Many new pupils are coming towards the end of their first week at Shiplake College. We hope they have all had a busy, informative and enjoyable start to Shiplake life, but it is not just the boys and girls who are adjusting to a new school. We have also made a number of exciting additions to our teaching staff.
As the new academic year gathers pace, we are sure you will get to know them very well, but for the time being please enjoy learning a little more about them below.
Mrs Adamson (Head of ICT)
Mrs Adamson has lived in the Chiltern area for the last 16 years with her husband Mike and son Anthony. She enjoys being active – walking, cycling, sailing, caravanning and camping – though there never seems be enough time to fit it all in! Mrs Adamson is looking forward to helping with our Duke of Edinburgh’s award programme, continuing her work as a Silver and Bronze assessor. She also has a passion for travelling and enjoyed a recent visit to Nepal.
Mr Currie (Director of Rowing)
Mr Currie arrived in August as Shiplake’s first ever Director of Rowing. As an athlete Mr Currie enjoyed great success domestically and international, claiming World Championship bronze medals for GB. He then turned his attention to coaching and has enjoyed considerable success in similar roles at Sir William Borlase and Abingdon School. He is very much looking forward to taking our Boat Club to even greater heights in the years to come. Please click here for Mr Currie’s full biography.
Mr Yona Diez-Urkidi (Modern Languages)
Former international rugby player Mr Diez-Urkidi is the latest addition to our Languages Department, and is very happy to begin a new adventure at Shiplake College. Mr Diez-Urkidi has spent most of his life living in Spain and France but learnt to speak English in New Zealand whilst playing elite rugby. This has left him with a slight kiwi accent which he intends to keep! Mr Diez-Urkidi originates from the Basque Country in northern Spain, enjoying good food (he cooks a mean paella) and fine Rioja wine.
Mr Tristan Elby (Theology and Philosophy)
After a successful first two terms working part-time, Mr Elby has permanently joined the Theology and Philosophy Department, working alongside Head of Department Mr Brownley.
Miss Frimpong (Mathematics)
After graduating from London Metropolitan University with a 1st Class honours degree in Computer Science and Mathematics, Miss Frimpong originally worked as a programmer at Soft Tribe in Ghana. She then returned to the UK to complete her PGCE and has been a teacher of Mathematics since 2008, working at Saint Cecillia’s, Wandsworth. Miss Frimpong is a keen tennis fan and enjoys being active and working out. She also has a passion for fashion and is looking forward to making a positive impact on all aspects of Shiplake life.
Mr Gaunt (Director of Sport)
Our new Director of Sport was educated at Monmouth School in South Wales before studying Sport and Exercise Sciences at Exeter University and later completing an MSc in Physiology at Oxford University. Mr Gaunt loves all sports, particularly cricket and rugby in which he enjoyed an impressive playing career. He represented Newport Gwent Dragons, Exeter Chiefs, Oxford University and Henley Hawks, as well as captaining Wales at youth level. Similar success has been achieved as a coach with England Students and Oxford University Blues’ Rugby Club. Following nine years at St Edward’s Oxford, Mr Gaunt is looking forward to the new challenge at Shiplake.
Mr Hunt (Head of Design Technology)
Mr Hunt has returned to Shiplake College after a couple of years working in his native Australia as a Director of Boarding. Having already worked here he is looking forward to settling back in to our vibrant community. Mr Hunt very much enjoys playing and watching most sports, especially AFL football. Mr Hunt is married to Joanne and they have a son aged 11.
Mr Johnston (Head of Geography and Travel & Tourism)
Mr Johnston joins the College having worked previously at Windsor Boys’ School. He has already integrated himself into Shiplake life having made several appearances for the staff cricket team last summer. Mr Johnston was a cadet in the ATC for 5 years and will be a valuable asset to the College CCF. He is also looking forward to running kickboxing classes, sharing the knowledge gained from his black belt in martial arts.
Dr Khare (Head of Chemistry)
Dr Khare is originally from Mumbai, where he attained undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in chemistry before completing a doctorate in chemical engineering. Since then, he has worked in the field of science teaching and research in India, Belgium and the UK for almost 25 years. Dr Khare has had over 20 research studies published by renowned journals. Away from work, Dr Khare is very interested in the local community, serving as a governor of two local schools. He has also been chairman of the Reading Hindu Centre for over a decade. Last year, as part of this charity work, he was invited to attend a Diwali function at 10 Downing Street and meet the Prime Minister. Dr Khare also spends time playing cricket, chess and carom.
Mr Moffatt (Biology and Psychology)
Mr Moffatt hails from the North West of England and was educated in Chester before completing Sixth Form at Henley College and a degree at Oxford Brookes. Mr Moffatt’s enthusiasm for Biology began aged 15 having listened to Professor Robert Winston. He has always been fascinated by Psychology and is looking forward to teaching both subjects at Shiplake. Mr Moffatt is married with one son and is expecting his second child in January. Mr Moffatt is a keen sportsman, particularly where rowing is concerned and he has coxed, sculled, rowed and coached for GB, as well as winning two medals at Henley Royal Regatta.
Mr Reynolds (Science)
Science teacher Mr Reynolds graduated from Durham University with a degree in Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour. Mr Reynolds enjoys outdoor pursuits and participating in most sports, especially rugby, and is sure to fit in well to Shiplake’s active lifestyle. Possessing dual UK and US citizenship, he is unsurprisingly an avid American Football fan. Interestingly, Mr Reynolds harbours a desire to own a pet octopus, but sadly this dream is not shared by his wife.
Mr Sharkey (Head of English)
Mr Sharkey has joined the College as our new Head of English, following two years as a Housemaster at Clongowes Wood College in Ireland where he was previously a pupil. Mr Sharkey trained at King's College London and spent four years in the capital as a teacher. He enjoys travelling and spent two years teaching in Australia. North America remains the only continent he has not visited. Mr Sharkey is a keen rugby player and is already getting involved in coaching. He supports Ireland, Leinster RFC and Manchester United, in that order! A rather unusual fact about Mr Sharkey is that he has never eaten a banana.
Mr Walter (Physical Education)
Mr Walter is the second new addition to our Physical Education Department, alongside Mr Gaunt. Mr Walter also attended Exeter University having grown up in Cheltenham. He is particularly interested in hockey, football, racquet sports and winter sports, and was club captain whilst at uni. Mr Walter is very well travelled having lived and worked in Canada, America, Bolivia and Peru. Another enjoyable previous job was at the Wimbledon Championships where he escorted the players and visiting celebrities around the grounds.
Mr White (Head of Business)
Mr White has been teaching for 14 years and the profession has taking him all over the world. He has held a number of positions in a wide variety of schools (including state comprehensives, further education colleges and a city academy) and joins most recently from the International High School in Malawi. Prior to teaching Mr White was in the Territorial Army and also worked as a Hotel Manager. Mr White could be described as an ‘adrenaline junkie’ having completed a bungee jump in Australia and a 10,000ft sky dive in New Zealand.
Miss Claire Knight (Digital Librarian)
Claire Knight has also joined Shiplake as our new Digital Librarian. She is based in our new contemporary Thinking Space and will work alongside staff and pupils to ensure all the fabulous resources are put to best use. Claire has a BA in English & History from Keele University, a Masters in Modern & Contemporary Writing from the University of Reading and a Postgraduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies from UCL. Away from work Claire enjoys reading, baking, swimming and going to the gym.