Leadership Team - 2024-25 (ID 2086)

• Kate Owbridge
  Executive Head
  Kate Owbridge

  Email: head@ashdown.e-sussex.sch.uk

  I have been a teacher for a very long time - since 1993. I've worked in a number of Local Authorities across the South East, with a stint in Nottinghamshire, and with a huge variety of children and families. Ashdown Primary is my fourth headship, and the job I feel I've been waiting to do for a long time. I was brought up in South London, and always enjoyed school (well - primary anyway...) and I am passionate about the children in my care and desperately want them to love learning and have the same experiences I did. I now live in a village near Paddock Wood, and have swapped the trains at the end of my garden for a field of horses.

  Mrs Owbridge trivia would include: my favourite TV programme in the whole wide world is "Inspector Morse", I love a Chinese take away and daily morning yoga, I have 4 grown up step-children, 2 nieces, 1 nephew, 2 God-daughters and I look more and more like my mother the older I get.

• Dawn Gibbs
  Head of School - Juniors
  Dawn Gibbs

  Email: dgibbs@ashdown.e-sussex.sch.uk

• Debbie Stephen
  Interim Head of School - Infants
  Debbie Stephen

  Email: dstephen@ashdown.e-sussex.sch.uk

• Alison Pain
  School Business Manager
  Alison Pain

• Alisha Dickson
  SENDCO
  Alisha Dickson

  Email: adickson@ashdown.e-sussex.sch.uk

• Becky McAteer
  EYFS Phase Leader
  Becky McAteer

  Email: rmcateer@ashdown.e-sussex.sch.uk

  I have been teaching for a very long time (ask Mr Angus!) across both infant and junior classes, but I've found my favourite in Early Years. Learning through play is the way to go.
  I have two children, so most of my spare time involves driving them to their activities. They have a better social life than me.
  I do have a few loves though, in no particular order...horse riding on the forest, going to the theatre, reading and amigurumi (if you know what that is.)

• Alison Harris
  Year 1/2 Phase Leader
  Alison Harris

  Email: aharris@ashdown.e-sussex.sch.uk

• Yvonne King
  Year 3/4 Phase Leader
  Yvonne King

  Email: yking@ashdown.e-sussex.sch.uk

  I graduated from the University of Brighton way back in 1996 and started my teaching career in a school in Eastbourne. Since then I have taught in five other schools, but Ashdown is by far my favourite! On the first day I arrived, I received warm, welcoming faces from the children, parents and staff and this still continues a year down the line.

  I absolutely love my job and I am a real believer in being a life-long learner and I want every child that I teach to have that same passion for learning so that they can achieve the very best they can.

  I was born in Chatham in Kent but have lived in East Sussex for over 25 years now with my husband Gavin and my 2 teenage children.

• Beth Thornham
  Year 5/6 Phase Leader
  Beth Thornham

  Email: bthornham@ashdown.e-sussex.sch.uk

  I've been teaching for enough years to not want to remember how old my first class are, now.

  I've taught everything from year 3 to year 10.

  I'd love to travel the world and see all of the seven wonders, I think I've seen 2 so far...