Our Expert Staff

Making learning exciting, engaging and memorable lies at the heart of a Red House education.

Our team of highly qualified and dedicated teaching and support staff work with pupils and parents to ensure the best possible teaching and learning experience.

Senior Management Team

Dr Rebecca Ashcroft

Head

PhD BA (Hons) PGCE York & Huddersfield

Mrs Claire Thompson

Deputy Head, Head of the Senior School and Designated Safeguarding Lead

BSc MA PGCE Manchester & Durham

Mr Simon Haywood

Head of the Junior School

BA (Hons) MA Trinity & All Saints, Leeds & Durham

Mr Nick Gresswell

Assistant Head (Operations) & PE Teacher

Mrs Samantha Lindsay-Symington

Head of Science, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Director of Wellbeing & Pastoral Care

BSc PGCE Durham & Sunderland

Ms Lara Roberts

Assistant Head (Academic) & Head of Religious Studies

BA (Hons) PGCE Exeter & Newcastle

Mr Craig Staniford

Head of Finance & Compliance

CIMA Adv Dip MA

Teaching Staff - Junior School

Mrs Victoria Smith

Assistant Head, Key Stage 2 Coordinator & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

BA (Hons) Northumbria

Mrs Nicola Ashton

Teacher of Year 3

BA (Hons) Durham

Mr Ian Barnbrook-McKay

Nursery & EYFS Co-ordinator

BA QTS (Hons) MA Ripon, York St John & Open University

Mrs Caroline Bell

Teacher of Music

BA (Hons) PGCE Salford & Durham

Mrs Nicola Cooper

Lead Key Stage 1 Co-ordinator, Teacher of Year 2 & Wellbeing Lead (Junior School)

BA PGCE Teesside & Northumbria

Miss Alexandra Cummings

HLTA Key Stage 2

BA (Hons) QTS Cumbria

Miss Rachel Dring

Teacher of Reception

BA (Hons) Durham

Miss Rosemary Farrell

Teacher of Year 4

BACS (Hons) PGCE Southampton & Durham

Mrs Cheryl Ford

Breakfast Club Leader, EYFS Assistant & Nursery Assistant

CACHE Level 3 Cert, CACHE Level 3 Diploma

Mrs Tracy Haywood

EYFS Assistant

NNEB Stockton & Billingham

Miss Samantha Heap

EYFS Assistant

NNEB Diploma

Mrs Jane Jackson

Sports Camp Lead/Co-ordinator

Miss Jill Kears

Teacher of PE

BA (Hons) PGCE North Staffordshire & Hull

Miss Lisa Simpson

Teaching Assistant & After School Care Assistant

NVQ3 Early Years & Education

Mrs Lucy Waldock

Assistant Key Stage 1 Co-ordinator & Teacher of Year 1

BSc (Ed) Durham

Teaching Staff - Senior School

Mrs Eileen Auty

SENCO

BA (Hons) PGCE Leeds

Mrs Catherine Brown

Director of Music

Mr Graeme Butterfield

Head of ICT

BA PGCE Salford & Durham

Mrs Susan Casey

Head of History and Head of Years 6-8

BA (Hons) PGCE Hull & Sheffield

Mrs Nicola Cecere

Teacher of English

BA (Hons) PGCE Leeds & Durham

Mrs Rebecca Coverdale

Teacher of Year 6

BA Hull

Mrs Clare Fraser

Head of Art

BA (Hons) MA, PGCE Sunderland, Teesside , Northumbria

Ms Colette Fryer

Head of English

BA (Hons) MA PGCE York & Durham

Mrs Heidi J Garrett

Head of German

BA PGCE London & York

Mrs Celia Gaunt

Head of French

BA PGCE Tours & Durham

Mrs Georgiana Hagiu

Head of Physics

BSc (Hons) PGCE Bradford & Teesside

Mr Paul Heaton

Teacher of Year 6

BSc PGCE Hull

Mr Stephen Heron

Head of Spanish

BBA (Hons) PGCE Lancaster & Warwick

Mr Steven Kears

Head of Geography

BSc PGCE Open University

Mr Craig Johnson

Teacher of Maths

BSc (Hons) PGCE Newcastle & Nottingham

Mrs Marie Lithgo

Teacher of PE/Games

Mr Ian Maude

Teacher of Year 6

BA (Hons) PGCE Bradford & Durham

Mrs Victoria McGuire

Teacher of Mathematics

BSc (QTS) Sunderland

Mr Ian Palmer

Head of Mathematics

BA PGCE Sheffield & Leicester

Mrs Jennifer Price

Head of Biology and Teacher of PSHE & RSE

MA PGCE City University of London & Liverpool John Moores

Ms Claire Reily

Teacher of Art

BA PGCE Leeds & Northumbria

Ms Janet Smart

Teacher of Spanish & French

BA (Hons) PGCE Manchester & Lancaster

Mrs Lynzey Spencer-Crabb

Head of Chemistry

BSc PGCE Wales Institute Cardiff

Mrs Rebecca Stephenson

Teacher of English

BA PGCE Newcastle & Liverpool

Mrs Marie Sweeney

Head of Physical Education

BEd (Hons) Leeds, Carnegie

Mr Tom Thorogood

Head of the House System, Head of Years 9-11, Teacher of PE/Games & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

BA (Hons) PGCE Leeds Beckett & Northumbria

Mr Steven Wilkinson

Head of Design & Technology

BA (Ed) Sunderland

Mrs Susan Burniston

Peripatetic Music Teacher – Flute

Cert Ed, NVQ3

Mr Garry Hadfield

Peripatetic Music Teacher – Percussion

Mr Chris Hibbard

Peripatetic Music Teacher - Brass

Mr Paul McArthur

Peripatetic Music Teacher – Guitar

MSc

Mrs Geraldine Murray

Peripatetic Music Teacher – Violin

LTCL, ALCM

Mrs Gillian Sild

Peripatetic Music Teacher – Singing

BA (Hons)

Mr Stephen Sild

Peripatetic Music Teacher – Piano

GRSM, LRAM

Mrs Nicola Tayler

Peripatetic Music Teacher – Woodwind

BA (Hons), M.Mus

Support Staff

Mrs Claire Bellerby

Head of Admissions

Mr Chris Boardman

Caretaker

Mrs Angela Gordon

Office Support Administrator

Miss Mia Howe

Wrap Around Care Assistant

Mrs Jodie Mason

Secretary of Junior School

Miss Kate Mochnacz

Wrap Around Care Leader

Mrs Ann Morton

Facilities Manager

Mrs Emma Pailor

Science Technician

Mr Tony Plunkett

Caretaker

Mrs Sara Storm

Marketing Assistant

Mrs Sarah Tomlinson

Head of Marketing

BA (Hons) DipCIM Liverpool John Moores

Miss Linda Ward

Secretary of Senior School

Mrs Sophie Williamson

Librarian, HLTA

BSc (Hons) Northumbria, Level 2 & 3 Diploma Supporting Teaching and Learning

Red House Difference

50 Holiday club enables the school to be open 50 weeks of the year.
Best in the North East - Sunday Times ‘Parent Power’ 2024 Recognised as the top school in the North East in our category in the Sunday Times ‘Parent Power’ list.
99.2% Incredible GCSE results. 99.2% obtained grades 9-4 (A*-C). Outperforming local independent schools and state schools.
Passionate about wellbeing and positive mental health. The only independent school in the North East to have won this award.
Bespoke Education Small class sizes allows us to tailor lessons to the needs of the children
Competitive Fees Our fees are lower than any other independent school in the area for children aged 3-16
Flexible Wrap Around Care 7.30am-6pm
We offer both before and after school care for those children whose parents require an extended day.

Visit Us

Visit Us - School
Visit Us - School
Visit Us - School

Open Morning: Saturday 25 January 2025

Our Open Morning is a great way to discover what's so special about Red House and all we have to offer. You will be able to tour our fantastic facilities and meet our dedicated teachers.

+ Senior School: Arrival Time 9am
+ Nursery & Junior School: Arrival Time 9.30am

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Entry for Year 7 in 2025/2026

Registrations are being taken for children in Year 6 wishing to join Year 7 in 2025 and also for children in Year 5 wishing to join Year 7 in 2026.

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Taster Week: Monday 10 – Friday 14 March 2025

We are holding a number of Taster Days throughout the week of Monday 10 - Friday 14 March. Come and experience life at Red House School!

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