Meet the Leighton Park Team

Luke Walters, Head

Luke is an experienced senior leader with over 20 years of expertise in the independent sector. He has a strong track record in academic excellence, pastoral leadership and values‑led education. Prior to joining Leighton Park as Head, Luke served as Deputy Head at Christ’s Hospital, where he played a key role in developing staff, supporting student development and strengthening academic standards. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership and boarding roles at Ardingly College and Marlborough College Malaysia, having begun his career at Marlborough College in Wiltshire. Luke read for his undergraduate degree at the University of Exeter before completing a Master’s in Shakespeare at Royal Holloway, under Kiernan Ryan’s guidance. His professional interests include pedagogy, staff development and the role of education in nurturing compassion and social responsibility. Luke is committed to a holistic approach to education, placing equal importance on intellectual ambiton, personal development and health and wellness. His leadership is rooted in Quaker values, with a strong belief in kindness, integrity and education as a force for good. Luke enjoys literature, exercise, spending time in the countryside with his family and dog.

Email

Eddie Falshaw - Senior Deputy Head

Dr Eddie Falshaw has been teaching History for over 25 years. A History graduate of Middlesex University, he completed his PGCE at the University of York before taking up residence at Rossall School as a History Master, Rugby Coach and Deputy Housemaster. Before joining Leighton Park, Eddie was Head of History at Hereford Cathedral School for eleven years, where he also ran the 1st XV, 1st VII and 1st XI. He has experience of examining at GCSE, A and EPQ level and has a lifelong thirst for learning, gaining an MA in History and completing his doctoral studies on the topic of technology in education at the University of Reading. He is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Fellow of the Institute of Boarding and has delivered speeches for conferences in the UK and China as well as acting as an ISI schools inspector over the last 8 years. A passionate Churchillian, traveller and sportsman, he lives on the Park with his wife and two daughters.

Email

Charlotte joins Leighton Park from Taunton School, where she is currently Assistant Head Academic, leading a successful whole-school focus on value-added progress. She brings a wealth of experience from senior academic roles across a number of leading independent schools, including Wells Cathedral School, Caterham School, and St Mary’s School, Ascot, where she began her career as a teacher of Physics.

"I’m looking forward to getting to know the community better and to building on the excellent work of Alex and the academic team: challenging and supporting Leighton Park students to achieve their remarkable potential, both academically and personally.”

Charlotte will be living on the Park with her husband, Jack and their two whippets.

Keith Eldridge has more than ten years’ experience in education finance and administration. He has an Economics degree from the University of Leicester and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young, working on audits of charities and commercial businesses. He then worked in London and Frankfurt with KPMG Corporate Finance providing advisory services to a wide range of businesses before joining London Stock Exchange plc as Corporate Finance Manager. Prior to Leighton Park, Keith was Bursar at St Andrew’s School in Pangbourne and Finance Director at John Madejski Academy. Keith lives in Goring with his wife and two children.

John Burnett, Director of External Relations and Admissions

John Burnett is a Chartered Marketer with over 18 years’ experience in education marketing. Prior to Leighton Park, John oversaw UCL’s recruitment of graduate and European students and also spent two years leading the university’s Digital Communications. John worked in Swaziland for two years as part of the Skillshare International contract with DFID, where he established a Fair Trade agro-processing business – creating rural livelihoods for people in some of the poorest parts of the country. John lives on the Park with his wife, three children and cat Smudge.

Sally Saunders, Senior Assistant Head - Community and Wellness 

Sally Saunders has over 22 years experience of working in Education. She gained a BA Hons in Economic and Social History from the University of Liverpool and a PGCE in History from the University of Reading. Sally has further qualifications Careers Education, Information and Guidance and is a qualified Careers Leader. She is particularly interested in supporting students with their future decisions and helping them to develop key aspects of their character to prepare them for adulthood. Sally began her teaching career at a school in Maidenhead before progressing to Head of Sixth Form and Assistant Head Teacher at an outstanding secondary school in Windsor, where she was in charge of the Windsor Teaching Alliance; responsible for the training and recruitment of new teachers. In addition, Sally was selected from over 400 applicants to represent the UK as part of the Fulbright Teaching Exchange Programme. This involved, exchanging jobs, cars and even homes with an American teacher from Oregon. Sally is still an active Fulbright Scholar Alumni and engages with the various aspects of this life changing programme. She lives locally with her sport loving husband and son.

Natasha Coccia, Senior Assistant Head (Co-Curricular and Partnerships)

Natasha is an experienced educational leader, accredited coach and strategic partnership specialist, with over twenty years' experience across both the state and independent education sectors. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin and a scholar of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, she holds a BA (Hons), MA, PGCE and NPQSL.

She spent twelve years working in inner London state schools, where she played a leading role in whole-school improvement, with particular expertise in academic enrichment, co-curricular education, pastoral systems and cross-sector partnerships. Prior to moving into independent education, Natasha also worked in Corporate Social Responsibility at UBS, leading programmes focused on social impact, community engagement and partnership development across East London.

A passionate advocate for holistic education, Natasha has extensive experience in teacher development and mentoring, supporting early career teachers and trainee teachers across a range of settings. She is also a qualified Educational Visits Coordinator and has led numerous international cultural, service and educational visits, including programmes in China, India and the United States.

Natasha is the South East Network Leader for #WomenEd and leads The Female Lead Society at Leighton Park School, empowering young women to develop confidence, leadership skills and a commitment to social change, winning the first Gold Schools Feminista Award in the UK. She serves as a school governor, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and member of the Reading Educational Partnerships Board. She has spoken at national and international conferences and appeared on podcasts discussing women in leadership, co-curricular education and school partnerships. Her work in developing meaningful partnerships between schools and communities has received national recognition.

Natasha currently serves as Chair of the Independent Schools Association Partnerships Forum, championing collaboration and social impact across the sector.

She lives on the Park with her two sons and their much-loved Cockapoo, Woody.

Jennifer Powlesland, Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning

Jenny Powlesland has been teaching for fifteen years. Brought up in Hong Kong, Jenny gained her undergraduate degree in Modern History and English at Oxford University, then worked with the British Council in south-east China and completed her PGCE at Oxford. Before joining Leighton Park in 2018, she spent fourteen years teaching in outstanding state schools in Surrey and Berkshire, as a Head of English and then a Senior Teacher, running programmes for teachers’ continuing professional development, improving the progress of disadvantaged pupils and raising the number of pupils attending Oxbridge. Jenny lives locally with her husband and two children.

Helen Taylor, Assistant Head - Director of Sixth Form

Helen Taylor has 25 years of teaching experience in a number of different schools: all girls, all boys, independent, state, day and boarding and even a free school. She gained an undergraduate degree in Zoology and Botany from the University of Reading before completing a PGCSE at Oxford University. She spent five years as Head of Biology at Leighton Park before an exciting two years as Vice Principal of a newly established free school. Helen has one daughter in the Sixth Form at Leighton Park and another at university having successfully completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme here.

Kees Luteijn, Assistant Head - Director of IB

Kees joined us in September 2024 having spent the rest of his career working in outstanding state boarding and grammar schools, most recently Reading School which was awarded State Secondary School of the Year – South East England in the Sunday Times Schools Guide 2024. He is a Geography Teacher by trade, achieving a First Class Master in Arts degree from Durham University, and is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. His previous roles include an SLT secondment for Cultural Sustainability, Sustainability Lead, Head of Department and mentoring ECTs and teacher apprentices. One of his career highlights was helping to develop a Host Programme to support Ukrainian children in Berkshire who were unable to find suitable schools. Kees has a real interest in character education and ensuring students receive a broad, balanced, yet rigorous education, which is one of the reasons he was attracted to working in an IB World School. He is currently studying for his National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership. Kees lives in Oxfordshire and enjoys watersports, often paddling on the river in his spare time.

Elaine Newall - Designated Safeguarding Lead

Elaine joined Leighton Park in June 2023 from another local school. Elaine has over 20 years of experience working with children and families in varying contexts. She has an undergraduate degree in Behaviour sciences and a Master of Social Work (MSW)/Diploma of Social Work from the University of Edinburgh.

Her professional training and extensive experience and knowledge are sector leading and a real asset to the School. Elaine is passionate about supporting children and knows that there can be challenges at home or at school that mean extra assistance and care may be needed. Elaine is compassionate and caring in her approach to any situation.

Elaine lives in Ascot with her husband and two children.

Becky Edwards - Director of Fryer & Head of Year 7 

I have been a teacher for nearly 20 years, after completing my BA in PE with QTS at Brighton University. I have had experience in teaching in a whole range of schools including state, independent, all girls, coeducational, day, boarding and international. Throughout my career I have taken on many different roles including Head of Girls' Games, Exams Officer, Head of Key Stage 4 and boarding Housemistress. I started at LP using my wealth of boarding experience the role of Housemistress of Reckitt House before becoming Director of Fryer in 2023.

Ellie Smales - Head of Year 9

Ellie joined Leighton Park in September 2020 and has embraced a wide range of roles across the school in that time, including Head of Rugby, Deputy Housemistress of School House and House Clerk, and is currently Head of Year 9. A Geography Teacher by trade, Ellie holds a joint honours degree in Human Factors Engineering and Geography from Loughborough University, before going on to complete her PGCE at the University of Reading. Her experience spans the state, independent and Pupil Referral Unit sectors, giving her a broad and grounded perspective on education. Ellie has a genuine passion for developing students as whole people and is a firm believer in compassionate challenge, inspiring and motivating young people to achieve their full potential by encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones. This commitment to holistic development sits at the heart of everything she does. Outside of school, Ellie can usually be found exploring Cornwall or Scotland, out on the water paddleboarding, or dusting off her rugby boots when she claims to have retired. She lives on the park with her partner Holly and their dog Reggie.

Sarah Owen - Head of Year 10

Sarah is a Teacher of Business at Leighton Park with a First Class Master's degree in Business and a background spanning two decades in consultancy. Having transitioned into teaching almost a decade ago, she brings valuable real-world experience to the classroom. She is passionate about helping students discover their own path and make the most of the opportunities available to them at Leighton Park.

Claire Gulliver - Head of Year 11

After a gap year working mentoring teenagers leaving the care system in Scotland I completed my BSc(hons) in Psychology at Brunel University undertaking placements in a behavioural and learning difficulties secondary school in London and carrying out a research project for a young people’s counselling service. I then undertook my PGCE at the Institute of Education at UCL before teaching in Hammersmith. Following this I taught at Reading college on a variety of programmes including Access to HE courses for adults, A level and BTEC courses in Psychology, Science and Health and Social Care as well as delivering a programme for 14-16 year olds from local schools to increase the range of education outcomes for them. I joined Leighton Park in 2014 and have been Head of Psychology and EPQ co-ordinator, as well as Assistant Head of Sixth Form for the last 5 years.

I live locally with my husband, mostly grown-up children and increasingly lazy/old dog, Carry, who is a regular at dogs in school day. I enjoy staff swim at school, walking the dog, supporting the youth work at my church and baking.

Helen Taylor has 25 years of teaching experience in a number of different schools: all girls, all boys, independent, state, day and boarding and even a free school. She gained an undergraduate degree in Zoology and Botany from the University of Reading before completing a PGCSE at Oxford University. She spent five years as Head of Biology at Leighton Park before an exciting two years as Vice Principal of a newly established free school. Helen has one daughter in the Sixth Form at Leighton Park and another at university having successfully completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme here.

Alex Leighton - Head of Boarding

Alex has over 20 years of experience in education in the independent sector, across two continents. He has four First Class Qualifications including PGCSE, Hons and an MA in English Literature. Owing to an early career in journalism, he has published extensively in the IT field whilst publishing academically in peer reviewed journals and Children's Literature conferences; he is a member of the Golden Key society. Recently, he has been working with the University of Alberta, Canada, peer reviewing for the International Research in Children's Literature (IRCL). Alex's background is international, having grown up in South Africa, before being a journalist in the Middle East, and then relocating permanently to the UK, first teaching in Canterbury. He has been working in boarding and the English department at Leighton Park for over 10 years. Alex has previously been Head of Department in both English and Computer Science, as well as the Leader of Learning Technology for LP and has been the English A-Level specialist since 2016. He has taught Language A and B HL and SL in the IB. From September 2026, he will hold several roles including DDSL, Housemaster of School House and Head of Boarding. A passionate gamer and boarding specialist, he lives in the boarding house with his family and two beautiful Ragdolls. 

Pam Carragher, Finance Governor

Pam is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and has broad experience in finance management across a number of sectors including telecoms, engineering and retail. She has worked for the last 14 years in management roles within education and is currently Head of Finance at St Piran’s School.

Pam is based in Reading, living close to the School, and is married with two children, the younger of whom is an Old Leightonian. While a parent at Leighton Park,  Pam acted as Treasurer to the PSC.

Eme Dean-Lewis, Chair of Governors

Eme is studying for a PhD at the University of Reading following completion of a Master’s in Applied Meteorology. She is researching Climate variability and societal responses in pre-Columbian South America, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. This lifelong-learning journey into climate science follows a 25 year career in the technology industry where she developed strategic alliance relationships for leading, global business-to-business corporations across a range of collaboration technologies. She has experience in the Education Sector including as Research Director for the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association where she focused on strategy and professional development. Eme holds a London Business School MBA and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.  She served as Treasurer of local women’s employment charity Smartworks Reading.

Eme and her husband, Tim, have two daughters and a son: all now Old Leightonians. During their time at Leighton Park, Eme was a founder member of the Leighton Park STEM Hub team and the PSC Book Group.

Lottie Dodwell-Williams (OL) (Q)

Lottie is a Quaker and an Old Leightonian. She holds a BA Biological Sciences from the University of Oxford, and an MSc Science Communication from Imperial College, London. Lottie works in the Museum and Heritage sector as an Interpretation Developer at the Natural History Museum, where she curates new exhibitions and galleries. Her most recent exhibitions for the Natural History Museum have opened in venues around the world, including: Dive in the Jurassic (Bahrain National Museum, 2019), Curiosities of the Natural World (La Musee de la Civilisation, Quebec 2019).

Previously she worked at the Science Museum and curated BepiColombo: Mission to Mercury (2018) and The Last Tsar: Blood and Revolution (2018).

James Gazet, SEND/Inclusion Governor

James was educated at St Paul’s School and Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he studied mathematics. He has been a teacher since 1990 and worked at Eton, Westminster and St Paul’s, where he is now the Deputy Head Academic. He is also Vice-Chair of the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust and Chair of the British Mathematics Olympiad Executive Committee. He is married with two children.

Alex Hitchens (OL), Health & Safety Governor

Alex Hitchens is an Old Leightonian, having attended Leighton Park from 2008 to 2015, in Fryer and then Reckitt House, and received the school’s Jorge Hortal Award. He studied Chinese and Philosophy at SOAS, University of London, including a year living and studying in Beijing. After working as a business analyst in the technology sector, he went on to complete an MBA at London Business School, with a focus on strategy, finance, and technology.

Alex is based in London and will shortly join Bain & Company as a consultant. He has also published and peer-reviewed research articles in leading academic journals.

In addition to his professional work, he serves on the Board for the UK’s Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS), supporting and advising independent school governing bodies across the UK.

Chris Houston (OL), Governor

Chris Houston attended Leighton Park between 1975 and 1980. After a gap year in Paris, he read Anglo Saxon, Norse & Celtic and then History at Cambridge University. On graduating from Cambridge he joined the project finance team at Schroders. In the late 1980s and 1990s he advised on the financing and privatisation of many major infrastructure projects in Europe, Asia and Latin America. During this time he spent seven years living in Asia (in Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur). More recently he advised on financings, restructurings and acquisitions in the infrastructure sector in the UK. Over his career he held senior positions at Schroders, Citigroup, Lexicon Partners and Evercore.

Chris is married with three children and lives near Newbury. He is also a Governor of Elstree School.

Naomi Iliff (Q), EDI Governor

Naomi is a graduate of Sidcot School, a Quaker school in Somerset. While at school, she became a Quaker. She went on to study Ancient History and Archaeology at Birmingham University. When her children were small she trained as a teacher of IT by working at local colleges of further education and Reading Prison. While working at Reading Prison, Naomi because increasingly interested in criminology. When an opportunity came up to take part in a Quaker introduced prisoner charity, Circles of Support and Accountability, that supported released prisoners in the community, she joined and was among the early volunteers. Naomi spent most of her working life in the IT industry and teaching. When she retired she went back to university to get an MSc in Attachment Theory. Now she spends her time supporting her Quaker Meeting, a member of Quakers in Criminal Justice group, still volunteering with Circles and teaching English to Refugees.

Bruce Johnson (Q), Vice-Chair of Governors

Bruce Johnson is a Quaker and an OL, whose time at LP gave him a springboard in music and drama that has since enriched his life in many ways.  Professionally, Bruce is an HR specialist who has spent the last 20 years working in Higher Education, both as a Lecturer and a Manager, while doing some consultancy work alongside this main career.  Most recently, Bruce has focussed more on his work in industry, setting up a training consultancy whose main mission is to help organisations improve performance by improving their people management practices.  Bruce is part of the core team, delivering Quaker Quest at Friends House in Euston every Monday night, where he regularly gives presentations on a variety topics to do with Quaker faith and practice.

Marion Mitchell - Governor

Marion was born and educated in Scotland. Since graduating she has worked and lived in London, Buckinghamshire and Yorkshire; finally settling in Warwickshire in 2015.

Marion began her career in the hospitality industry, working in operations and sales for a leading international hotel brand. She is a qualified and experienced Business and Economics lecturer, and particularly enjoyed teaching on the Warwick University Foundation Programme (WIFP). Marion was Director of Marketing at Ackworth School for 10 years and was responsible for improving domestic and international student recruitment and delivering the overall marketing strategy.

Outside work Marion is a keen walker, bell ringer and bridge player. She lives with her husband and has two grown up children (Ackworth Old Scholars), both of whom now work and live in London.

Juliet Smith (Q), Governor

Juliet was born a Quaker in Brighton and raised in a theatrical family. She built a career in the educational world, working in both state and independent schools in senior management roles. For six exhilarating years she served as Deputy Head at Leighton Park, steering the school through to full co-education and thereafter she went on to serve as an ISI inspector and advise other HMC schools on coeducational matters, as well as school leadership. She has chaired a range of school boards and more recently completed eight years chairing Brighton’s Martlets Hospice.

Juliet served as a magistrate for 30 years and is currently President of the newly formed Sussex Magistrates’ Association. She was High Sheriff of East Sussex from 2015 to 2016, is currently a Deputy Lieutenant and Vice-President of Ditchling Royal British Legion, as well as  Patron of Children With Cancer Fund.

Leon Spence (Q), Governor

Leon has an MBA and a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business and Modern Languages from Aston University. He has over 15 years of experience in helping companies achieve digital and process automation transformation and IT change at various multinational companies in the UK and Europe and currently works as a Transformation Consultant.

He’s a lifelong Quaker and an active member of Reading Quaker Meeting and has a passion for developing and learning from the young Quaker community.

Gwenan Sykes (Q), Governor

Gwenan is a member of Ackworth Local Quaker Meeting and a trustee of Central Yorkshire Area Meeting. For many years Gwenan was school doctor at Ackworth School. Gwenan holds a BA(Hons.) in Humanities with Classics from the Open University and MBChB from Sheffield University as well as Postgraduate Certificates in Primary Care Education and Quaker Studies.

Gwenan is a retired GP and GP trainer. She sings in a choir, plays tuned percussion moderately badly in a brass band and is obsessed with most activities involving yarn and thread.

Matt Winkless (OL) (Q), Safeguarding Governor

Matt is a Quaker and Old Leightonian. He attended Leighton Park between 2009 and 2011. He studied Philosophy at King’s College London, before working for the NHS. In 2015, Matt studied a two year law degree at the University of Birmingham and is now training to be a barrister. Matt also volunteers with young Quakers at a week long residential event each summer, an event at which he was a participant as a young person.

Nick Wood (OL), Sports Governor

Nick attended Leighton Park as a Boarder between 1988 and 1995, in Fryer and then School House. After leaving school, Nick read European Languages and Law in Bristol (spending a year living and working in Paris) before finishing his studies at the College of Law in Guildford.

Nick is now a London-based Partner in global law firm CMS specialising in commercial and real estate litigation. Nick has handled domestic and international disputes across the globe, handling cases in the US, the Turks & Caicos Islands, Ireland and South Africa. Nick has been recognised by the legal directories as a leader in his field. Nick is also the global relationship partner for one of the biggest international hotel brands.

Outside work, Nick continues his passion for sport (developed whilst at Leighton Park) and is a keen triathlete. Nick lives in Hampshire with his wife and two children.