BA (Durham), PGCE, PhD (Leeds) 

“I lived all over the world as a child, and was very lucky to be exposed to different language and cultures from an early age.  I studied Russian, French, and Serbo-Croat at Durham University – as part of my degree, I also studied at university in Russia where I had a brilliant and inspirational teacher, who gave me a copy of the poetry of Akhmatova when I completed her course.  This small gift inspired a passion in me, and led me to complete a doctorate on early Soviet poetry at the University of Leeds in my 30s.

I teach Russian at Roedean, and love languages, but I am also a keen musician, singer, and sports player.  That is why it is my great privilege to oversee the Co-Curriculum and to further the School’s holistic ethos, providing a rounded and varied education.  Our students are encouraged to develop their existing talents, but also to move out of their comfort zone to discover new interests.  I love the fact that our students have such a strong social conscience, and their work in the community and with our partner institutions really does make a difference.”