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 2017/18.
Senior Leadership Team
Ms Helen Richardson – Headteacher
Ms Helen Richardson joined Kilburn Grange School as Headteacher in January 2015. Helen was previously Deputy Head of a high performing school in Stratford and has 10 years’ experience as class teacher and six years’ experience as senior manager across three schools in Newham. Helen also spent two years in the teacher training sector and achieved ‘Outstanding’ for the Graduate Teacher Programme at the School Centred Initial Teacher Training in East London Schools (SCITTELS). She has formed excellent relationships with the community: pupils at her current school were part of the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony and they have taken part in subsequent projects related to the regeneration of the area, including the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Park in Stratford, East London, where the pupils met Prince Harry.
“Having worked in inner city schools for over 15 years, I am more than aware of the challenges that pupils face today. Choosing a child’s first school is probably the most important decision that parents will make. Brand new facilities, state-of-the-art technology, exceptional teachers and a Headteacher you can trust in should help families to choose Kilburn Grange School with confidence.”
Ms Helen Khinich – Deputy Headteacher & Year 2 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 is an Early Years specialist and is committed to ensuring that pupils have the very best quality teaching and learning.
Mrs Amy Holmes – SENDCo, Shadow SLT & Year 1 Lead
Mrs Holmes previously worked in Reception at Kilburn Grange School and has previous experience as a nursery teacher at an academy. This involved her being instrumental in the development of the Early Years setting. Amy is currently training to be the Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Leader at Kilburn Grange School.
Reception Team
Ms Sarah Storey – Meadow Class Teacher
Ms Storey has worked in Education for 15 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 Meri Cepele – 1:1 LSA Pasture Class
Miss Cepele is a freelance interpreter, specialising in Albanian but also speaks Italian and French. She joined Kilburn Grange as a volunteer and has recently become the Extended Schools Assistant, supervising pupils at Sunrise Breakfast Club, afterschool activity clubs and at Sunset After School Care.
Miss Debora Nunes – Pasture Class Teacher
Ms Nunes is a recent graduate 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, 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.”
Ms Sofia Zoupa – Reception Teaching Assistant
Ms Zoupa has worked in the education sector since 2014. She has worked in London, Canada and Greece. She has a degree in Pedagogy and in Heritage Language Teaching. Sofia joined Kilburn Grange School in October 2017 and she is excited to work in a nurturing, loving environment where children can learn and experience new challenges. “I look forward to continued success with an amazing team of teachers at KGS”.
Year 1 Team
Ms Dawn Aikman – Dale Class Teacher (Maternity Leave)
Ms Aikman is the Creative Curriculum Lead at the school has been teaching for six years, having spent her most recent teaching experience working at an international school in Dubai.
Ms Joanna Selwa – Dale Class Cover Teacher
Ms Selwa has previously studied the methodology of teaching and obtained a diploma in teacher training college, as well as the Jagiellonian University licentiate degree in linguistics in Cracow, Poland.
Ms Selwa has gained experience working as a general TA supporting KS1 and Reception children at a school in Wembley. Having the in-depth understanding of a curriculum and students’ needs, Ms Selwa has followed her passion for teaching working as a supply teacher in KS1 and Reception, and enjoys making learning an exciting adventure for children.
Ms Diana Modeste – Dale Class Teaching Assistant
Ms Modeste has worked in the Education Sector for 25 years and is very excited to be joining us at 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 will use these skills to help the individual requirements of the children as she starts her role at KGS.
Year 2 Team
Ms Nyanit Koang – Cliff Class Teacher
Ms. Nyanit Koang is the Year 2 teacher for Cliff Class. She has graduated from the Institute of Education, specialising in Early Years and KS1. She has experience working in specialist schools as well as inner city schools in London and New York, working with children with special educational needs and behavioural needs. Nyanit believes ‘every child is special and with the right working environment and care, can flourish into becoming the best person they can be.’
Ms Melissa Burrell – Cove Class Teacher
Melissa has been teaching for almost ten years within the borough of Brent. She has taught across both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 and is currently our Year 2 Teacher and Mathematics Subject Leader at Kilburn Grange School. Melissa has recently obtained a Masters in Social Justice and Education from the Institute of Education and is passionate about the British education system. She feels that education is paramount and that wider school life alongside the academic curriculum are is very important. Melissa believes in teaching lessons which are inclusive and challenging but also fun and engaging for all of the children in her care.
Miss Tracy Green – Cliff Class Teaching Assistant
Miss Green was a registered child minder who supported teenage mums and children who were cared for by their grandparents. Realising that she had a particular gift for supporting children, Tracy became a welfare assistant, then teaching assistant. With over 10 years of experience, Tracy decided that she would like a new challenge and has joined Ms Aikman in Lake Class where she supports the learning needs of all the pupils.
Ms Marie-Rose Kouassi – 1:1 LSA Cliff 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 2. 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.
Ms Nadin Mohmoud – Year 2 Teaching Assistant
Ms Mohmoud graduated from Middlesex University with Degree in English Language in 2016, one of her favourite topics. She loves being with the children and watching them develop and flourish at school. She is a team player and ready to help. She has travelled widely and worked abroad as a volunteer in a school in Egypt.
Ms Pooja Shah – 1:1 LSA, Cove Class
Pooja Shah has been working in education for over 10 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.
Ms Flavia Capoano – 1:1 LSA, Cove Class
Flavia Capoano has a degree in psychology and neuroscience and has been working with children with special needs, in particular with autism for over 6 years. She has worked in Italy and in the UK. She has experience with children from 4 -15 years old. Flavia has also worked in in many different environments such as home program, ABA schools, mainstream schools and within the community.
Ms Konstantina Giachnaki – Extended Schools & PE Specialist
Ms Giachnaki has always been passionate about sports and has played basketball for 12 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 more recently 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.
Administrative Team
Ms Alison Thomas – Office Manager
Ms Thomas has had six years 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 – Receptionist
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 the museum – her two favourite museums are the Natural History Museum and Science Museum.
Support Staff
Mrs Sarah Kelly – Family Support Worker
Ms Kelly has worked in a local primary school for the last five years, supporting teaching and learning. She has trained in Makaton and carried out speech and language sessions for pupils. Prior to that, she created a successful drop-in group in Camden which supported families and their children. She has a wealth of knowledge about support services in the local area and has strong links with local nursery schools. Mrs Kelly lives locally and is a mother of two children.
Ms Paulina Treanor – Therapist
Ms Treanor is an experienced Creative Arts Psychotherapist and fully accredited with 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 of working with children and adolescence who have experienced high levels of trauma and abuse.
School Cleaners
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”.
Mr Mohamed Philippe Lamara – Site Superviser
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.