Who We Are – Hailey CE Primary School

Steve Alman

I currently work in further education, leading programmes which work with football league clubs and provide young people with the opportunity to combine their studies, with their passion for football. Within this setting, I have been given the opportunity to work on the leadership team of a training provider and gain valuable leadership experience. I started my career teaching in secondary schools in Oxfordshire, as a Physical Education Teacher. It was here that my passion to work in, and continue to work in the education sector grew. My son attends Hailey Primary School, which was what initially sparked my interest in becoming a governor at the school. Aside from work, my passion for football continues with both my son and as head coach at a non league side based in Abingdon.

Debbie Davies

I read psychology at university, specialising in developmental psychology. I then undertook teacher training and came to Hailey School as a student teacher. I enjoyed the experience so much that I knew I wanted to return. I’ve worked in schools for over twenty years in a mixture of village, town, community and Church schools. It is a pleasure and a privilege to now be Head Teacher at Hailey School and my intention is that we achieve the best outcomes for pupils, staff, parents and community.

Matt Anderson

Originally brought up in Hertfordshire, I started working for Marconi and Bookham Technology in various roles, from Quality Assurance to Product Development, which allowed me to follow my passion for cutting edge engineering. I moved to Oxfordshire in 2002, and moved to Witney with my wife, where we have lived for the last 12 years. I am currently Operations Manager for a large Utility company. My eldest child enjoys attending Hailey Primary School.

Graham Simspon

I went to Leicester University in 1968 where I took a degree in Economics and Sociology and a PGCE. Then to Oxford for a D.Phil. In 1979 I started Oxford English Centre, a British Council and ISI accredited language school which was a member of EnglishUK, of IALC (International Association of Language Centres), and also of TEN (The English Network). I was on the board of EnglishUK for a number of years and Chair of Enterprises. We moved to Hailey in 2009 and sold the business in 2012 since when I have been busy with grandchildren here in the UK but also in Spain where my wife Paquita runs a language academy close to Madrid and my daughter is a high school teacher.

Sharon Jenkins

I have been teaching for over 20 years in a variety of schools both in London and Oxfordshire and now have the privilege of being the Deputy Head teacher at Hailey School. I have previous experience of being a school governors and am looking forward to working with everyone at Hailey.

Ness Brunner-Ellis

I’m Rev’d Ness and I’m in my 4th year of living and working in Witney and surrounding villages as Team Vicar for the Benefice, a group of five Anglican Churches. Before being Ordained, I worked in the NHS as a Psychiatric Nurse for nearly 20 years and prior to that was a freelance Violin / Piano teacher and performer. I’ve been a School Governor twice before yet I always find new challenges and new delights in being closely associated with a primary school. I’ve two older children of my own at University and 6^th form so I’m used to the pressures and joys of education in all its many forms. I’m a yoga addict but I’m also often out on my bike or walking with my husband Robin; we love cooking (and eating!) and trying to be creative in the garden.

Tamara Dasht

I graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2017 with a degree in Law. I went on to work as a paralegal and undertake the Legal Practice Course and Masters in Law from which I graduated in 2019. I completed my training and qualified as a lawyer in September 2019. I am an advocate for social mobility and my interest in education stems from this. I am currently a proud member of the Education team at Browne Jacobson, advising schools, academies, multi-academy trusts and local authorities on a wide range of legal and governance issues they may face.