Staff

Ciro Candia
Head and Class Teacher - BA Hons & PGCE
Mr Candia has been the Head at Oakwood for 11 years, and until July 2010 he was also the Executive Head of our sister school in Clapham, Oliver House. He has a First Class BA Hons degree in English and Philosophy, and a PGCE which he obtained at the Roehampton Institute. All of his seven children have attended the school, with the three oldest ones now at secondary school. Mr Candia is the Year 6 class teacher and Head of Maths, and he prepares those children who are writing entrance examinations.  He is also a tutor.

Debbie Morrison
Deputy Head - Higher Diploma in Education & QTS
Mrs Morrison is a South African by birth, and she came to the UK in April 1999. In South Africa she studied for 4 years to obtain a diploma in Nursery and Key Stage 1 Education. After teaching for 2 years she went to Germany and the USA. Upon her return to South Africa, she worked with special needs children and taught for a further 5 years. She was a supply teacher in London for a few years mostly in Key Stage 1, before joining Wandsworth School for 2 years. At this time Mrs Morrison also obtained her qualified teacher status. She was appointed as the Early Years co-ordinator before leaving to join Oakwood in September 2005. Her oldest child is now at secondary school, her middle child is in the school and her youngest one attends the nursery. Until July 2010 Mrs Morrison was the Year 2 class teacher, however she will be on maternity leave from November 2010 so she will not be a class teacher for the forthcoming academic year.  Mrs Morrison is a designated Child Protection Officer and Head of Learning Support (SENCO).

Caroline Candia
Class Teacher - BSc (Psychology) & PGCE (Primary), QTS
After studying Child Psychology as part of her BSC Psychology degree, Mrs Candia decided to pursue a teaching career. She gained her PGCE at the Roehampton Institute and taught in Local Education Authority schools in London before getting married and starting a family. She began teaching at Oakwood in 1999 and she is the current Year 5 teacher. Mrs Candia (the headmaster's wife!) has 7 children, 4 of whom still currently attend the school and nursery. So they have a unique opportunity to keep an eye on them as they develop academically but also in the human virtues which are a particular hallmark of Oakwood. Mrs Candia is the Head of English and Personalised Education, including PSHE & Character Development.  She is also a tutor.

Ellen Teague
Class Teacher - BA Hons (History), QTS
Mrs Teague was originally from London but grew up in Hertfordshire. She studied History at Hull and graduated in 1984. After working for the Department of Trade and Industry and BP Oil, amongst other companies, she went to France to work as an English teacher for 2 years. Following that she spent several years as a Year 6 class teacher and history teacher in a small independent school in Berkshire where she met her husband. Mrs Teague has 5 children, 2 of whom currently attend Oakwood and the 3 older ones are now in secondary school. She completed her GTP (Graduate Teaching Programme) in Summer 2008. Mrs Teague is the Year 4 class teacher and the Head of Religion and History.  She is also a tutor.

Jean Gardner
Class Teacher - MA Education, BEd (Hons), Cert Ed.
Miss Gardner began her career in a voluntary-aided Catholic primary school in inner London. After a successful two years as Year 3 class teacher she then moved into the F.E. sector and worked for voluntary-sector training organisations in London, Sydney and Manchester. During this period she continued to refine her teaching skills and also gained experience in curriculum management, pastoral care, PR and marketing. In 1997 she moved to Oxford where she worked initially as General Manager for the National Association for Able Children in Education and began to study for her Masters degree. She then worked for an Open University for nine years, as Regional Marketing Manager. In tandem with this job, she ran an after-school homework club in a disadvantaged estate in Oxford. This direct contact with learners fuelled her desire to return to the Primary Classroom, which she did in January 2007, and she then worked as Year 5 followed by Year 4 class teacher in Catholic schools in the London area. She describes this transition as bringing "no reduction in workload but a huge leap in job satisfaction!". Miss Gardner also holds post-graduate qualifications in Management and Marketing. She joined the staff of Oakwood in September 2009 as the Year 3 class teacher. She is also the Head of Science and tutor.

Lisa Martin
Class Teacher - BEd, QTS
Miss Martin comes from London, and has a BA in Education studies. She has also achieved a HND in Early Childhood studies. Miss Martin worked as a teaching assistant whilst studying for her degree. She completed her GTP (Graduate Teaching Programme) in Summer 2008. Miss Martin taught Reception in 2009/10 and for the following academic year she will be the Year 1 M class teacher.  Miss Martin is also Head of Design Technology.

Jacqueline Parker
Class Teacher - BEd in PE & QTS
Mrs Parker qualified in 1983 with a Degree in Physical Education from Dunfermline College of PE in Edinburgh. She taught in various secondary schools in Glasgow and also as an advisor of PE to primary teachers. She taught for 6 years in Tyneside before moving to London. She taught PE at Oakwood and another independent primary school for a few years before leaving to spend 2 years in Italy where she taught English in primary and secondary schools and an adults evening school, came to Oakwood in September 2002. Mrs Parker completed her Early Years Professional Status training in 2010.  She is the Reception class teacher and Head of PE/Games.

Julia Rafat
Class Teacher - BA (English literature & sociology) & PGCE (Primary)
Miss Rafat comes from London where she attended university and obtained a BA Hons English Literature and Sociology degree. She worked for a few years at the Environment Agency and spent some time in the Press Office. Miss Rafat was then an Office Manager/PA before she commenced her teacher training course (PGCE) at the University of Roehampton. Miss Rafat taught the Upper Nursery in 2009/10 and for the following academic year she will be the Year 2 class teacher.  She is Head of Geography and is the designated Early Years Child Protection Officer.

Shanida Lobo
Nursery Teacher - GNVQ Advanced & NNEB
Mrs Lobo attended a 2 year course at John Ruskin college where she obtained her GNVQ Advanced Health and Social Care diploma. She then did her NNEB (Diploma in Nursery Nursing) at Croydon College. Mrs Lobo worked for a day nursery for a short period before becoming a Reception teacher for 3 years at a private school. Mrs Lobo taught the Lower Nursery in 2009/10 and for the following academic year she will move into the Upper Nursery.  Mrs Lobo also performs the role of Risk Assessment Co-ordinator. 

Our other specialists:
Stephen de la Bedoyere - Latin teacher & tutor (Cert in Education & TESOL)
Lorna Easthope - Will be the Year 1 E class teacher for 2009/10 and 2010/11.  Also Head of Art (Part 1 Cert in Education - sign language, Art & Design Diploma)
Christopher Woolmer - Director of Music (LRAM, ARCM, Dip RCM, PG Cert)
Alberto Kurti - Games coach (UEFA B licence in football coaching, NQV Sport & Leisure)
Lupe Sedoufio - Head of Spanish (CACHE Level 3 in Childminding)
Louise Newman-Sanders - Early Years Music (BSc - MBBS in Medicine, Grade 8 piano & flute)
Sally Gloyne (Tutor)
Penny Parks (Nursery Dance)

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