New senior appointment at Bedales

Published on isbi School News dated Tuesday 3rd of May 2011

Jane Grubb has been appointed as the new Head of Dunhurst, Bedales Junior School, from September 2011. Jane is currently Academic Deputy Head at Hurstpierpoint College Prep School where she has worked for many years starting from the position of Head of Art. Jane is trained as an Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspector and has an MA in Education from Brighton University, a BA in Fine Art from Newcastle University and PGCE from Leeds University.

Jane's appointment follows news of the departure of Penny Watkins who has been Head of Dunhurst for six years and is now returning to London at the end of the summer term.

Keith Budge, Headmaster Bedales Schools, comments:

'I am looking forward to working with Jane Grubb from September where her significant education experience will be a huge asset. Having lead a highly successful inspection last year, Penny Watkins will be leaving Dunhurst in excellent shape, and I have no doubt that Jane will pick up the baton from Penny and continue the evolution of our excellent junior school in educating in the words of our founder - head, hand and heart.'

After gaining her PGCE and experiencing teaching practice at a number of challenging schools in the Wakefield and Dewsbury area, Jane took up her first teaching post at Holyrood Community School in Chard, Somerset, as Teacher of Art. She taught GCSE and A level, and introduced the new course of level 3 GNVQ as well as writing curriculum guides and schemes of work on GNVQ delivery for Wessex publications.

Jane then became Lecturer in Art at Brockenhurst College in the New Forest where she stayed for three years and oversaw the GNVQ Courses in Art and Design.

Alongside her teaching career, and in the early years of raising her family of two children, Jane explored her passion for art and sculpture and together with her husband, who is also an artist, carved a number of public commissions for Tadcaster Brewery and Wellesley Nautical School in the form of 1.5 tonne figure heads. Jane also worked part-time as a designer and sculptor for a company who built and designed theme parks and museums, creating artefacts for HMS Victory and wax figures for the Jamaica Inn Museum.

Jane then returned to teaching and took up her first role at Hurstpierpoint College Prep School as Head of Art and later became Head of Years 7 & 8 to focus on raising academic standards in the senior years of the Prep School. She progressed to the role of Director of Studies before becoming Academic Deputy Head. Her work included the development of a thinking skills programme and a revamp of the religious studies curriculum by introducing philosophy and ethics. When studying for her MA in education, her research explored how thinking skills can raise academic standards and levels of pupil engagement in lessons.

When she is not teaching Jane enjoys a number of outdoor pursuits including: fishing, hiking, surfing and wild camping in remote places. In addition to her artistic talents, she also plays the piano, saxophone, flute and is currently learning the acoustic guitar.

In managing Dunhurst, Jane will be supported by Deputy Head, Ralph Morel.