Meet the Boarding Staff

Connie - Assist House Parent

 

 

 

John - Director of Boarding

 

I took up my post of the newly opened Lord Adonis House in September 2011. I have worked at the Academy and its predecessor school John Penrose for the past 10 years. Prior to this I worked in a residential boarding school for boys with challenging behaviour. 
I live locally in Ruislip and return here during the holidays to see how well my two boys have cared for the house and gardens! 
I ski each year usually in France or Austria and am hopeful that some of the boarders will be joining one of The Academy Ski trips in the coming years. 
Being a keen gardener I am very hopeful that the boarding house vegetable garden will supply the kitchens for some of our summer meals. Certainly we plan to roast the potatoes on the barbeque. 
I have just embarked on a yoga course after 10 years absence and hope this will benefit me both in body and mind. 
We have had a most successful first year and now we are poised to make Lord Adonis House a centre of excellence. 

 

Lara - House Parent - The Harefield Academy - Boarding House - September 2011

I began my career as a public librarian, and moved into schools with my first project being the establishment of a new library for Bristol Cathedral School in 1999. I subsequently worked for Prior Park College as librarian and Boarding House Tutor under Kate McCarey, an amazing Housemistress who inspired me to follow in her footsteps through her passion and models of best practice.

I went on to broaden my experience as a Housemistress at St Mary’s Hall in Brighton and Woldingham School, working with 6th form girls and then Year 10s.

When I saw the Houseparent role for The Harefield Academy advertised, it was clearly an exciting opportunity to be part of a big project, something which I always love! Upon visiting The Academy for interview, I was immediately impressed and enthused by its inclusive educational ethos and its strong leadership team. The Boarding House was clearly going to be an exciting new chapter in this already vibrant school’s life and as such the appeal was too great to resist!

Watching a house full of builders transform into a house full of children has been a fascinating experience! The house has been specifically designed to enable us to have a co-educational intake and this is working well. When one considers that the boarding experience is a new one for our students, they have settled into this lifestyle extremely well. The natural way in which they are helping each other, in particular the older students mentoring and guiding the younger ones, is a joy to behold! In all, this beginning phase of the Boarding House has proved to be positive, popular and successful.

 

Shane - Assistant House Parent

Prior to working at the Lord Adonis house I have worked as a barman, a chalet host in the French Alps, and as a labourer, but ultimately my working life has mainly been working as an outdoor activities instructor from lakes in England to the Mediterranean. Activities I instruct include windsurfing, kayaking, climbing, snowboarding just to name a few. I have been teaching and leading groups of young adults since the age of 14 as an army cadet reaching company sergeant major before leaving at 18.  

 

Vanda - Assistant HouseParent

I am currently the Learning Resouces Manager during the working day and support in the Boarding House on two evenings per week and also oversee the Study Club. 

 
On my journey to working at The Harefield Academy I have been a Mother to two children (- now adults!), a librarian, a child minder, and a teaching assistant. I also travelled the world while working with British Airways. 
 
In the Boarding House I take a great pride in the activities in the evening which usually are craft based or perhaps relate to board games. We have made cards for Mothers Day, painted Easter eggs, designed picture frames – not to mention the cake baking. I remain one of the top scrabble scorers to date! 
 
I have worked here since we opened and I am very pleased to be part of a very successful venture. 

 

Vanessa - Assistant Hosueparent