Our People

Tracy has worked in education for over 30 years. She is an experienced leader with a strong collaborative style, who adopts a pupil centric approach to education – nurturing the individual to develop resilience and attain personal academic excellence. She is a self-reflective practitioner whose feet remain firmly on the ground, but passionately believes that each learner deserves the best possible education in order that they fulfil their potential.

Her career started in South Manchester at William Hulme’s Grammar School, where she became a pastoral specialist. Promotion to Deputy Head saw her move to an all-girls’ school, Alderley Edge School for Girls (a member of GSA) where she was responsible for school improvement and pupil attainment. Latterly, she was the Headmistress at Abbey Gate College, an independent school based just south of Chester in the Northwest.

She took early retirement in 2021 to move to her dream home in the Lake District but maintains strong links in education by volunteering as Governor at two independent schools, The Grange School Hartford in Cheshire, and Giggleswick School in North Yorkshire.

Tracy is passionate about all things outdoors and spends as much time as possible in her beloved Lake District, walking and cycling. She is a passionate reader and enjoys watching live theatre and dance productions.

Paul studied Classics at The Queen’s College Oxford and completed a doctoral thesis on ancient Greek and Roman Comedy before taking a PGCE qualification and entering the teaching profession. Formerly Head of Classics at three schools, including The Godolphin & Latymer School, he joined St Helen’s in September 2014 as Deputy Head Development before becoming Academic Deputy Head in January 2017.

In addition to his responsibilities for all aspects of academic life of the School, Paul oversees the quality of teaching and learning at St Helen’s and is responsible for the professional development of teaching staff.

An experienced Senior Leader and teacher of Mathematics, Neelam was appointed as the Pastoral Deputy Head from September 2019. She has oversight of safeguarding, pastoral provision and pupil welfare across the School, working closely with the Heads of Section in Senior School and the Head of the Prep School.

Before taking up her role at St Helen’s, Neelam was Vice-Principal (Pastoral) at King Edward VI High School for Girls in Birmingham and Assistant Head at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith. She studied Mathematics, obtaining a First-Class degree and a Master’s from the University of Warwick.

Outside of school, Neelam has been involved in delivering training for NQTs across Birmingham and enjoys playing badminton, cooking and singing.

Ed is an experienced Senior Leader and Teacher of Modern Languages. Ed holds strategic oversight of our Co-Curricular provision as well as the Partnerships, Outreach and Development programmes.

Ed also line manages all aspects of the whole school’s daily operation, communications, and pupil voice as well as a number of academic departments. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Head at St Helen’s, Ed spent 15 years teaching in Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools, most recently as Assistant Headteacher at Dr Challoner’s High School in Little Chalfont. Ed also spent 10 years at Dr Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham where he was Head of Spanish and Head of the Modern Languages Faculty. Ed also held responsibility for the Astra Teaching School’s Appropriate Body and Induction for Early Career Teachers.

Ed is an Appointed Governor, Director and Trustee at Aylesbury Grammar School where he chairs the Learning and Teaching Committee. Ed has been Organist of Northwood Methodist Church for over 20 years and enjoys singing Choral Music in Cathedrals across the country.

Rebecca joins St Helen’s School as Head of Prep in September 2022. She brings with her a huge wealth of knowledge, experience, determination and vision to build on the school’s already successful work. She is committed to promoting high standards and opportunities across the curriculum, as well as supporting children in finding and developing their own interests and talents and, above all, enjoying their learning.

Before joining St Helen’s, Rebecca taught and led for several years at two schools in Oxfordshire where she grew up. Her first experience of the independent sector was at the International School of Monaco, after which she continued her leadership journey as a Deputy Head, Acting Head and then Co-Head in Hertfordshire. She then took over as Head Teacher at Eastbury Farm Primary School, which she successfully led for six years.

Having completed the Masters-level Executive Leadership Programme, Rebecca has worked as a Professional Partner in Hertfordshire, mentoring and coaching new Head Teachers. Alongside this, she also worked in an Educational Partnership supporting schools to improve.

Outside of teaching and leading, Rebecca is a qualified dance teacher and a keen runner. She lives in Hertfordshire with her fiancé and their daughter.

Maria has 25 years’ experience in senior strategic and operational leadership roles within large, multi-site, public and private sector healthcare organisations in the UK and the Middle East, working closely with stakeholders to develop and deliver high quality services and facilities.

Following a successful early career in the NHS and completing her MBA in 2007, Maria moved to the private sector as an Executive Hospital Director and in 2010 joined a Government tertiary maternity hospital in Abu Dhabi as its Director of Operations delivering a successful programme of service re-organisation.

On returning to the UK in 2012, Maria joined Moorfields Eye Hospital as Managing Director of its private patient unit, completing a major capital investment programme and doubling its financial surplus for reinvestment back into the hospital’s NHS services.

Maria joins St Helen’s from her role as General Manager of a leading criminal barristers chambers in Fleet Street.

Maria is as an independent member of the Lord Chancellor’s London Magistrates’ Recruitment Advisory Committee, is married and lives in North London.

An experienced Senior Leader with a focus on Sixth Form, Rachel Williams was appointed as Head of Sixth Form in September 2020. She has worked in a range of secondary schools as Head of Modern Languages and Assistant Head and Director of Sixth Form at Beaconsfield High School.

She holds a degree in Classics and Modern Languages from Keble College, Oxford, specialising in 19th century French literature.

Rachel is passionate about the student experience in both academic and co-curricular areas and has extensive Pastoral experience from Year 7 upwards.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, long country walks with her family and gardening.

Rebecca has been working at St Helen’s since 2009. Initially appointed as teacher of History of Art and History, Rebecca has gradually taken on more responsibility and became Head of Upper School in September 2018. In this capacity, she is responsible for the pastoral care of all girls in Years 10 and 11, and her day-to-day task sheet can include everything from delivering assemblies, to organising mentoring breakfasts. She is committed to empowering all students to achieve their best outcomes in their GCSEs whilst maintaining their happiness and wellbeing.

Before entering the teaching profession, Rebecca studied the History of Art at both the Courtauld Institute of Art and Columbia University, where she completed her Master of Philosophy degree. With a passion for gardening, she has recently helped to establish a School allotment plot to teach students from across the St Helen’s community about growing their own food.

With over twenty years' experience in the primary sector, Rebecca is an experienced school leader who was appointed as Deputy Head of St Helen's Prep School from September 2022. Working closely with Rebecca Workman, the Head of St Helen's Prep School, Rebecca is keen to move the school onto its next exciting chapter, ensuring that all girls who attend the Prep School are provided with the opportunities, support and encouragement to be the very best versions of themselves.

Rebecca's career started in a primary school in Hertfordshire, where she taught across all key stages, led in the key subjects of Maths and English and took on a senior leadership role as SENCO. Most recently, Rebecca spent twelve years as Deputy Headteacher at a primary school in Rickmansworth. Taking a key strategic role, Rebecca worked hard as part of a team to ensure that her school moved forward and rapidly improved its results for all pupils, regardless of their backgrounds. Rebecca puts the pupils she works with at the heart of everything she does and has always been dedicated to improving the lives of all she teaches. With a hands-on approach, Rebecca has recently taught in classes ranging from Nursery to Year 6. Staff, Parents and Governors see Rebecca as someone who is approachable, a good listener and who always gets things done.

Sudeep is a graduate from the University of Surrey, with a BA QTS specialising in Theology and Religious Studies. She joined St Helen’s in 2009 as Maths Coordinator after having worked in a Church of England school in Maida Vale and a well-established local state school.

Being an advocate of well-being, she has a real passion in ensuring the pastoral needs of pupils are met and truly believes pupils flourish when they are happy and in a nurturing environment. Through her own journey of mindfulness, Sudeep has developed the use of mindfulness techniques within the Prep School.

Currently, Sudeep is part of both the Senior Leadership and Prep Leadership Teams and is leading the whole school on developing Character Education and Pupil Coaching within the Prep School.

Outside of school, she enjoys yoga, travelling abroad and spending time with friends and family organising memorable events so they can spend quality time together.

Jackie Brinicombe joins St Helen’s School as its new Assistant Business Director, having started out as a nurse, specialising in ITU, she chose to pursue a career in the non-clinical side of healthcare.

She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing with over 25 years’ experience as a senior marketing, business development and operations professional in the healthcare sector with BMI Healthcare, Moorfields Eye Hospital and more recently the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. Jackie also has experience of working in the further education sector for an Academy Trust.

Her experience and expertise include:

-Executive leadership of organisational teams to deliver integrated marketing and business development strategies at local, regional and corporate level and improving user experiences through redesign of infrastructure, facilities and service delivery;

-Devising and implementing international strategies to secure new business from key overseas organisations;

-Leading re-brand projects to ensure coherence in reputation across single and multiple organisations.

Jackie lives in Bedfordshire with her husband.