Three New Department Heads

With the end of summer term retirement of 3 longstanding teachers at the School, the start of the new academic year has seen the arrival of new Department Heads.

During the holiday period the new Economics, Drama and Geography Heads of Departments have all spent time at the School, arranging their new classrooms and academic department areas to ensure all was ready for the arrival of pupils for the new academic year.     

Richard Bach, arrives to head the Economics Department.  Originally reading Economics and Law from Durham University, Richard brings with him a wealth of personal experience outside of the classroom since he spent 15 years as an investment banker before taking his post-graduate teaching qualification at the University of Manchester in 2004. He and his family have spent the past six years in Southern Spain where he was teaching  Economics and Business Studies at an international school, where he was also the Deputy Head for the last three years. Richard has returned to the UK with his wife Sara and two sons, with his younger one also having started at the School in Year 8.

 The Drama Department has also seen a change at the helm, with the arrival of Philippa Bell. With a BA (Hons) in Theatre Arts from Capitol Theatre, Manchester Metropolitan University, Philippa qualified as a teacher in Secondary Drama with the Cambridge Teaching Partnership at  Homerton College, Cambridge.  Having taught Drama at the Leys School, Cambridge from 2003-2011, she has also led Drama workshops for KS1-KS2 children in her spare time and taught Theatre Arts in various Summer Schools to a range of ages and abilities.  Prior to teaching Philippa worked as a professional actress for a number of years. Philippa commented, I am delighted to be have been given the role of Director of Drama at Ellesmere College and am looking forward to the year ahead. Philippa has arrived in Shropshire with her Chilean husband, Patricio and her 19 months old son, Sebastian.  

Although originally from the North West, Rhiann Jackson, the new Geography Head of Department has lived in Shropshire for the past 4 years. After attending a Church school in Bolton she went on to read Geography at The University of Wales Aberystwyth. Following graduation and completion of her teaching qualification Rhiann has taught in Telford for the past 4 years. Rhiann  added From my experiences at University, travelling and previous teaching posts I hope that I can give the students of Ellesmere College the same positive experience of Geography that I enjoy. I will endeavour to develop both their understanding and awareness of the world around them.

The Deputy Head, Academic, Vicky Pritt-Roberts added, We welcome all 3 Heads of Departments and look forward to them making their mark academically amongst the pupils and in the wider Ellesmere College community.

Photo: Phillipa Bell, Drama, Vicky Pritt-Roberts, Deputy Head (Academic), Rhiann Jackson, Geography, & Richard Bach, Economics.

15th September 2011  Back to News