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The Charter School

East Dulwich

Our School Leadership

Alison Harbottle - Headteacher

Alison joined as the Head of School of The Charter School East Dulwich in September 2021, and was appointed as Headteacher in September 2022.

Prior to joining The Charter School East Dulwich, Alison was Senior Trust Lead at Aldridge Education, a Multi-Academy Trust with schools across London, Brighton and the North West of England. Supporting Principals with school improvement, overseeing the MAT-wide work of the subject Trust Leads and also acting as Mathematics Lead for the South, enabled Alison to develop a broad range of skills in effective educational leadership. 

Working as Assistant Headteacher and then Deputy Headteacher in Lewisham for five years, Alison cites the experience of journeying with staff, students and the community to a culture of high expectations, academic strength and inclusion for all, as core to her understanding and drive for excellence in schools.

Alison gained her degree in Mathematics and Teacher Training PGCE at Newcastle University. Living locally and having taught at The Charter School North Dulwich for seven years in her early career, Alison is enthusiastic about her work in The Charter Schools Educational Trust and bringing what she has learnt back to the community.


Nathaniel Wilson - Deputy Headteacher, Academic

Nathaniel Wilson is the Deputy Headteacher of
The Charter School East Dulwich. He has held this position since September 2021. He leads the academic senior leadership team, overseeing teaching and learning and student outcomes across the school.

Initially a Chemistry specialist, Nathaniel is passionate about Science and attaining exceptional outcomes for the students he teaches. He has previous experience as Director of Science where students achieved results that ranked in the top 10% of the country. Nathaniel believes that all children can succeed, and is passionate about supporting, nurturing and encouraging students to reach their full potential. 

Nathaniel holds degrees from Kingston University, the UCL Institute of Education and is currently completing a Master's degree in Education Leadership with the National College of Education, University of Buckingham. Outside work, Nathaniel has a strong interest in sports and has previously coached and played American Football. 


Maria Chalcraft - Deputy Headteacher, Pastoral

Maria Chalcraft is Deputy Headteacher of The Charter School East Dulwich. She was promoted in September 2023 following two years as our Assistant Headteacher for Key Stage 4. Maria leads the pastoral senior leadership team, overseeing student behaviour, culture and personal development across the school.

Maria has been a member of The Charter School Trust since 2012. She joined The Charter School North Dulwich as a PE teacher and has since held responsibilities such as Director of Sports and Key Curriculum Leader of the Creative Performing Arts.

In all of these roles, Maria contributed to the success of The Charter School North Dulwich, which is now one of the highest achieving inclusive state schools in the country, and the best performing state school in Southwark. Maria has previously taught in a range of schools across London and in an international school in Bangkok.  

Maria is currently studying an MA in Education: Culture, Language and Identity and is an Evidence Lead in Education for the Charles Dickens Research School, where she uses evidence-informed research to support other colleagues and schools. Maria is a keen sports woman who plays football, takes part in local park runs, triathlons and is a keen cyclist.


 

Florence Anderson - Assistant Headteacher, Personal Development (Pastoral Senior Team)

Florence Anderson is the Assistant Headteacher responsible for Personal Development. She oversees the Careers Department, Sustainability project, PSHE Curriculum, the Duke of Edinburgh Programme and student enrichment.

Florence has a background in developing pastoral education, having led our PSHE programme, as Head of Year at a school in Newham and as Programme Leader for the National Citizenship Service. Before joining teaching, she volunteered for a range of environmental and human rights organisations, including War Child and organisations in China and Argentina. She has coordinated European projects for the British Council.

Florence is passionate about ensuring there is a broad extra-curricular offer and that there is equal access to trips and opportunities. She wants students to thrive during their school experience and beyond, equipping them with the skills to make decisions in times of risk and as they make further educational and career choices. She is passionate about students volunteering and contributing to their local communities as well as, more widely, as global citizens.

In her spare time, Florence takes every opportunity to travel and develop her Mandarin skills. She spends most of her weekends in bookshops and coffee shops with her daughter.


Carolyn Ankrah - Assistant Headteacher,
Inclusion (Pastoral Senior Team)

Carolyn joined The Charter Trust in September 2022. She has worked in education for several years, including being a Year Leader and managing an exclusion unit. Carolyn joins us from Sutton Virtual School for Children Looked After where she advocated for care-experienced young people in educational settings and set up an enrichment programme so that learning could extend beyond the classroom.

Carolyn holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Brunel University. She is a keen dancer and an avid reader.


Sophie Graham - Assistant Headteacher, Student Culture
(Pastoral Senior Team)

Sophie joined the school in September 2022 and has previously worked in a number of schools across London. Prior to joining TCSED Sophie worked at Platanos College as an Assistant Headteacher. As part of this role, she led the Humanities faculty, leading teaching and learning across the school and working alongside the KS4 pastoral team. She contributed to a sustained improvement in exam success in the school. Sophie is passionate about teaching and learning and supporting teachers to deliver engaging and challenging lessons to best support students to reach their full potential.

Sophie has degrees from the University of Manchester and the UCL Institute of Education and has completed a Masters in Education Policy. Sophie enjoys yoga and cycling and is part of a choir in South London.


Jennifer Kempster - Assistant Headteacher,
Professional Development (Academic Senior Team)

Jennifer joined the school in September 2018 but has been a member of The Charter Schools family since 2004. She joined The Charter School North Dulwich as a newly-qualified teacher and over the next decade held positions of responsibility including Head of Geography, Head of Humanities and Assistant Headteacher for Teaching and Learning. In all of these roles she contributed directly to outstanding examination success for successive generations of students, both at GCSE and A level. 

Jennifer holds degrees from the University of Leicester, the UCL Institute of Education and London South Bank University. She lives in South Norwood with her two children.


Jennifer Stephenson - HR & Operational Director

Jennifer Stephenson is the HR and Operational Director for The Charter School East Dulwich and started in June 2022.

Prior to working at The Charter School East Dulwich, Jennifer was a School Business Manager at Torridon Primary School in the London Borough of Lewisham. During her time at Torridon Primary School, Jennifer assisted in the amalgamation of the Nursery and Infants with the Junior School in 2018. During the Covid pandemic, Jennifer assisted in launching the award-winning Torridon Foodbank which assisted many disadvantaged families in the London Borough of Lewisham. Jennifer was also able to fundraise for laptops during the pandemic, as well as a huge donation of laptops to enhance home learning for the pupils at Torridon.

Jennifer previously worked at the Department of Works and Pension (DWP) as a Senior Operations and Partnership Manager and managed large contracts from the European Social Fund, which assisted unemployed households across London and the South East Region. Whilst working for DWP, Jennifer also managed several Jobcentres Plus offices and Outreach provision across Lambeth and Southwark boroughs. 

Jennifer has three children and lives in the London Borough of Southwark. She graduated from London Southbank University in January 2022 with a Business Management Degree.

Jennifer enjoys volunteering in the local community and is a Foodcycle Hosting Project Leader in a local church in Peckham. She has also been Chair of Governors in a local special needs Primary School and Chair of the Management Committee of Contact A Family Support group who assist Families who have children and young people with disabilities.


Amanda Withers - Assistant Headteacher, Sixth Form
(Academic Senior Team)


Thea Piwowar - EA to the Headteacher