Our Staff

SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Colin Raraty - Headteacher

Mr Raraty was appointed headteacher in April 2014 having previously taught in Blackmore and Epping. He lives in Harlow where he is busy renovating his house. He likes long walks, drawing and listening to music. His responsibilities include staff development, assessment and child protection.

Recently, Mr Raraty was on secondment at Flitch Green Academy to provide support during the transition period between Principals.

Mr Raraty holds an NPQH and has recently completed the Leaders for Impact qualification run by the Royal Opera House. He was also nominated for Essex Headteacher of the Year 2022

 

Darryl Crawley - Deputy Headteacher

Mr Crawley joined Rodings in September 2016 as our Deputy Headteacher, and has overall responsibility for teaching & learning and our behaviour policy. This year he is teaching in Year 6. Before teaching Mr Crawley worked as an Artistic Director of a large youth theatre company and has a BA in Drama.

Since joining Rodings Primary Mr Crawley has completed his NPQH and has recently started a two-year programme in order to become a Teacher Education Fellow

In his spare time he enjoys going out with his two sons, going on long walks with his dog Albus, cooking, reading, drinking coffee and directing theatre productions. 

Rob Jinkerson - Lead Teacher

Mr Jinkerson joined Rodings in September 2019 having previously taught in Hertfordshire and Bracknell after completing his BAEd in 2015. Mr Jinkerson currently teaches year 6 and leads History and Geography as well as co-leading on Curriculum following on from his NPQSL in 2022. At school, his favourite subjects to teach are English and Music and he also enjoys leading singing assemblies. When he's not teaching, Mr Jinkerson juggles tidying up after his twin toddlers and umpiring hockey games.

Kate Oakley - Lead Teacher

Mrs Oakley joined the school in 2008 and currently teaches in Year 3. She is a member of SLT and is responsible for Wellbeing. She has just finished studying for a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology. Mrs Oakley also leads Science and Music. 

In her spare time, Mrs Oakley loves reading and going for long walks in the countryside or at the beach. She also enjoys listening to music and podcasts. 

 

 

Hannah Raban - Lead Teacher

Miss Raban joined the Rodings team in September 2014 and is teaching in Year 2. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and listening to and playing music. She loves playing the clarinet with the Central Band of the Royal British Legion - two of the perks are wearing the brilliant uniform and getting to perform on centre court at the Wimbledon Finals each year!

Miss Raban is responsible for English at Rodings and running our Singing Squad choir in KS2 and recently gained her NPQML and Masters in Education.

Miss Raban is currently on maternity leave. 

Annabel Brown - SENDCo 

Mrs B is our SENDCo and joined our school in 2015, having completed her PGCE at Cambridge University. Before this, she studied an English Literature degree and continues to enjoy reading. Outside of school, she likes to spend time with her family, friends and her very cute cavapoo, Winnie.

 

 

Andrea Paget - School Business Manager

Mrs Paget joined Rodings in May 2017 and is an experienced School Business Manager.  She fell in love with Rodings as soon as she came to visit before her initial interview and believes strongly in the school ethos and values and ensuring that the School Office reflects these to all our visitors.

Outside of work, Mrs Paget has two grown up sons and two beautiful granddaughters.  She enjoys cooking, reading and family time.

 

TEACHING TEAM

Emma Beard - Reception Class Teacher

Miss Beard joined Rodings Primary school in September 2023 after beginning her teaching career in Basildon.

Before teaching, Miss Beard worked as an actress after graduating from East 15 Acting School. Her 10-year career consisted of putting on silly costumes and making people laugh! She especially enjoyed doing this with the Natural Theatre Company as they gave her the opportunity to perform in China, Venice and the Maldives, as well as in England. Miss Beard spent many years performing and living in Italy where she learnt to speak some Italian and discovered a love of Arancia Rossa.

When she’s not teaching, Miss Beard loves reading and dancing. Her favourite things in the world are books, cats and pizza!

Megan Birch - Year One Class Teacher

Miss Birch joined Rodings in September 2022 and is one of our Year 1 teachers. Previously, she studied a Primary Education Degree with The Open University and has recently completed her PGCE at ARU in Chelmsford. Miss Birch enjoys reading, going for long walks and getting messy being creative! 

Lucy Parker - Year One Class Teacher

Miss Parker joined Rodings Primary School in September 2020 and is currently teaching in Year 1. Miss Parker is responsible for Phonics, Early Reading and Modern Foreign Languages (MFL).

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family. You will frequently see her visiting the local cinema to catch the latest film or travelling to the West End to see a musical. Miss Parker loves to sing and dance and may be seen in her classroom having a boogie with the children!

Emily Rigby - Year Two Class Teacher

Mrs Rigby grew up in South London, and then went to Exeter University, where she studied Psychology.  Having done her Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Oxford Brookes, Mrs Rigby started teaching in Surrey, followed by 12 years in London. She joined Rodings Primary School in 2012 and currently teaches Year 2. 

Mrs Rigby now lives in Saffron Walden with her family and their cockapoo, Mabel.  She loves to swim, read, cook, go for country walks with....and she LOVES to eat cheese

Rachel Deamer - Year Three Class Teacher

Mrs Deamer has been a member of the Rodings family since 2002. This year she is working with Year 3 and the EYFS. She coordinates RE and works with the School Parliament.  At home, she looks after her twin daughters and twin cats. In her spare time Mrs Deamer loves to read, cook and walk.

Louise Yiu - Year Three Class Teacher

Miss Yiu joined Rodings Primary in February 2017 as an LSA. Recently, she has completed her teacher training year having gained her BA in Primary Education Studies. In her free time, she enjoys camping, walking, and spending time with her family. 

Kate Oakley - Year Four Class Teacher

Mrs Oakley joined the school in 2008 and currently teaches in Year 4. She is a member of SLT and is responsible for Wellbeing. She has just finished studying for a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology. Mrs Oakley also leads Science and Music. 

In her spare time, Mrs Oakley loves reading and going for long walks in the countryside or at the beach. She also enjoys listening to music and podcasts.

Hannah Raban - Year Four Class Teacher

Miss Raban joined the Rodings team in September 2014 and is teaching in Year 3. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and listening to and playing music. She loves playing the clarinet with the Central Band of the Royal British Legion - two of the perks are wearing the brilliant uniform and getting to perform on centre court at the Wimbledon Finals each year!

Miss Raban is responsible for English at Rodings and running our Singing Squad choir in KS2 and recently gained her NPQML and Masters in Education.

Rob Jinkerson - Year Five Class Teacher

Mr Jinkerson joined Rodings in September 2019 having previously taught in Hertfordshire and Bracknell after completing his BAEd in 2015. Mr Jinkerson currently teaches year 5 and leads History and Geography as well as co-leading on Curriculum following on from his NPQSL in 2022. At school, his favourite subjects to teach are English and Music and he also enjoys leading singing assemblies. When he's not teaching, Mr Jinkerson juggles tidying up after his twin toddlers and umpiring hockey games.

 

Darryl Crawley - Year Six Class Teacher 

Mr Crawley joined Rodings in September 2016 as our Deputy Headteacher, and has overall responsibility for teaching & learning and our behaviour policy. This year he is teaching in Year 6. Before teaching Mr Crawley worked as an Artistic Director of a large youth theatre company and has a BA in Drama.

Since joining Rodings Primary Mr Crawley has completed his NPQH and has recently started a two-year programme in order to become a Teacher Education Fellow

In his spare time he enjoys going out with his two sons, going on long walks with his dog Albus, cooking, reading, drinking coffee and directing theatre productions. 

Alison Hutley - Year Six Class Teacher

Mrs Hutley joined Rodings in 2004, having completed a Masters degree in History at Durham and a PGCE at the University of Cambridge. During her time at Rodings, she has taught across all year groups and been part of the senior leadership team. Mrs Hutley left Rodings in 2011 to have a family and has since worked at the school part-time doing 1:1 tuition, delivering interventions and providing cover.

This year, Mrs Hutley is teaching in Year 6, and working alongside Miss Braithwaite, who was once in her class! (This makes her feel very old!) At home, Mrs Hutley loves spending time with her family. She has three primary-aged children, so life is always busy

Becki Wattis - Year Six Class Teacher

Miss Wattis is one of our Year 6 teachers. She completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Education at the University of Cambridge and taught for 3 years in Cambridge before joining the Rodings team in September 2020. Miss Wattis is responsible for PSHE and helps to run the Rights Respecting Schools action group.

In her spare time, Miss Wattis loves to perform. She holds a degree in drama and is currently rehearsing for a musical with her local amateur dramatics society. Miss Wattis often brings drama activities into her teaching and is looking forward to starting up a Rodings drama club this year.

Molly Mckernan - Trainee Class Teacher

Miss Mckernan joined Rodings Primary School last November as an LSA. This year she is completing her teacher training with the Kookaburras class. Before coming to Rodings Miss Mckernan worked for Disney Cruise Line for 4.5 years as a performer. During her time with Disney Miss Mckernan travelled to some amazing places around the world. Her favourites include Hawaii and Alaska.

Miss Mckernan has a BA in Drama and still regularly works at her local performing arts school, stage managing their shows. Her favourite Disney movie is Tarzan, which she feels is a highly underrated classic. She is an avid film watcher, and from her time studying film studies prides herself on always being able to successfully identify the guilty party in any TV murder mystery drama. 

Miss Mckernan lives in Bishops Stortford and spends her time shopping, hanging out with her nephews and watching the local rugby team play.

Charlotte Smith - Trainee Class Teacher

Miss Smith has just completed her degree in Psychology with Criminology at Nottingham Trent University and is now completing a SCITT. During her free time she enjoys participating in team sports, specifically hockey and netball. She also enjoys reading and going on long walks with her dog Lola.

CENTRAL EDUCATION SUPPORT TEAM

Debra Coates-Reynolds - Cover Class Teacher

Mrs Coates-Reynolds has had a varied career (she started as a window dresser!) and has taught for many years. She is passionate about the arts and enjoys using creativity across the curriculum. She has an MA in Art and Design education and has worked with the London International Festival of
Theatre as well as leading on Teaching Artist Partnership projects.

She will be working with Year 4 and Year 5 as well as coordinating creative projects, providing 1:1 tuition and intervention activities.

Outside of school Mrs Coates-Reynolds teaches art classes and is a professional face painter. In her spare time (ha ha) she enjoys painting, crochet, singing, gardening and spending time with her family.

Judy Lewin - SEND Support

Mrs Lewin joined Rodings Primary School in 2019 as a qualified swimming teacher. In 2022 she completed her Elklan speech and language course and is now part of the SEN support team at Rodings. When not at School Mrs Lewin still regularly teaches swimming. In her spare time Mrs Lewin loves running with her lively rescue dog Zeus and going to music events.

Sharon Holmes - High Learning Teaching Assistant

Mrs Holmes has worked at Rodings since 2006 and over the years has worked 1:1 and in most year groups. She has a passion for art and before Rodings had a career as a graphic designer. She enjoys getting arty with all of the classes and in her spare time loves oil painting.

Claire Allen - Learning Support Assistant

Miss Allen joined Rodings Primary School in 2017 and currently works in our Year 5 class. An ex-Rodings pupil herself her son now attends the school and she loves all things Harry Potter. 

Level 3 Supporting Learning and Teaching in Schools

Daisy Braithwaite - Learning Support Assistant

Miss Braithwaite is an ex-pupil who joined us as a Learning Support Assistant in September 2021 and currently works with children in Key Stage 2. She regularly takes part in cheerleading classes and competitions. Miss Braithwaite makes an excellent cup of tea.

Susan Cook - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Cook has worked at Rodings since 2009 when she worked as a 1:1. Most recently she has supported classes as a Teaching Assistant.  Mrs Cook loves singing and enjoys helping with the school’s Singing Squad. She has two grown up daughters who both attended Rodings Primary School. Outside of school, she loves to spend time with her family.  She also enjoys gardening, baking cakes, country walks and going to musicals.

Sian Crouchman - Learning Support Assistant

Miss Crouchman joined Rodings in 2014. In her spare time she enjoys baking, reading and watching cricket.

Karen Fuller - Learning Support Assistant

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Kate George - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs George joined Rodings in September 2022 as a class LSA, having previously worked as a 1:1 and class LSA at Hatfield Heath. Before that she ran children's craft sessions, taught English in Guatemala, worked in dementia care and volunteered with Rainbows and Forest School, amongst other things. 

She has recently gained her Higher Level Teaching Assistant qualification.

She has 3 children, 4 chickens, 1 tortoise, 1 cat and a dove called Dave.

In her spare time, Mrs George likes adventures, jazz, crochet, trees and Friday night discos.

Fiona Heywood - Learning Support Assistant

Fiona Heywood has worked at Rodings for many years and both her children attended this school. She taught in Cambridge for several years before having Andrew and Rebecca. She loves watching sport and is an avid supporter of Tottenham Hotspurs.

Sam Kilpatrick - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Kilpatrick grew up in the East Midlands and moved to Chelmsford in 2001. She has previously worked as an LSA in two local primary schools and recently passed her City and Guilds Level 3 Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.

She has three children (two sons in Secondary School and a daughter in KS2) and enjoys reading, walking and spending time with her family.

Maria Parker - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Parker has been at Rodings since 2014 and enjoys working with the lovely children, especially as a Read, Write Inc tutor. She loves nature and animals and apart from her two sons has three chickens, two guinea pigs and a dog who looks like a teddy bear! In her spare time Mrs Parker likes arts and crafts, boxercise and growing vegetables. Her favourite food is chocolate!

Sharon Partridge - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Partridge has worked at Rodings since 2008 as an LSA, having held various support positions in different year groups. She is currently in Year 6. She is a trained Read, Write, Inc 1:1 tutor and has recently obtained an NVQ level 3 qualification in Speech and Language Support. She also has an NVQ Level 3 in Childcare and education. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially Mutley, her westie.

Megan Pigott - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Pigott joined Rodings in 2022, and she absolutely loves working with the children in Goslings. She has two amazing children and one grumpy bulldog called Vinnie. In her spare time she loves going on adventures with her family and making memories.

Debbie Simpkins - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Simpkins has worked at Rodings since 2001, mostly in KS1 and Early Years. She is a Forest Schools leader and looks after the library at school. Mrs Simpkins has three grown up children all of whom attended Rodings. In her spare time she loves reading, cooking and walking and is a member of the local quiz team. 

Elaine Tunnard - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Tunnard lives in Fyfield and is married with two sons. In her free time she likes to ice skate and spend time on her boat. 

Julie Wade - Learning Support Assistant

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Rebecca Whitbread - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Whitbread joined our team in 2022 and is currently working in our Hummingbirds class. A familiar face around Rodings having worked at the Breakfast and After School Club for the past four years. She loves attending boxing and yoga classes in her spare time and watching her favourite football team, Spurs with her son who is an ex-Rodings pupil.

Emma Wiseman - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Wiseman lives in Little Canfield and has spent the past 6 years working in local primary schools as a 1:1 LSA and Class LSA. She previously had a long career in the fashion magazine industry and continues to have a love for media and fashion. Mrs Wiseman has two teenage children and enjoys spending time with her family and miniature schnauzer, Geoff.

Heidi Wood - Learning Support Assistant

Mrs Wood joined our team in 2022 and is currently working in Parrots class. An experienced LSA, having worked at her previous school for 15 years. She has a Skillsfirst Level 2 Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools. Mrs Wood has two grown up sons. Outside of school, she loves to spend time with her family and dog. She also enjoys gardening, shopping, socialising and going to musicals

Jade Wright - Learning Support Assistant

Miss Wright joined Rodings in September 2022 and is an LSA in one of the Reception classes. She previously studied a Primary Education degree at the University of Greenwich and gained experience working in a special needs school and a Montessori nursery school. She recently completed a children’s mental health course. She loves spending time with her family, getting creative and going on adventurous days out. 

 

Miss Wright is currently on maternity leave

SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF

Rob Partridge - Site Manager

Mr Partridge joined Rodings Primary in September 2023 following a long career in a large Telecommunications company. He is a keen cyclist and also enjoys motorcycling and fishing, as well as spending time with family and friends. His son Oliver attended Rodings Primary and has recently graduated from university.

Sarah Wardle - Senior Admin Assistant

Ms Wardle has worked at Rodings since 2015, firstly as a MDA. Since February 2016, she has worked in various year groups across the school, in different roles, but this year is working as an LSA in Year 3. Ms Wardle has two children Emily who is studying at University and James who still attends Manningtree High School. When Ms Wardle has spare time she likes listening to music and gardening.

Debbie French - Admin Assistant

Ms French joined Rodings in 2023. She has worked in administration since leaving school, which she claims was quite a while ago! Ms French has 3 children and many pets: 2 cats, 1 dog and 2 chickens. She likes going to the theatre, listening to music and spending time with her family and friends.

Lisa Scott - Catering Manager

Mrs Scott joined Rodings in 2010 as a catering assistant. She has two grown up daughters. Both Mrs Scott & her youngest daughter attended Rodings. In her spare time she loves making vinyl gifts & spending time with her family.

Kate Warner - Catering Assistant

Miss Warner joined Rodings Primary in 2010. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with friends and family, listening to music, watching Netflix and reading books. 

Emma Riches - Catering Assistant

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Albus - School Happiness Dog

Mr Albus joined Rodings Primary School in March 2019 and is our school reading dog. Albus lives with Mr Crawley and he loves to visit the school and read stories with the children and help them with their work. In his spare time he enjoys attending his agility classes, going for long walks in the woods and sleeping. He is also partial to eating snacks.