“Leaders provide a broad curriculum and a wide range of experiences within a caring, supportive environment. They regularly review the school’s effectiveness to ensure that it continues to promote all aspects of pupils’ wellbeing.”Independent Schools Inspectorate Report, May 2025
The Governing Body can be contacted through the Secretary at: chairman@oundleschool.org.uk
I am responsible for the overall happiness and success of our school community. Through the interactions I have with the children, families and staff, I provide rigorous support to everyone at Laxton Junior School so that they feel empowered to achieve to the very best of their abilities. I set, also, our school’s strategic direction, mapping out how we wish to improve in all that we do, and ensuring that LJS remains one of the very best providers of independent education in the country.
The wellbeing of our whole community is at the centre of my role. I manage the day to day running of the school, including leading our approach to safeguarding and child protection, behaviour and anti-bullying, health and safety, supporting staff wellbeing and promoting pupil-voice, as well as the organisation of duties, cover and events.
Through the strategic and practical approach to teaching, learning and assessment, I ensure that our staff are empowered to deliver excellent lessons, tailored to the specific needs of each child. This in turn ensures that every child is able to make the best possible progress across the curriculum. Preparing our children and their families for the academic requirements of entry into their senior school of choice is also an important part of my remit.
As Head of Admissions and Communications, I have the privilege of getting to know and supporting families throughout their entire journey at LJS, from the very first point of contact, right through to the moment they leave us, ready for their next adventure.
I work closely with prospective families to ensure they feel welcomed, informed, and confident as they explore everything our school has to offer. Building strong relationships is at the heart of what I do, and I’m here to guide and support each family every step of the way.
A key part of my role involves working with our feeder pre-schools and nursery settings to help children transition smoothly into Early Years. Our Senior School Pathway ensures close collaboration with Oundle School, alongside other senior school options, to ensure our pupils move confidently onto the next stage of their educational journey.
My main remit is the wellbeing of all our children. Through our PSHE and Mindfulness curriculums, and weekly assembly programme, I ensure that we approach the development of a positive wellbeing proactively such that children build the personal qualities necessary to cope with the many challenges they face. I also coordinate our Wellbeing Team who respond to any concerns we might have about individual children and ensure they receive the tailored support they need.
I work in collaboration with our staff, pupils and parents, as well as the wider community, to oversee and develop our whole school co-curricular programme, from after school activities to our music provision and sports events. I also liaise closely with our Community Partnerships Lead on events such as community concerts and collaborations with other schools. Our co-curricular programme aims to complement our academic provision and offers all our children a wide range of experiences outside of the classroom.
I work closely with the support service departments across the estate to ensure the operations of the school run smoothly, both on a day-to-day basis as well as project planning. This ensures we have the best possible environment for our pupils to learn and grow. I also manage our wraparound care provision both before and after school, offering a fun, nurturing and safe environment for children to unwind.
