Staff

Peter Gardner B.A., DipPsych., M.A., Ed.D., A.F.B.Ps.S., C.Mgr.M.C.M.I., F.Inst.D., is the founder of Appleford School.

Dr Gardner is a Chartered Educational Psychologist, a Chartered Forensic Psychologist and a Chartered Counselling Psychologist of the British Psychological Society. He is a Full Practitioner Member of the British Psychological Society Division of Neuropsychology, is on the Special Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists and is a Member of the BPS Faculty of Pediatric Neuropsychology.

He is a Health and Care Professions Council Registered Psychologist:

• Practitioner Educational Psychologist
• Practitioner Counselling Psychologist
• Practitioner Forensic Psychologist

He was a Committee Member of the former BPS Psychology and Psychotherapy Association.

In terms of management qualifications, he is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Management and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

Much of his work is legal work, including the preparation of detailed court reports and submission of oral evidence, working for Crown Courts and County Courts. He acted as an expert witness in the precedent-setting Phelps v London Borough of Hillingdon education negligence case in the High Court in July 1997 and was described by Mr. Justice Garland as “particularly well qualified, careful and fair.”

Dr Gardner takes an active role in all aspects of Appleford life; he is involved in all the SMT meetings, and established an Advisory Board to the School in January 2014. The latest ISI Inspection Report rated the quality of governance at Appleford as Excellent:

“The proprietor provides very effective oversight of all aspects for the school.  He has combined the best elements of the governance characteristics of charitable schools and the corporate business world by establishing an advisory board.

The proprietor, well advised by the advisory board, has high expectations of school leaders and staff, using good systems to check the performance of staff.   He discharges his responsibilities for the oversight of regulatory compliance, by conducting a thorough annual review of the school’s policies, procedures for safeguarding, welfare, health and safety, ensuring that these are implemented effectively.

The proprietor fulfils all legal responsibilities extremely well across all sections of the school and ensures that pupils are effectively safeguarded”.

Fiona Filkins became part of the Appleford family in 2015. Growing up in Northern Ireland, attending St Michaels Grammar School, Lurgan and moving to Heriot Watt University Edinburgh to obtain a BA (Hons) Business and Economics was the beginning of a career in education. After teaching and travelling in Asia, The Middle East and Europe, it was time to return to the UK to get married, have a family and settle down.

Since joining Appleford’s Boarding provision, Fiona has developed provision in many aspects of the school, most notably, The Pastoral department. By managing Safeguarding and Covid alongside the emotional support network, it enabled her to recognise the need of the pupils and put the provision in place, which enabled the school to recently gain another Outstanding boarding and pastoral care inspection report. This further builds upon the school’s current excellent rating from ISI. Fiona aims to take the same loyalty, dedication and vision to help Appleford maintain its level of success and reach new heights for years to come.