Who's Who
Senior Team
Headteacher
Mrs V Schaefer
Responsibilities include: School vision and strategic direction, School self-evaluation and improvement planning, Admissions, Human Resources and appointments, Accounting Officer
Deputy Headteachers
Mr A Sinfield
Responsibilities include: Curriculum Design KS3, 4 & 5, Staff leadership development, Literacy and numeracy development, Year 8/9 Options, Timetable and staffing, Governor Visits.
Mrs N Steadman
Responsibilities include: Pastoral Development and Behaviour Lead, Rewards and recognition, Student Leadership development, Alternative Educational Provision, Assemblies.
Assistant Headteachers
Mr D Pearson
Responsibilities include: KS4 Raising Standards Leader - student interventions & outcomes.
Mr R Tester
Responsibilities include: KS5 Raising Standards Leader - curriculum, interventions & outcomes, KS5 study programmes, Vocational qualifications, Exams.
Associate Assistant Headteachers
Mrs A Sharma (Designated Safeguarding Lead)
Responsibilities include: Designated Child Protection Officer, Safeguarding, Attendance and Punctuality, Looked After Children, Anti-Bullying, Racism and HSB
Mr J Howell (Behaviour and Inclusion Manager)
Responsibilities include: Behaviour and investigations, Inclusion, Detentions.
Mr C Sturdy (Pupil Premium & Careers)
Responsibilities include: Pupil Premium Lead, CEIAG provision, School website compliance.
Mr L Taylor (KS3 RSL)
Responsibilities include: KS3 (Yr 7-9) teaching groups, pupil interventions and outcomes, Yr6/7 transition.
Members of the Senior Leadership Team
Miss V Hunt (SENCo)
Head of SEN Department. Responsibilities include: SEN provision, intervention and outcomes for pupils who have additional needs. Reading provision and outcomes.
You can contact our SENCo, via admin@westhatch.net
Mr C Hansen (Director of Finance & Operations)
Responsibilities include: Financial/Budget management and compliance, Lettings and Asset Management, School Operations.
Mrs N Gill (Associate Senior Leader)
Responsibility: Initial Teacher Training.
Pastoral Team
Heads of Year:
| Head of Year 7: | Mr G Blain |
|---|---|
| Head of Year 8: | Mr J Limon |
| Head of Year 9: | Ms S Fraser |
| Head of Year 10: | Mrs C Reid |
| Head of Year 11: | Mr J Orton |
| Head of Sixth Form (Yr 12 & Yr 13): | Mr S Windsor |
| Deputy Head of Sixth Form (Yr 12 & Yr 13): | Mr J Glass |
Pastoral Team: |
|
| Designated Safeguarding Lead: | Mrs A Sharma |
| Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: | Ms M Bolashodun |
| Behaviour Manager: | Mr J Howell |
| Pastoral/Behaviour Lead: | Mrs A George |
| Pastoral/Behaviour Lead: | Mrs H Kahlon |
| Pastoral/Behaviour Lead: | Mrs M Titus |
| Attendance & Family Support Officer: | Miss C O'Dwyer |
| School Counsellor: | Mr M Cleere |
Heads of House: |
|
| Director of Houses: | Mrs M Fell |
| Head of Austen House: | Mrs J Parmar |
| Head of Brunel House: | Miss P Clements |
| Head of Fiennes House: | Ms M Lord |
| Head of Newton House: | Miss R Howarth |
| Head of Roddick House: | Mr J Zohrabi-Redwood & Miss S Duddridge |
Department Leaders
| Head of CEIAG: | Mr G Towsey |
|---|---|
| Head of English: | Mrs N Gill |
| Head of Maths: | Mr S Hussain |
| Head of Science: | Mr G Hikel |
| Head of Art: | Miss S Cowie |
| Head of Business & Economics: | Mr E Korboe |
| Head of Computer Science: | Mr C Sturdy |
| Head of Dance: | Miss P Judge |
| Head of Design & Technology (RM, PD, Food & Textiles) |
Mr L Taylor |
| Head of Drama: | Miss C Kay |
| Head of Geography: | Miss R Howarth & Mr G Heal |
| Head of History: | Mrs D Sterlini |
| Head of Languages: | Mrs J Marks |
| Head of Media: | Mrs A Victor |
| Head of Music: | Ms M Lord |
| Head of PE: | Mr A D'Silva |
| Head of RSHEC: | Miss L Elliot |
| Head of Social Sciences: | Miss A Omar |
| Head of RS: | Mr G Blain / Mr S Windsor |
The Governing Body and Members of the Academy
Please click here to see our school details on the Department of Education’s Get Information About Schools:
To contact the Chair of Governors please visit the home page and select Contact Us and select Clerk to Governors on the drop down box.
Correct as at August 2025
Mr Adrian Harris, Chair Co-opted Governor
Two sons through the school.Worked as Assistant Director, Financial Management, at the University of East London. Chair of the Governing Body and Staffing & Salaries and a member of the Finance & Premises Committee, and Audit and Risk Committee.
Mr Justin van Wijngaarden, Vice Chair, Parent Governor
Became a Governor in June 2014 and his three children have attended the school with his youngest son now in the Sixth Form. A Chartered Accountant working as a Chief Operating Officer in the City at a financial services company and serves as non-executive chair of the board of AQA Education.
Miss Nancy Lycett, Co-opted Governor
Local Company Director. Former teacher and Chartered Surveyor. Interested in the interface between education and business. Member of the Staffing and Salaries Committee.
Mr Stephen Phillips, Member Appointed Governor
Past parent of the school. Has served as a Governor of West Hatch for over 25 years. Retired as a director of a menswear company. Chair of Redbridge and Havering Independent Custody Visitors Panel (part of The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime). Member of Admissions Committee and Finance & Premises and Audit and Risk Committees.
Mr Matt Lopez-Dias, Parent Governor
A former pupil from 1981 to 1987 and father of three. His youngest daughter and son are currently at the school. He is a Website Developer & Engineer and a Film & TV Grip. Appointed as a Governor in February 2015 and is a member of the Strategic Board.
Mrs Harpreet Kaur Kahlon, Staff Governor (Teaching Staff)
Joined West Hatch in 2013 as a cover teacher and is now part of the pastoral team, as Head of Seclusion. Her daughter attends the school.
Mrs Victoria Schaefer, Headteacher
Has been Headteacher since September 2024. Had been Deputy Head for the past three years, having been on the Senior Leadership Team at the school since 2014.
Mrs Stephanie Field, Member Appointed Governor
A former French teacher at the school for thirty years and was a Head of Year for seventeen years. She also assisted the MFL Department with Year 11 intervention. She is our Safeguarding Link Governor and is a member of the Admissions Committee and Strategic Board.
Mr Kulvarn Atwal, Parent Governor
Has worked in education for 20 year and is currently Head Teacher at Highlands Primary School. Completed his Doctorate in Education in 2016 with a thesis that considered factors which impact on teacher engagement in professional learning activities in schools, with a particular focus on action research. Has three children at West hatch.
Mrs Rochelle De Friend, Member Appointed Governor
Joined as a Governor in November 2019 and Chairs the Finance and Premises Committee. She has over 35 years experience in financial services, currently serving as a Chief Operating Officer for a Digital Securities Exchange.
Mrs Jeannine Lester, Member Appointed Governor
Joined the Governing Body in December 2021. Jeannine has been a Primary School Teacher for 20 years and is interested in links between the primary and secondary sectors in particular teaching, learning and curriculum.
Mrs Janine Salmon, Member Appointed Governor
Joined the Governing Body in July 2023. Janine is an ex-pupil of the school and works part-time for a local charity. She is also a qualities research recruiter and forms focus groups for different brands.
Mr John Cowen, Member Appointed Governor
Joined the Governing Body in March 2024. He worked at West Hatch for 27 years and retired from the role of Assistant Headteacher in 2014. He now sits as a Magistrate Judge at the Family and Adult Courts. He is a member of the Finance and Premises and Audit and Risk Committee.
- All Governors are appointed for a four year term of office.
- Parents are notified of the election procedures when a vacancy arises for Parent Governors.
- The Clerk to the Governors is appointed by the Governors.
- Letters to the Chair and the Clerk can be sent via the School
You can find out more about the Governing Body by clicking here.
The Members of West Hatch Academy Trust are;
Mr John Haley
Mr Adrian Harris
Mrs Sheila Jones
Mrs Nancy Lycett
Mr Justin van Wijngaarden
Mrs Julie Pearce Mr Suhail Lodhi
To contact the members, please email the Company Secretary, Louise Chittock on lchittock@westhatch.net