St Joseph’s Staff this Academic year 2022-2023
So, you can relax knowing that your child is in the best of hands.
Mr O'Hara
Principal
I am the Principal at St Josephs and have been since 2008. During this time the school has doubled in size thanks to an expansion programme that has enabled us to move from 210 pupils to 420. I take real satisfaction in seeing children grow and develop from the age of 4 years old to when they leave here aged 11 years.
I am proud Yorkshireman and am a life long Leeds Utd supporter.
Mrs Chambers
Vice Principal
I have been working at St Josephs since 2014 having undertaken several roles within the school, most recently occupying seconded roles as Head of School at both St Josephs and Holy Cross. I am passionate about the importance of Catholic education and setting high standards of behaviour and all-round achievement to help the pupils of St Josephs to become happy, confident, caring, responsible future citizens. Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my family and walking my dog, Duke.
Mr Lynch
Assistant Principal
I have been teaching since 2010 and have been at St Joseph’s since 2016. I have taught across most Year groups from Year 1 to Year 6 in three different schools. I particularly enjoy getting to know the different personalities of the children that I teach and seeing them progress with their learning.
In my spare time I enjoy going to see live music and playing football. I am also an avid Aston Villa fan.
Miss Harris
Y6 Teacher
This is my 9th year at St Joseph's. I was inspired to become a teacher through my own experiences at primary school: I loved learning about new topics (especially ancient History) and always felt supported and encouraged by my teachers. I hope that the children in my class leave St. Joseph's inspired to take on new challenges and to be the best versions of themselves. It has been a privilege to see the children grow in confidence each year, trying their best, ready to embrace their next chapter at secondary school.
When I am not in my classroom, you might see me running around the streets of Sutton or in the park.
Miss James
Y6 Teacher
I am so thrilled to be a part of the team at St. Joseph’s. I am in my ninth year of teaching and have had experience teaching in Reception, Year 3 and Year 6; this is my third year teaching Year 6. My favourite subjects to teach are maths and music. When I am not teaching, you will quite often find me on an aeroplane travelling to different places – the hotter the better! One of my favourite destinations that I have visited was Ghana where I had the opportunity to work with teachers and students as well as see some amazing wildlife. My favourite animal is the giant panda and I hope one day to go to China to meet one!
Mr Wigley
Y5 Teacher
This is my first year at St Joseph’s, but I have been teaching for 16 years. I have spent several years teaching Year 6 but have experience across Key Stage 1 and 2. My favourite subjects to teach are Science and English. I enjoy seeing children gaining confidence with their learning and becoming increasingly independent. Outside of school, I have had a season ticket at West Bromwich Albion for the last 30 years, and have enjoyed visiting distant locations including Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and the USA.
Mr Rothwell
Y5 Teacher
I am so excited to be at St Joseph's and to be part of the team. My favourite subjects are Maths and PE and I enjoy seeing children learn and develop throughout the year in their learning. When I am not teaching I will be spending time with friends and family and most likely watching Derby County Football Club, having been a season ticket holder since I was 6 years old.
Miss Birch
Y4 Teacher
Hello, I’m Miss Birch :)
When I’m not in school, my favourite thing to do is to travel! I’ve climbed the Great Wall of China, swam with manta-rays in Bali and visited Harry Potter studios in California. If I’m not jetting off to somewhere new, I also enjoy swimming, going to music concerts and walking my mischievous dog, Oscar! My favourite subjects to teach are history and geography!
Miss Round
Y4 Teacher
I have been teaching since 2016 and find it to be a most rewarding experience. I enjoy
exploring new places and can often be found camping around the UK in my spare time. I
love to sketch and I read my Kindle every single night. Watching live music is something my
partner and I enjoy whenever we can. I enjoy trying new foods and going to eat in different
restaurants.
Miss Green
Y3 Teacher
This is my first year at St Joseph’s, but I have been teaching since 2017 and have taught across both KS1 and KS2. My favourite subjects to teach are maths and art. I love seeing children progress and grow in confidence across the year. Outside of school, I enjoy exploring new places - especially if it involves going on an aeroplane.
Miss Johnstone
Y3 Teacher
I am a Year 3 Teacher at Saint Joseph’s. My favourite subject to teach is History and I love to help children to grow in confidence and to believe in themselves. I’m my spare time I love to go walking and bake cakes!
Miss Miller
Y2 Teacher
I have been at St. Joseph's for 9 years and have taught both KS1 and KS2. My favourite subjects are Maths and English. I love helping children to become incredible writers and see their own self belief grow as they do so. I have 3 children of my own so when I'm not at school I can usually be found at a sports club cheering them on. My favourite thing to do is curl up on the sofa with a good book (even better if it's winter and I can put the log burner on).
Miss Evans
Y2 Teacher
I am a class teacher at St Joseph’s and I love watching children grow in confidence across all areas of the Curriculum. I particularly enjoy teaching English and exploring different texts through drama! I have three small children of my own who are my absolute world. Whenever they are not forcing me to play on the Nintendo switch, I can be found reading on My Kindle or watching something on Netflix.
Miss Glass
Y1 Teacher
I have been teaching since 2021 at St Joseph's, and love to watch children's confidence grow throughout the year. My favourite subjects to teach are phonics and P.E. Outside of school, I play the flute, and am part of a gymnastics club. My favourite food is pizza!
Miss Sheppard
Y1 Teacher
I am new to teaching at St Joseph's this year. My favourite subject to teach is science because I love learning about the world and how things work. When not at school, I like to take my two dogs on nice big walks. In my spare time, I love to read and I swap books with my friends every week!
Mrs Shiels-Etheridge
FY Teacher
My name is Ms. Shiels. My Favourite subjects at school are singing, art and reading. One of my favourite authors is Julia Donaldson, I love reading her stories to the children in my class. After school I like to walk my dog Louis in Sutton park and stop off for an ice cream!
Mrs Leahy
FY and cover Teacher
I have enjoyed teaching in many different year groups across school and I love to see children progress and build their confidence. I love challenging children, especially with their maths work. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and going to the park with my family.
Mrs Terry
FY Teacher and SENDCO
I have been working with children since 2000, with a focus on children with special educational needs. I qualified as a teacher in 2010 having gained a degree in Special Needs and inclusion. I have been a teacher at St Joseph's since 2015. I love teaching Early Years and Y1, as they learn to read and write and become independent little learners.
In my spare time I enjoy going on country walks, reading and cooking. Family time is very important to me too.
Mrs Bates
FY Teacher
I obtained my teaching degree from Newman University as an early years specialist and I have been teaching at St Joseph’s for 6 years. I love teaching phonics and watching the children grasp their early reading skills. I am also staff governor here at school. Outside of work I enjoy taking my daughter on days out, seeing friends and family as well as spending time at our cottage in Devon.
Mrs Mahoney
Teaching Assistant
Mrs Bowkett
Teaching Assistant
I have worked at St Joseph's since 2018 and I love supporting the children with their work, especially reading.
When I'm not in school, you'll find me out on a long walk with my family or on the stage in a musical theatre production.
Mrs McGrath
Teaching Assistant
Before working at St Josephs I have previously worked as a middle manager, chef, pub manager and Health and Safety manager - but I love this job the best!
I love baking, seeing live music and live comedy and enjoy walking in Snowdonia.
I have a Manchester Terrier dog, a furry cat and a Sphynx (naked cat!) all of whom I adore.
I live locally with my husband and son and enjoy going to Vintage Weekends and Re-enactments at weekends.
Mrs Pritchard
Teaching Assistant
I am a mother of three teenagers. When I am not at work I enjoy reading, sailing and singing.
Mrs Oldham
Teaching Assistant
I have worked at St Josephs for 4 years. I love seeing children progess throughout the year. I enjoy reading, singing hymns and my favourite television programme is 'Friends'.
Mrs Laskowska
Teaching Assistant
I come from Poland where I worked as an ESL teacher in primary and secondary schools. I have been a Teaching Assistant in St Joseph’s since 2021 and I love seeing children becoming more and more independent and how they progress throughout the year, especially when it comes to reading. Outside of work I enjoy playing tennis, reading, and travelling with my husband. And I love food!!
Mrs Vickers
Teaching Assistant
I have been a Teaching Assistant at St Joseph’s since 2014 and I love it!! I enjoy talking to and getting to know the children and am amazed by their development and progress throughout the year!
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my husband and three children and our extended families and friends. At university I studied Spanish and Italian, so I love having the opportunity to travel and use my languages.
Miss Robotham
Teaching Assistant
I’ve been working at St Joseph’s since graduating from my Psychology and Education degree in 2021! I have always loved learning so I find it extremely rewarding to be a part of children’s learning journey, watching them grow and succeed. I love to read and my favourite books are Harry Potter and the Hunger Games series. In my spare time I enjoy playing netball, baking and going for walks with my bulldog!
Miss Georgiou
Teaching Assistant
I have been working at St Joseph’s since 2016. I enjoy teaching in Early Years and watching each child develop and grow in every aspect of their school life. I also work within the Sunshine Club, which I thoroughly enjoy as it compliments the already rewarding aspect of my job. This is a great pleasure as it enables me to serve the wider community of the school. Of a weekend I enjoy socialising with my family and friends. In addition to this I act as a dog mom to my sausage dog Buttercup.
Mrs Hogg
Teaching Assistant
Mrs Ford
Teaching Assistant
Miss Anderson
Teaching Assistant
Mrs Holmes
Teaching Assistant
Mrs Mitchell
Office
I love working part-time in St Joseph's school office, and I enjoy getting to know the parents, as well as all the children who I see around the school each day. We are a friendly office, and I am happy to help parents with any questions they may have about the school or their children.
When I am not at work, my husband, two children and I love having family days out, swimming and picnics in the park. I love all the seasons, but I think Summer is my favourite.
Ms Green
Office