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Part of castle school education trust

"Castle School Education Trust is committed to high quality education across the primary, secondary and sixth form key stages. Our schools cover the South Gloucestershire area. We encourage independence within each school within a strong framework of values."

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Mangotsfield Secondary

  • NOVEMBER KEY DATES: 13th Y10 Parents' Info Evening, 19th/20th All year Flu Vaccinations,  27th Y11 Parents' Evening (bookings open 13th at 6pm)

Senior Leadership Team

Hetty Blackmore, Headteacher

I was lucky enough to live in multiple places growing up: London, Suffolk and Somerset. Most of my childhood was spent growing up in very rural settings, and so, when the opportunity to go to university came along, I headed straight to the biggest city I could think of, Manchester. I spent three years in Manchester studying English and Politics. I was lucky enough to be part o the team that set up the Manchester Uni Radio Station. My part time job, working for Redbull, gave me lots of experience and adventures around the country.

In my final year at university I spent some time in local secondary schools and knew that the classroom was calling. I came back to Bristol and trained to be a teacher and my first placement school was Mangotsfield School. I got my first job here aged 23 and spent the next eleven years working at the school and in South Gloucestershire as an Advanced Skills Teacher. I moved to Chipping Sodbury as Assistant Headteacher for Teaching and Learning and then return to Mangotsfield as deputy head. I love the science of learning and have always been passionate about ensuring that every student has equal access to a great education. In my current role as headteacher I am able to drive this forward for the brilliant community our school serves. 

Gemma Lenon, Deputy Headteacher (Quality of Education)

I graduated from Durham University with a degree in geography.  I always loved geography at school and had a passion for learning about the wider world. My desire to travel the world led me to take a gap year after graduation and I spent 9 months travelling independently across Asia and Australasia.  It was during my gap year that I had my first experience of teaching; teaching English to children in Sri Lanka and I haven’t looked back since!

On my return from my travels I applied and was accepted onto the PGCE course at the University of Exeter and qualified as a geography teacher. I worked for 16 years in a secondary school in London where I held a variety of curriculum and pastoral leadership roles before becoming Deputy Headteacher.  I am passionate about CPD and developing teachers and have delivered CPD at national conferences for Teach First and Challenge Partners.   Whilst working in London I was also fortunate to be given roles working across the Trust so was able to develop links with our feeder primary schools.    

I went into teaching to make a difference and firmly believe that anyone can learn anything given the right environment.   In particular, I want all students to love learning and so Mangotsfield’s values were a really good fit for me when I was appointed to the role of Deputy Headteacher here back in September 2021

Tiffany Partridge, Deputy Headteacher (Ethos and Inclusion)

I was born in Bristol and went to school here. After my A-Levels in English, German and Spanish, I went on to study Linguistics at University and completed my PGCE in Secondary English at the University of Bath. I have always been fascinated by language and have a love of Literature. I am currently the Deputy Head Teacher for Inclusion and Ethos at Mangotsfield School. My previous roles include: Assistant Head Teacher for Teaching and Learning, an Advanced Skills Teacher for English and an English Lead Practitioner where I was able to provide outreach support for schools across South Gloucestershire. 

I am passionate about my current role which involves leading on the strategic direction of attendance, behaviour, SEND and school culture. I believe an inclusive approach to education allows all students to fulfill their potential and gain the best possible life outcomes. 

James Gilpin, Assistant Headteacher (Personal and Community Development)

I grew up in Bristol and now live in the local area. I graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in History. I have always loved listening to and telling stories and  so it felt natural for me to study this all the way through to degree level. After working in other industries I decided to go and see some of the wider world and spent some time travelling Europe,  America, Australia and New Zealand. It was while I was in Australia that I made the decision to become a teacher, coming from a family of teachers I knew that this was not like any other job, and I wanted to be doing a job where I felt I could make a difference. I made the decision then to train to teach in Australia, and so attended the Australian Catholic University where I gained my Graduate Diploma in Education. 

On my return to Bristol, I gained a job in the History department at Mangotsfield School and so started working here in 2009. I have loved every day of it since. I have had a variety of roles within the school, from being a classroom teacher not just of History but also RS and some other subjects. I have mentored trainee teachers and early career teachers as well as being a Head of Year and a Head of House. In my current role I am responsible for developing our relationship with the wider community but also helping support our young people in their development. With the aim being they are given the best opportunities to fulfil their potential. 

Ceri Ward, Assistant Headteacher  (Teaching and Learning)

I grew up in the depths of North Devon so by the time I finished my A Levels, I was desperate to travel.  I ended up going to university in Reading to Study Italian Language, Literature and European Studies which meant I got to live and study in Italy for a year.  After graduating, I spent some more time traveling the world and it was towards the end of this trip that I realised I wanted to teach.  

On my initial return, I worked as a teaching assistant in schools in Devon and Cornwall but eventually decided on Bristol to do my PGCE and have been here ever since.  Since qualifying almost 20 years ago, I have progressed from being an English teacher to leading an English department before beginning my role here at Mangotsfield as Assistant Headteacher.  I have always had a passion for teaching and learning and working with colleagues to support our young people in achieving their very best. 

Gareth John, Assistant Headteacher (Safety and Welfare) 

Growing up I lived in a number of areas around the country including Yorkshire and North Wales before finally settling in Chepstow. Once completing my A Levels in Geography, History and Economics I went on to study Law and Politics at University of Manchester. Here, alongside my studies I continued to play sport and was fortunate enough to travel around the country playing Rugby. After graduating I spent some time contemplating my future and spent two summers working on a golf course. During this time it became clear to me that the classroom was where I belonged. I completed a PGCE at Bristol University and got my first teaching position at Mangotsfield School teaching Law and PSHE. 

I started at Mangotsfield School in 2009 and have had a variety of roles whilst working at the school. From teaching in the sixth form, to becoming a Head of House in Chase to now being Assistant Headteacher for Welfare and Wellbeing. I have felt very much a part of the community here for some time now. As such ensuring that the children who attend this school are safe and happy gives me immense professional satisfaction. My job is to ensure that students are, and feel safe so that they are able to take advantage of the extensive opportunities afforded to them here.