHN TAYLOR** MA, University of St Andrews, Classics and English; PGCE
KIT TEMPEST-WALTERS BA, Warwick, Philosophy; MA, PhD, London, Classics
ANTONIO TORRISI BSc, Turin, Material Science; MSc, Imperial College, Science Communication; PhD, UCL, Chemistry
DEREK WALL BSc, London, Archaeology; PhD, UWE, Environmental Politics
GARRICK WALLES BSc, London, Chemistry
PATRICIA WARD BA, Liverpool, History; PGCE
OLIVER WATT BA, Napier, Business Studies; PGCE
BETTINA WEICHERT BA, London, Russian; MSc, London School of Economics, Soviet Studies
ANDREW WHINNETT BSc, Kent, Physics and Astrophysics, DPhil (Oxford) Mathematics
LAURA WILLIAMS MA, Edinburgh, English Literature; Postgraduate Diploma, City, Current Affairs Journalism
DONNA WILSON MA, BA, DipLaw, London, Law; PGCE
MARK WITHERS BA, Nottingham, Economics; PGCE
RYAN WRIGHT BA, London, Drama Applied Theatre and Performance; PGCE
FLORENDIA YIANNOULLOU BA, London, Modern Greek and English
BEN YOUNGMAN BA, MA, Slade, University of London, Fine Art. Read Ben’s full bio.
PETER ZHAO MEng, Imperial College, London, Biomedical Engineering. Read Peter’s full bio.
XIAOHONG ZHOU MBA, Thames Valley; PGCE
*Head of Department
**Head of Faculty
Counsellors
Eleanor Chasser
Cath Gillet
Sam Wynter
“Getting into…’ University Guides
Getting into higher education may be the toughest challenge you’ve faced yet. MPW’s careers guidance and university entrance guides can help you pick the right course and the right university, and give you valuable UCAS form help. Written by experts with a wealth of knowledge, MPW Guides are set out in straightforward language. They give clear, practical advice to help you win a place on the course of your choice.