Staff Testimonials

At Chenderit School, we are a friendly and supportive staff body who work well together to achieve our collective aims. It is a special community that we are all proud of and priviledged to be a part of. Read through the testimonials below to get a sense of what it is like to be a member of our community and, if you would like to join us, please look at our current vacancies here.

Staff Testimonials

"After starting at Chenderit in September 2018, I have taken on a variety of roles as a middle and senior leader. Throughout my time at the school, I have seen it grow from strength to strength as a result of the dedication of our staff and the hard work and enthusiasm of our students. We are a community in every sense of the word - a rare place where staff and students are invested in one another and, as a result, work collaboratively to achieve their individual and collective goals. Chenderit truly is a unique and special place to work as we support one another and have a clear sense of purpose of why we are here - to improve the life chances of the young people in our local area and enhance the support in our local community." 

Mr B Belstone | Assistant Headteacher and Head of Sixth Form

"I started teaching history at Chenderit in Sept 2016.  I ran the school’s DofE scheme between 2017 and 2020 and I became Head of History in 2020.  When I came to look around the school, before applying for a job here, I was struck by how many teachers had been working at Chenderit for a very long time; ten, twenty, even thirty years in some cases.  From this I inferred that Chenderit must be a great place to work; so much so that people don’t want to leave.  This has certainly proved to be the case.  Chenderit students are a pleasure to teach.  They are keen and want to learn.  More than any other school that I have worked in, Chenderit really feels like a community.  You get the sense that everyone, staff, students and parents, are pulling in the same direction; working towards achieving excellent outcomes for the young people that study here."

Mr W Gowers | Head of History

"I initially joined Chenderit School for my PGCE placement as part of my Initial Teacher Training, and was fortunate to remain here as a teacher of Geography from September 2021. From my first day on placement I was drawn to the down-to-earth and kind atmosphere of Chenderit - both staff and students are keen to support one another to be the very best that they can be. I have learned so much during my first two years of teaching; staff have been so ready to share their time, wisdom and experience along my early teaching journey and I have been inspired by the commitment and professionalism of our team in helping our young people in all aspects of school life. There is a real spirit of kindness among the staff and students which makes our school a place where both teachers and students can thrive and be supported. I have particularly enjoyed my role supporting our Sixth Form students making Oxbridge applications and my role as a Sixth Form tutor, as well as having opportunities to support the delivery of school trips! I am looking forward to continuing my teaching journey as part of Team Chenderit in years to come. "

Miss N Clarke | Teacher of Geography

"My journey at Chenderit started in 2013, when my eldest daughter became a student here. As a parent, I felt a huge sense of relief that I had found a school where my children could pursue their education in a setting that felt safe and a lot like home. In 2014, I volunteered to serve the school as a member of the PTA and in 2015, I became a school governor. From the start of my journey, I have always found Chenderit to be welcoming, and a place full of opportunities to work in partnership to support the children. In 2019, as a teacher and resident of the village, it was the right time and a natural step to begin teaching here and I can no longer imagine being rooted anywhere else. Team Chenderit truly values the strong sense of community we imbibe within our culture and the fabric of our relationships. We are a loyal and hard working team, who are united in our relentless pursuit of ambitious plans to become one of the best schools in our country. Our students are wonderful young adults and we prioritise their outcomes wholeheartedly. We confidently believe you will experience the same and look forward to working with you."

Mrs J Dowden | Teacher of Business Studies

"I have been fortunate to work within a wonderful team as a Sixth Form supervisor, but I have also worked across many other support teams within the school such as the SEN department. Our teams across the school work together collaboratively to form an inspiring and creative environment for each of our students to flourish. Our staff's humour, sheer dedication, respect and belief in one another allow us to grow, whilst also working alongside students and their families to get the best outcomes possible for the young people in our care. I am often rewarded in witnessing students grow in confidence and resilience and this is why I truly love this working environment."

Mrs K Smith | Sixth Form Study Skills Supervisor