Our People

Mrs Lucas has many years teaching and leadership experience at senior level across both the maintained and independent sectors. This has given her an extensive knowledge and understanding of how the very best teaching fosters a deep love of learning, first-rate results and happy children.

As Head of History at St Marylebone School, Head of 6th Form at City of London School for Girls and Deputy Head Pastoral at South Hampstead, she developed a real insight into the power that the best single sex schools have to unleash girls' full potential and become confident, grounded and purposeful young women. More recently, she has taken on the responsibility of Vice Principal Academic at a new Academy which opened 6 years ago sponsored by UCL university, a school committed to research-led practice in the classroom and developing partnerships across the educational spectrum. In all the schools Mrs Lucas has worked at, she has remained true to the moral imperative of ensuring the very best for all pupils so they can go out into the world to lead interesting and fulfilling lives.

She lives in Camden with her husband and two teenage children and actively supports a number of charities, particularly those that support young people living in London who might face inequality of opportunity.

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 leads the co-curricular programme at St Helen’s, coordinates educational visits, and is responsible for the professional development of teaching staff.

Paul is passionate about developing and improving learning and teaching, and about empowering students to become independent and successful learners who can fulfil their potential, within and beyond the classroom.

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.

Edward 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 leads on all aspects of the school’s daily operation, communications and pupil voice. 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. He also spent 10 years at Dr Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham where he was Head of Spanish and Head of Modern Languages, and also held responsibility for the Astra Teaching School’s Appropriate Body and Induction for Early Career Teachers. Ed is an Appointed Governor 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.

Glenn began his career as an Equity Analyst at JP Morgan before transferring to teaching Religion & Philosophy at two state schools. He joined St Helen’s in September 2014 as Head of Religion, Philosophy & Ethics. Appointed Director of Teaching and Learning in September 2020, Glenn created the HIP Scholars Programme, a unique and prestigious course of learning that identifies students with high intellectual potential and provides personalised support for them through mentoring supervisions.

Excited by the latest developments in evidenced informed pedagogy, Glenn works with the school’s Lead Practitioners to help support staff professional development. He also leads on key school initiatives such as Teaching to the Top, Metacognition, and Literacy.Currently completing a PhD at Pembroke College Cambridge on the pedagogy of controversy, Glenn has written numerous academic and popular articles on topics including conspiracy theories, ethics in literature, and dialogic assessment. Glenn holds Master’s degrees in Religious Education from UCL’s Institute of Education and in International Relations from LSE.

He is married with five children and is also a trustee of the Jewish Community Academy Trust, which is responsible for four primary schools in the state sector.

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.