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Who's Who

Meet the teachers and staff who make our school such an amazing place.

Duncan Sinclair

Headmaster, Somerhill

Amanda McKnight

Head of Pre-Prep

Alex Holmes

Deputy Head, Academic

Sectional Lead Yardley Court

Sian Lambert

Deputy Head, Pastoral

Sectional Lead Derwent Lodge

Matilda Lowe

Deputy Head, Pre-Prep

Jonathan Shute

Deputy Head, Co-Curricular

Headmaster

Duncan Sinclair

Born in Zimbabwe, Duncan and his family moved to South Africa when he was 7. Educated at The Ridge Prep School and St Alban’s College, Pretoria, Duncan left school to enjoy a Gap Year at Port Regis in Dorset where he caught the teaching bug. Having read English at the University of Cape Town, he then gained his teaching qualification and joined the staff at the prestigious Diocesan College Prep in Cape Town; ‘Bishops’ for short. Not long afterwards, he was tempted to travel back to England again and joined the staff at St Michael’s, Otford in 2002 as a Year 4 class teacher, and the UK became home for good.

At St Michael’s, Duncan rose through the ranks to Head of Geography, Head of PSHE, Senior Master and finally Deputy Head. After 10 years, he sought Headship and was appointed Headmaster of Taunton Prep in Somerset in 2013. Following four successful years at the school, Duncan joined The Schools at Somerhill in 2017 and is the Headmaster of Somerhill.

With his boys Hamish, Callum and Fraser, Duncan can often be found exploring the grounds of Somerhill on their bikes or building dens in the parkland. After an early career in semi-professional rugby in the Western Province, he now plays village cricket for Knockholt, is a goalkeeper for Sevenoaks Hockey Club and enjoys the odd round of golf. Given his mum was a music teacher, Duncan also enjoys singing and has played the clarinet, trombone and tuba in the past, resurrecting his tuba playing skills to join his pupils in the Somerhill orchestra!

Head of Somerhill Pre-Prep

Amanda McKnight

Amanda McKnight completed her undergraduate degree at Glasgow University, after which she studied at Durham University gaining a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. She has extensive teaching experience in State and Independent sector in both the UK and USA. Passionate about developing a true sense of adventure, curiosity and confidence in each child, Amanda is driven by the need to do the best for all children and help them find their unique ‘gift’, develop a growth mindset and become resilient little learners. She is proud to be leading a team of enthusiastic, dedicated, and caring staff at Somerhill Pre-Prep.

Amanda and her husband David have three children; two daughters away at university and their son is at Cranbrook School. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Before Amanda’s teaching career, she worked in Public Relations and Marketing.

Teaching Staff
Deputy Headteachers
Alex HolmesDeputy Head, Academic, Prep
Sian LambertDeputy Head, Pastoral, Prep
Matilda LoweDeputy Head, Pre-Prep
Jonathan ShuteDeputy Head, Co-curricular, Prep
Somerhill Prep Teaching staff
Nicola BarkerHead of English and Latin
Francoise BlairTeacher
Bianca BodenhamTeacher and Year 5&6 coordinator (DL)
Charlotte BowersTeacher
Anna ByfieldTeacher
Andrew CaldwellHead of PSHE and Year 7&8 coordinator
Lesley CarleyTeacher and Year 3 coordinator (YC & DL)
Emma CashmoreTeacher
Carol CleavelandCover Teacher and TA
Tom DaveyDirector of Sport
Isabel EwingHead of History
Jessica GarrawayTeacher
Hayley HartleyHead of Art
Elisha HoggartTeacher
Emma Howard-WilliamsHead of Digital Literacy
Laura Kerr-SheppardHead of Girls Games
Laura LatimoreTeacher and Year 4 coordinator (YC & DL)
Andrew LeachHead of Engineering and PSB Lead
Danielle LimpinnianFrench Teacher
Steve LittleHead of Drama
Felix MacdonaldDirector of Music
Vanessa MarkhamTeacher
Tara McGowanHead of PRE
Natasha McGuiganTeacher
Clare MarplesSwimming Instructor
Claire MatthewsTeacher
Johnny MatthewsHead of Geography
Alison McLarenTeacher and Year 6 coordinator (YC)
Shona McTernanTeacher
Sophie MillsSwimming Instructor
Lizzie PayneTeacher
Elspeth SaxTeacher
Gavin SmithTeacher
Henry SmithHead of Science
Sam SpenceHead of Maths and Year 5 coordinator (YC)
Aletta SpittalTeacher
Estelle Taylor-LangleyHead of French
Stephanie VidlerMusic Teacher
Gemma WhitlockSwimming Instructor
Jordan WadsworthGames Coach
Mitchel WalkerGames Coach
Alexander WarneTeacher
Ben WatkinsGames Coach
Anna WatsonTeacher
Andrew WoodGames Coach
Somerhill Pre Prep Teachers
Rachel BondTeacher
Camilla BullenTeacher
Jordyn CampbellTeacher
Tom CarterPE Teacher
Rebecca ChurchillTeacher
Samantha ClarkeSaplings Teacher
Nicola DavisTeacher
Amanda DawesPre School Room Leader
Elaine DodgeTeacher
Samantha DuncanTeacher
Lucy EveryTeacher
Stephanie FerrabeeTeacher
Kate HerbertTeacher
Grace LaverickTeacher
Matilda LoweTeacher
Lucy McGilchristTeacher
Louise MunnSaplings Teacher
Maddie NagelTeacher
Sarah WoodgateEYFS Lead
Somerhill Teaching Assistants and Technicians
Sarah BenhamPrep School Science Technician
Chaithra Bantwal HarishPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Alex BellLibrarian
Emilia BoscawenMusic Administrator
Polly BishopArt Technician
Louise CaltonPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Nikki CliftTeaching Assistant Prep
Faye DewPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Emily DickinsonPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Natasha FaggPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Hayley JanekePre Prep Teaching Assistant
Rebeca LorasPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Claire Martin-CowardPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Kathryn Mason Pre Prep Teaching Assistant
Amanda PagePre Prep After School Care Coordinator
Amber PasseyPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Sophie PennyPre-Prep Teaching Assistant
Chloe PerkinsPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Julia SheratonTeaching Assistant Prep
Kerryn SmithPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Emma SpenderPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Julie TaylorPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Shereen TownsendTeaching Assistant Prep
Sarah WakefordLead Teaching Assistant Pre-Prep
Auxi WesthorpPre Prep Teaching Assistant
Leah Verity WhitePre Prep Teaching Assistant
Willow BalcombeGap student
Sebastian BrayGap student
James MurphyGap student
Danny ThompsonGap student
Somerhill Learning Support
Amy CarterSPP Learning Support Teacher
Sophie DaltonLearning Support Teacher (Interim)
Jane CookLearning Support Teacher
Kate HelyarHead of Learning Support
Tineke JenningsLearning Support Teacher
Lindsey MorrisSPP Learning Support Teacher
Rebecca SpenceLearning Support Teacher
Karen VousdenLearning Support Teaching Assistant
Somerhill Support Staff
Barry BaldockMaintenance
Debbie BrownFinance Officer
Michael CattFinance Manager (Interim)
Samantha CurtisMatron (Interim)
Christina FilbySchool Office Administrator
Ian FunnellGroundsman
Tracy FrankelMatron
Donna GaskinBursary Administrator
Karen GillanFinance Officer
Chris HockadayGroundsman
Julian HuntBursar
Jonathan JefferyGroundsman
Tony JenningsGroundsman
Simon KillickMinibus Driver
Richard KingIT Technician
Hannah KirsopCommunications Coordinator
Wes LakerGroundsman
Lucy LoganSchool Office Manager and EA to the Headmaster
Vicky MarriottFinance and Payroll Officer
Lesley MartinAdmissions and Marketing Assistant
Jessica MayHuman Resources Manager
Alan MilesMaintenance
Dennis NegusIT Manager
Victoria OsborneSchool nurse
Sally PalerRegistrar
Dale PerkinsSenior IT Technician
Josh PoundsMarketing Manager
Mark PluckPorter
Alan RichardsonMinibus Driver
Laura SouthallFinance Manager
Ben ScealHead of Grounds
John ScealHead of Maintenance
Ray StewardMinibus Driver
Simon StewardHead of Premises
Andy WhiteMinibus Driver
Serena WoodcockSchool Office Administrator
Eloise WrightSchool Office Administrator