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:
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.
Mrs Fiona Filkins | Headmistress |
Mrs Gwen Goodings | Director of Studies |
Mrs Janice Mitchell | Head of Learning Support / SENCo |
Mrs Megan Allen | Head of Pastoral /Designated Safeguarding Lead |
Mr Tom Allen | Acting Co-Head of Boarding |
Miss Una Clenaghan | Acting Co-Head of Boarding |
Mrs Tamsin Scott | Senior Co-Ordinator |
Mrs Sarah Wilkinson | Prep Co-Ordinator |
Mrs Claire Cooper | Operations Manager |
Mrs Justine Palmer | Finance Officer |
Mrs Carolyn Shipstone | PA to Headmistress |
Leah Clyde | Year 3 and 4 Class Teacher |
Katherine Hill | Year 5 and 6 Class Teacher and SENCO for Prep |
Jessamy Larcombe | Year 5 and 6 Class Teacher |
Janet Harris | Year 7 Tutor and Head of Prep English |
Gareth Peirson | Year 7 Tutor |
Sue Davies | Year 7 Tutor and Prep ELSA |
Kelly Ost | Prep School Teacher |
Sian Newman | Year 8 Tutor and Science Teacher |
Matthew Tither | Year 8 Tutor |
Sarah Wilkinson | Year 8 Tutor and Prep School Teacher / Prep Co-Ordinator |
Mark Ball | Outdoor Education |
Sarah Bues | BTEC Teacher and Year 10 Tutor |
Steve Dawson | Head of English |
Maia English | Food Tech Teacher an Year 11 Tutor |
Dean Filkins | Head of History and Year 11 Tutor |
Nichola Ford | Maths Teacher and Year 10 Tutor |
Alice Gartland | Year 9 Tutor and English Teacher |
Gwen Goodings | English Teacher |
James Langan | Head of Maths, Head of Outdoor Education |
Ruth Luck | Head of PE and Year 11 Tutor |
Beth Mills | BTEC Teacher and Year 10 Tutor |
Edward Mitchell | Maths Teacher and Year 9 Tutor |
Sian Newman | Science Teacher |
Gareth Peirson | PE Teacher |
Tamsin Scott | Head of Art and Year 9 Tutor / Senior Co-Ordinator |
Matthew Tither | ICT/DIT Teacher |
Janice Mitchell | Head of Learning Support and SENCO |
Sarah Hall | Senior SENCO |
Kate Hill | Prep SENCO |
Faith Jameson | Access Arrangements Co-ord |
Helen Booth | Counsellor |
Christine Sawyer | The Senior ELSA, Pastoral Team |
Ellie Cotsell | ELSA and Pastoral |
Sue Davies | ELSA and Pastoral |
Fiona Staniforth | ELSA and Pastoral |
Sarah Stoner | Senior OT |
Georgia Darke | OT |
Laura Knight | OT Therapy Assistant |
Helen Buxton | Senior SaLT |
Molly Hilson | Senior SaLT |
James Hewitt | SaLT |
Ellen Hales | SaLT |
Julie Moffitt | HLTA |
Sarah Sinclair | HLTA |
Vanessa Stewart | HLTA |
Melanie Allison | LSA |
Danielle Brown | LSA |
Victoria Clements | LSA |
Frances Davis | LSA and One to One Support |
Julia Hendrickse | LSA and Careers |
Suzanne Morris | LSA |
Eleanor Nixon | LSA |
Natasha Robinson | LSA |
Francesca Young | LSA |
Helen Mundy | One to One Support |
Tom Allen | Houseparent /Acting Co-Head of Boarding |
Una Clenaghan | Houseparent / Acting Co-Head of Boarding |
Alexander Douglas | Houseparent |
Sarah Medcraft | Houseparent |
Terri Marsay | Assistant Houseparent |
Helen McKellar | Assistant Houseparent |
Coral Wedd | Assistant Houseparent |
Barbara Williams | Assistant Houseparent |
Carolyn Shipstone | Head’s PA / Registrar |
Marcia Bagguley | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
Sarah Brinton | Registrar |
Jill Byford | Science Lab Technician |
Sophie Campbell-Smith | Exams Officer |
Claire Cooper | Operations and HR Manager |
Sarah Dawnay | Uniform Shop |
Isabelle Davies | School Administrator |
Kelly Doris | iSAMS Manager |
Karen Mills | Medical Administrator |
Tory Nelson | Office Administrator |
Justine Palmer | Finance Officer |