It's Never Goodbye

Friday July 14^th 2023

At Elmhurst, staff and students are guided by expert dance, academic, health & wellbeing and Boarding colleagues, freelance consultants, and a Board of Governors from across the dance and business sectors. In July, we said ‘good luck but not goodbye’ to a number of esteemed and respected members of the school team.

At the end of the summer term the Elmhurst community came together in an assembly to show their admiration and a huge resounding thanks to colleagues who left Elmhurst this summer. They have all made invaluable contributions to Elmhurst, supported the aims and ethos of the school, and in their varied roles have been incredibly dedicated and supportive of the students.

Leaving Elmhurst, Sara Wells, Vice Principal, joined the school in 2016 and has made a significant impact on the pastoral systems and overall support network for students, in school and externally. Sara’s unwavering dedication to the wellbeing and growth of students has been truly exceptional. Elmhurst is incredibly grateful for Sara’s hard work and the lasting legacy she leaves behind. The staff she has line managed and the many students who visit her in her office for a chat will miss her immensely.

We also bid farewell to Simon Housley, Head of Science and Head of Data and Assessment, who has been an integral part of the school since 2006, making him one of Elmhurst’s longest serving members of staff. Simon’s passion for science and his unfaltering commitment to excellence in education has inspired countless students throughout his years at the school. Simon’s leadership in data and assessment has been invaluable, shaping Elmhurst’s approach to student progress and helping the school provide the best possible support for its learners. His presence and expertise will be greatly missed and we extend our heartfelt gratitude for his remarkable service. We wish Simon every success at Hallfield School in Edgbaston where he takes up post as Head of Science.

Also leaving Elmhurst is Helen Beddows, Teacher in Charge of Art who has been successfully appointed as Art Teacher at King Edward’s School. We wish her well in her new role. Nadine Elliman joined the school in November 2022 and has greatly impacted Elmhurst students’ learning experiences during her tenure in the maths department. While we will miss her, we are excited to see her build on her highly successful cake-making business. Additionally, we extend our thanks to Siham Mohamud who joined Elmhurst last September as Teacher in Charge of History and RE, covering maternity leave. We wish Siham every success in her new position at a school in Qatar.

We also bid farewell to Amy Nock, Deputy Houseparent who has played a significant role in Elmhurst’s boarding community since September 2020. We wish her every success as she embarks on a new career in App Development.

Also ‘muchas gracias’ and ‘buena suerte’ to Ana Garcia, Elmhurst’s Flamenco Teacher. Ana will no longer be teaching at Elmhurst on a regular basis but will be delivering ad hoc workshops with the students, allowing her to work flexibly across Spain and in the UK.

Following an 18-year career as a professional dancer in London West End shows and UK national tours, Simon Harper first worked with Elmhurst between 2007-2013 during his full-time tenure in the press office of Birmingham Royal Ballet. His association with the school continued from 2015-2023 as the school’s PR Consultant. After 35 years in the dance sector, he moves into the world of horticulture – another life-long passion – and takes up a new position with a London based garden company this summer.

We wish each and every one of them success in their future endeavours and hope they find happiness wherever they go. All of these individuals have truly made a difference to life at Elmhurst and we are immensely grateful for their contributions to the school. We hope they all come back and visit us soon!