Kilburn Grange School is dedicated to academic excellence and we have recruited a fantastic team of teaching staff to meet the high levels of achievement that we have committed to. Please see below for our staffing structure for 2018/19.
Senior Leadership Team
Ms Sonia Mallick – Headteacher
Sonia has worked in education for over twenty years in schools that are large and small and with a wide range of languages, cultures and communities. She knows and understands what helps children to learn and develop skills that will make them positive members of their schools and wider communities.
Sonia says, “Every child can be successful and achieve their potential and I know that I am joining a team at Kilburn Grange School that is working towards the same goal of ensuring that we bring out that potential and support every child’s success.”.
Ms Helen Khinich – Deputy Headteacher, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Key Stage 1 Lead
Ms Khinich has been teaching for eight years and has previously worked in Lambeth and Hackney. She also worked at a new free school in Barking and Dagenham and was involved in the pre-opening stage. Helen has experience working across EYFS and Key Stage 1 in a range of inner-city schools for over ten years. Helen has been at Kilburn Grange School since its opening in September 2015 and is committed to ensuring that pupils have the very best quality teaching and learning.
Mrs Amy Holmes – Assistant Headteacher, Inclusion
Mrs Holmes previously worked in Reception and Year 1 at Kilburn Grange School and has previous experience as a nursery teacher at an academy. Mrs Holmes has been instrumental in the development of Kilburn Grange School, as she was one of our founding teachers when we opened in September 2015. Amy has completed the Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Coordinator Award from the Institute of Education with merit and currently leads Inclusion at Kilburn Grange School.
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EYFS Team
Ms Sarah Storey – Assistant Headteacher, EYFS Lead, Phonics Lead and Chestnut Class Teacher
Ms Storey has worked in Education for fifteen years in a variety of roles and has taught in both Reception and Year 2 during her teaching career. As a result, Sarah is familiar with both the EYFS curriculum and the national curriculum. She has gained invaluable experience and training over the years when working with children and children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). She has used this experience and knowledge to support individual children, their siblings and their parents/carers. Sarah ensures that each child experiences an inclusive curriculum that fosters ‘a love for learning’. She believes that learning should be fun but most importantly engaging, stimulating and educational.
Miss Debora Nunes – Cherry Class Teacher
Ms Nunes graduated from Middlesex University, with a degree in Sociology and Psychology. After completing her degree, she became a tutor where she supported pupils at an after-school club. During this time, Debora developed her understanding of supporting pupils who had a variety of needs. Debora speaks fluent Portuguese and Spanish, which is invaluable for our Portuguese and Spanish families. Debora has been teaching Pasture Class as of 2018 and says, “I am keen to offer pupils the best opportunity to succeed in their future careers and I believe that starts from an early age.”.
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Ms Lelly Rocha – 1:1 LSA, Chestnut Class
Ms Rocha has been working in childcare for over 10 years. She has spent nearly 2 years working in a nursery with children aged 6 months to five years. She has worked in community centres supporting families and young children as well as the creche and drop in in the Abbey community center.
She is a mother of 2 and she says “being a mother has given me the passion to learn and understand children development and education. I enjoy riding my bike everywhere with my children and sports in general. I am passionate about education and fascinated about children development.”
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Ms Laurrie Jack – Cherry Class Teaching Assistant
Ms Jack has three years of experience working as a teaching assistant in Early Years. She has previously worked in a nursery with children aged 6 months to 5 years old and is passionate about the Early Years curriculum. “I enjoy helping children to develop and explore their learning through play and focussed tasks. I hope to share my knowledge and skills with the children at Kilburn Grange School so that I can make each and every child’s learning journey unique and individual to them.”
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Ms Katarina Yaghobi – 1:1 LSA, Cherry Class
Ms Yaghobi is a mother of a 5 year old boy and an 8 year old girl. She began working mainly with adults with learning difficulties and SEN in 2003 as a carer, and a personal assistant. However, it was in 2009 that she decided to focus on working with children as a teaching assistant in a primary school. When she became mother herself in 2011, she focused on developing in her new role as a full-time stay-at-home mom until 2018 when she returned to her previous role as a teaching assistant with focus on children with SEN.
Ms Yaghobi has L4 Certificate in Further Education Teaching from City & Guilds; PECS training from Pyramid Education and is currently working on obtaining L3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching & Learning in Schools.
Her main professional interest is in children with SEN and children who suffered trauma.
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Key Stage 1 Team
Ms Sophie Richards – Holly Class Teacher
Ms Richards graduated from the University of Manchester, with a degree in Psychology. After completing her degree, she became a teacher assistant whereby she developed her understanding of the curriculum and how to best support children with a variety of needs. After realising she loved to help children learn, she is now a participant on the Teach First programme and is continuing to develop great practice. She loves working as part of a busy team and loves to see children’s wellbeing thrive as well as their learning.
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Ms Shelina Begum – Elm Class Teacher
Ms Begum has a degree in Psychology and studied further to become a teacher. She has been teaching for over 8 years, she says “I really love my job as a teacher. I enjoy meeting new and wonderful children every year and look forward to getting to know the class.”
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Ms Nadia Masmoudi – Hazel Class Teaching Assistant
Ms Masmoudi has been working in education for over eight years, with experience in special needs schools and local communities. She is a mother of 3 and enjoys outdoor activities and organising events. Ms Masmoudi feels that children should be always be at the heart of all teaching and learning. She loves that Kilburn Grange School embraces this ethos wholeheartedly.
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Ms Diana Modeste – Hazel Class Teaching Assistant
Ms Modeste has worked in the Education Sector for twenty-five years and is very excited to be part of Kilburn Grange School as a Teaching Assistant. As a mother of four, Diana has extensive experience in key areas of understanding and nurturing children. She uses these skills to help the individual requirements of the children.
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Ms Roghayeh Towhidi – Holly Class Teaching Assistant
Mrs Roghayeh Towhidi worked as a qualified primary teacher for several years overseas. She moved to England in 1993 and, after raising her own children, began work as a Teaching Assistant in 2007. Mrs Towhidi has worked in various schools across London. She believes in learning without barriers, consequently opting to pursue a course specialising in aiding pupils with learning difficulties. Mrs Towhidi will continue to provide support for children at Kilburn Grange School to ensure that no obstacle stands in the way of pupil’s true potential.
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Ms Tracy Green – Elm Class Teaching Assistant
Ms Green was a registered childminder who supported teenage mothers and children who were cared for by their grandparents. Ms Green became a welfare assistant with a level 3 qualification in teaching and learning support. She then decided with having over 10 years’ experience, she would like a new challenge, therefore she joined Kilburn Grange School in October 2015. As well as having a particular gift for supporting children, she also supports the learning needs of all pupils and believes every child matters.
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Ms Emma Foster – Key Stage 1 Phase/Maths Lead
Ms Foster graduated from University of Reading with a law degree in 2015. After graduation she joined the Teach First Leadership Development Programme and taught in a large three form entry school in Enfield. She completed a masters in Educational Leadership at UCL in 2018 and received a pass with merit. She has worked across Bellevue Place Education Trust for three years teaching across Key Stage 1. She leads maths across Halley House School and Kilburn Grange School. She is joint Key Stage 1 phase lead at Kilburn Grange School with a specific focus on year 2.
Key Stage 2 Team
Ms Clionagh Heekin – Maple Class Teacher
Miss Heekin successfully completed her teacher training with the London SCITT programme last year at Kilburn Grange. She previously studied English Literature and Sociology at the University of Brighton. Before, Kilburn Grange, she worked as a Learning Support Assistant in Wandsworth.
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Ms Sophie Le Marchand – Key Stage 2 Phase Leader, English Lead and Pine Class Teacher
Mrs Le Marchand graduated from Oxford University in 2010 and is Kilburn Grange’s new lead of English and Key Stage 2. She has been teaching for eight years, previously worked in an independent school in Kensington and Chelsea. In her teaching career, she has taught in both Reception and Key Stage 1 and is looking forward to the fresh challenge of working with children in Key Stage 2. Outside of school, Mrs Le Marchand is a keen sportswoman and currently represents Leyton Orient Women’s Football Club.
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Ms Syeda Manna – Teaching Assistant, Maple Class
Ms Manna has a Bachelors honour degree in English Literature and is a qualified teacher and has taught for several years, in both primary and secondary schools in Bangladesh. She moved over to the UK in 2011 and is also a mother to two daughters. With the passion and desire for teaching still remaining, she decided to reignite this passion and desire to pursue a teaching career in the UK. As a result Ms Manna completed her qualifications as a Teaching Assistant and worked as a placement volunteer for Kilburn Grange School for the last two years. She has now fulfilled this dream to teach school children. She says “I am always passionate about teaching children, fulfilling their learning and development needs, ensuring that each and every child can have a successful, healthy and safe education. I am very proud to be a member of Kilburn Grange School.
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Ms Marie-Rose Kouassi – 1:1 LSA, Pine Class
Ms Kouassi has been working at Kilburn Grange School since April 2017. She is currently working as a 1:1 Learning Support Assistant with a pupil in Year 3. She loves dancing and enjoying life, and brings this energy to her work at school. She is a valued member of the team and supports teaching and learning in all areas.
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Ms Pooja Shah – 1:1 LSA, Pine Class
Pooja Shah has been working in education for over ten years with children with special needs, in particular, autism. She has worked with children with autism in many different environments; in the home, in special schools, in mainstream schools and in the community.
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Ms Natalia Kavvadia – 1:1 LSA, Pine Class
Natalia Kavvadia has a master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Hertfordshire and a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida University. She is an experienced ABA (applied behaviour analyst) and has been working with children with autism for over five years. Natalia has worked in different settings such as home programs, special schools and mainstream schools.
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Other Teaching and Learning Team Members
Ms Konstantina Giachnaki – Sports Coach and P.E. Specialist
Ms Giachnaki has always been passionate about sports and has played basketball for twelve years. With a Performing Arts diploma and a Level 3 in Childcare Learning and Development, she then took her sports coaching qualification and became an England Basketball referee. Konstantina has worked in several London schools but says “what I like most about Kilburn Grange is the sense of family and WE CARE values for all pupils”. Konstantina’s favourite quote is “Sport teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like it to win and lose, it teaches you about life.”.
Ms Nina Jama – Extended Schools Assistant
Ms Jama has been involved in Kilburn Grange School from the start as a parent at the school and has joined the staff team as the Extended Schools Assistant. She brings her creativity and energy to the after school clubs, particularly enjoying art and cookery. Previously, Nina worked in administration for Microsoft and was also a care worker.
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Ms Linda Dunn – Midday Meal Time Supervisor
Ms Dunn is a mother of four beautiful girls and she says “I love working in a school environment, I am really passionate about my job which I have done for 2 years now. I am an excellent communicator between parent and child and teacher. I am highly organized with my daily job routine. I am passionate about working in a school environment I am very ambitious and work my hardest to the best of my ability.”
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Mr Jordan Augusta – Midday Meal Time Supervisor
After caring for his Mum for almost two years, Mr Augusta is hoping to gain the experience to work towards his goal of being a children’s advocate. Jordan has volunteered with young people and children from all walks of life specifically individuals who have faced homelessness, abuse, poverty and substance misuse.
He says ” I am certain that in my role as Midday Meals Supervisor, I will provide a clean and comfortable environment for children to socialise and enjoy their meal in. Along with using my expertise to ensure children are safe and happy during their time at Kilburn Grange School.”
Administrative Team
Ms Alison Thomas – Office Manager
Ms Thomas has had six years of experience as a school administrator at a nearby primary school and has embraced the challenge of Office Manager at Kilburn Grange School. She will help the school flourish as she brings with her a wealth of knowledge about the local area. She is a mum of two teenage children and lives very locally.
Ms Francine Murray – Administration Assistant
Ms Murray has been involved with Kilburn Grange School since the start, being a mother of a pupil at the school. She says, “I am thrilled to be a member of the Kilburn Grange School team. I have spent my entire working life having direct contact with members of the public and have been fortunate to have worked at an adult learning centre for a few years, so will implement all my acquired skills well at Kilburn Grange. I embrace the opportunity to welcome all parents and visitors, and to offer excellent service to all.”.
Outside of her work life, Francine is a Youth Leader and Scout Counsellor. She enjoys going to museums – her two favourite museums are the Natural History Museum and Science Museum.
Support Staff
Ms Amirun Bibi- Apprentice Administrator
Ms Bibi has recently joined Kilburn Grange School as an Apprentice Administrator. This allows her to study for Business Administrator Level 3 whilst gaining experience on the job. She says “I am really enjoying being part of the administration team and getting to know all the parents and pupils.”
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Ms Paulina Treanor – Therapist
Ms Treanor is an experienced Creative Arts Psychotherapist and fully accredited with the Health Professional Council (HCPC). She holds an MA in Drama and Movement Therapy and a Foundation and Intermediate Level Certificate in Family and Couple Psychotherapy. She is currently in the process of obtaining an MA in Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and Counselling (UKCP and BACP).
Paulina has worked in a variety of settings, specialising in working with children and young people. Some of her experiences include; children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, adolescents, families, adult, mental health settings, NHS, drug and alcohol recovery settings, children and adults with learning disabilities. She also has extensive experience in working with children and adolescents who have experienced high levels of trauma and abuse.
Ms Mary Sheaf – Therapist
Ms Sheaf is a qualified Adlerian Counsellor (IIP Diploma) and is currently in the process of completing an MA in Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and Counselling (BACP and UKCP). She also holds a BA in English Literature.
Mary has worked as a therapist with children and young people in the charitable sector and has experience in both the state and private education systems. In addition, she has facilitated parenting education programmes.
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Site Supervisor and School Cleaners
Mr Mohamed Philippe Lamara – Site Supervisor
Mr Lamara has specialised as a site supervisor in a range of diverse school environments across London, working in primary, secondary and University settings. Previously based at the Royal College of Arts, Mr Lamara has rigorous training in health and safety protocol and has received both First Aid and Fire Safety training. With his widespread DIY knowledge and years of experience as a premises assistant, Mr Lamara is committed to creating a safe and enjoyable learning environment in his role as Site Supervisor at Kilburn Grange School.
Ms Elisabete Sousa – School Cleaner
Elisabete has been at Kilburn Grange School from the start as she was previously a cleaner for Marylebone Boys School, which had been sharing the site. She applied to Kilburn Grange School because she had an excellent understanding of the site and wanted to share her cleaning and organisation skills with the school. As a mother, she is passionate that the children should be in a clean, safe space whilst they study. Elisabete is proud of what her work and is excited to see the school grow.
Ms Cristina Ciubotara – School Cleaner
Cristina is a mother of two and is a highly responsible, determined and ambitious adult, always striving to do better. Cristina says, “I am a very hard working person and look forward to applying my experience from both home and working environments to school, where I provide the pupils with clean and safe learning conditions”.