Jessica Ward
Principal
Jessica trained as a contemporary dancer and choreographer at Trinity Laban, performing with their resident company, Transitions, and participating in various freelance projects. After sustaining an injury during her dance career, she embraced the opportunity to pursue her other passion – teaching. Jessica taught dance in schools and colleges, progressing to senior leadership roles in London Secondary Schools before becoming Principal of Elmhurst Ballet School in 2010.
A passionate choreographer, Jessica has created work for numerous youth companies, including the award-winning team at The Grange Opera. She is deeply committed to making dance accessible and inclusive, challenging the perception of ballet as an elite world and ensuring opportunities for all to engage in the art form.
As Principal, Jessica finds helping students and staff achieve meaningful improvements the most rewarding aspect of her role. She plays an active role in the national Music and Dance Scheme school’s head teachers group and collaborates with various networks to support the growth of Elmhurst. She is also a committee member of the Society of Heads. In 2021, Jessica’s dedication to education was recognised with the Excellence in Education Award at the Business and Inspirational Women Awards. That same year, she joined the New Adventures' Board of Trustees, further broadening her impact in the arts.
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- Governors
- President, Vice Presidents and Artistic Advisors
- Senior Leadership Team
- Middle Leadership Team
- Artistic Team
- Academic Team
- Music Team
- Boarding Team
- Health and Wellbeing Team
- Development Team
- Support Team
- Research and Performance
- Elmhurst Young Dancers and Ballet & Beyond Team
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Prof John Bryson
Governor- Finance, Facilities and General Purpose
Sarah Evans OBE
Vice Chair- Education
Jenny Hardy
Governor- Finance, Facilities and General Purpose
James Harris
Chairman
Alison Matthews
Governor
Prof Matt Wyon
Governor- Health & Wellbeing
Michele Lawrence
Governor- Safeguarding
Ian Lowe
Governor- SEND, Health & Wellbeing, Boarding
Carlos Acosta CBE
Vice President
Sir David Bintley CBE
Artistic Advisor
Maina Gielgud
Vice President
Desmond Kelly
Artistic Advisor
Wayne McGregor CBE
President
Dame Merle Park
Vice President
Sir Peter Wright
Vice President
Robert Parker
Artistic Director
Erica Reeves
Vice Principal- Student Support
Manpreet Sambhi
Vice Principal- Academics
Sabina Storrod
Director of Business Development
Denise Whiteman
Director of Dance Training
Shona Hemmings
Director of Finance and Operations
Sarah-Jayne Blackwell
Dance Project Co-Ordinator and KS4 Leader and DSL
Tracy Cowper
Head of Upper School Boarding and DSL
Kieran Grinnell
Facilities Manager
Liz Innis
HR Officer
Nico Kolokythas
Head of Research and Performance
Michelle Lester
Teacher in charge of English, KS5 Progress Leader and DSL
Jennifer MacNamara
Head of Contemporary, Jazz and Related Dance Styles
Jeanette Mould
Cleaning Supervisor
Dudley Ray
Director of Music
Joe Roberts
Teacher in charge of Languages and Staff Induction Lead
Leanne Hadley
SEND Lead and DSL
Samantha Gavrovski
Head of Health and Wellbeing and DSL
Danielle Grieve-Carter
English Teacher and Head of Data and Performance
Sarah-Jayne Blackwell
Jazz Teacher
Rachel English
Dance Rehabilitation Coach
Sonia Fajardo
Ballet Teacher
Hannah Rudd
Contemporary Teacher
Gloria Grigolato
Ballet Teacher
Alex Harrison
Ballet Teacher
Nicky Linzie
Ballet Teacher
Jennifer MacNamara
Head of Contemporary, Jazz and related dance styles
Robert Parker
Artistic Director
Cris Penfold
Jazz Teacher
Michael Raynaud
Ballet Teacher
Indra Reinholde
Choreography Teacher
Lee Robinson
Ballet Teacher
Andrea Tredinnick
Ballet Teacher
Mary Walsh
Ballet Teacher
Denise Whiteman
Director of Dance Training
Lei Zhao (casual)
Ballet Teacher
Karis Scarlette
Classical Ballet Teacher
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Anna Bailey |
Learning Support Assistant (EAL Specialist) |
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Danielle Grieve-Carter |
Teacher of English |
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Mahsa Hart |
Teacher of Maths (part-time) |
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Michelle Lester |
Teacher in charge of English and Progress Leader |
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Rozalyn McComish |
Teacher in charge of History and RE, Health and Wellbeing Teacher |
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Katharine Perl |
Teacher in charge of Drama |
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Joseph Roberts |
Teacher in charge of Languages and Staff Induction Project Lead |
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Manpreet Sambhi |
Vice Principal- Academics |
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Deborah Underhill |
Teacher in charge of Art |
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Vikesh Vadukar |
Teacher in charge of Science |
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Lucy Wensley |
Teacher in charge of Geography |
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Liz Woehrling |
Laboratory Technician |
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Asty Allen |
Pianist |
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Peter Allsopp |
Accompanist for the Sunderland Young Dancers Programme |
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Hannah Chiu |
Pianist (casual) |
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Stephen Crewes |
Pianist and Accompanist for the Birmingham Young Dancers Programme |
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Martina Cuevas Cuevas |
Pianist (casual) |
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Yijiao Feng |
Pianist (casual) |
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Peter Flower |
Pianist - Music Resources Co-ordinator |
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Margaret Green |
Accompanist for the Plymouth Young Dancers Programme |
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Da-Hee Kim |
Pianist |
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Roman Kosyakov |
Pianist (casual) |
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Elaine Li |
Pianist |
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Dominic Mason |
Pianist |
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Hana Arita |
Pianist (Birmingham Young Dancers Programme.) |
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Vratislav (Vato) Klemera |
Pianist (Birmingham Young Dancer’s Programme) |
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Mikael Pettersson |
Head of Accompanying and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Pianist Placement Scheme Coordinator |
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Sarah Potjewijd |
Pianist |
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Dudley Ray |
Director of Music |
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Yin Yu |
Pianist (Casual) |
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Dr Sue Barbour |
Houseparent-Hetherington |
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Sarah-Jayne Blackwell |
Deputy Houseparent - Camberley and Fischer (casual) |
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Tracy Cowper |
Head of Upper School Boarding and Houseparent- The Elms |
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Stephen Conlon |
Deputy Houseparent (Casual - The Elms) |
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Emily Davenport |
Deputy Houseparent- Hetherington |
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Diane Fox |
Deputy Houseparent- Casual |
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Zoe Fulton |
Deputy Houseparent- Camberley |
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Jasmine Hepple |
Deputy Houseparent - Fischer |
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Raluca-Ioana Mihaila |
Deputy Houseparent (across all houses) |
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Egle Lukoseviciute |
Deputy Houseparent - Fischer and Camberley |
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Freya Reeves |
Deputy Houseparent - Casual |
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Scarlett Brass |
Deputy Houseparent - Camberley |
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Lesley-Anne Tulley |
Houseparent- Fischer |
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Ella Dennehy |
Deputy Houseparent - Camberley |
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Dr Parveen Bangher |
GP |
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Anya Bailey |
Independent Student Advocate (volunteer) |
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Barney Chart |
Physiotherapist |
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Samantha Gavrovski |
Head of Helath and Wellbeing |
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Janet Hinds |
Healthcare Assistant |
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Hayley James |
Registered Mental Health Nurse (self-employed) |
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Dr Wakeel Jamil |
GP |
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Maja Berry |
Self-Employed Nutritionist |
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Matthew Potter |
Self Employed Senior Mental Health Nurse (Eating Disorders) |
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Beata Strizikova |
Administrator (casual) |
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Hannah Windows |
Registered School Counsellor (self-employed) |
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Raegon Guest |
Well-being Consultant (self-employed) |
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Sarah Wood |
Healthcare Assistant |
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Rhian Bertie |
Development Events Executive |
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Clare Davis |
Head of Fundraising |
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Louise Gale |
Graphic Design Consultant (Self-Employed) |
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Sophie Beth Jones |
Digital Content Executive |
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Claire Lishman |
PR Consultant (Self-Employed) |
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Amar Sraan |
Videographer (self-Employed) |
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Sabina Storrod |
Director of Business Development |
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Leon Thomas |
Partnerships and Corporate Memberships Executive (working 2 days per week) |
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Susan Bailey |
Cleaner |
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Louise Booth |
School Receptionist |
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Jacqueline Ellis |
Cleaner |
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Adam Harris |
Catering Manager |
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Liz Innis |
HR Officer |
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Jess Knight |
School Receptionist / Administrator |
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Mischa Lotter |
Receptionist (Saturday Young Dancer's Programme) |
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Sahra Mohammed |
Receptionist (Ballet & Beyond Programme) |
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Grzegorz Kwiatkowski |
Residential Caretaker |
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Sian Martin |
Laundry Assistant |
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Patricia McDermaid |
Cleaner |
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Nathan McLaren |
IT Technician |
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Moubarack Mougamadou |
Cleaner |
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Shabina Nawaz |
Cleaner |
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Claire Newland |
Funding and Finance Administrator |
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Comfort Otoo |
Cleaner |
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Renata Ratajova |
Executive Assistant |
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Janet Rose |
Cleaner |
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Rachal Torrance |
Registrar |
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Ayesha Teladia |
Purchase Ledger and Payroll Officer |
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Lina Valiukaite |
Cleaner |
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Francesca Wareing |
Cleaner |
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Laura Woodall |
Management Accountant |
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Nico Kolokythas |
Head of Research and Performance |
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Tom Wood |
Graduate Placement Student |
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Ann Atkinson |
Ballet Teacher - Sunderland |
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Sarah-Jayne Blackwell |
Administrator |
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Danielle Black |
Ballet Teacher - Manchester |
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Lorna Cook |
Classical Ballet Teacher (Birmingham YD) |
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Marion Lindsay |
Ballet Teacher - Plymouth |
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Rosie Price |
Ballet Teacher- Birmingham |
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Laura Green |
RAD Syllabus Tutor, Ballet Teacher- Birmingham |
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Alex Harrison |
RAD Syllabus, Ballet Teacher - Birmingham |
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Victoria Thornton |
RAD Syllabus, Ballet Teacher- Birmingham |
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Mary Walsh |
RAD Syllabus, Ballet Teacher- Birmingham |
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Denise Whiteman |
RAD and EYD Co-ordinator |
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Joanne de Souza |
Classical Ballet Teacher (Birmingham YD) |
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Karis Scarlette |
Classical Ballet Teacher (Ballet & Beyond) |
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Suzanne Nikolic |
Classical Ballet Teacher (Ballet & Beyond) |
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Eleanor Stephenson |
Contemporary Dance Teacher (Ballet & Beyond) |
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Georgia Saunders-Fazzani |
Contemporary Dance Teacher (Ballet & Beyond) |
