Culture Day 2023 - See The Pictures!
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Meet Our Staff
At Harris Girls' Academy Bromley every single staff member in the school plays a crucial role in supporting and guiding our students on their educational journey.
The staff at Bromley are what make the education here special; that may be supporting students pastorally, stretching them academically or expanding their opportunities through extra-curricular provision. We have included some short profiles of our wonderful staff members below.
Nat Jasper – Head of PE
What were you doing before teaching?
I loved sport from a very young age and played football for many years. I started my career in the sports industry and worked at a gym doing personal training. I did that for about 9 years and then did some travelling across America and did some supply work in between which I really enjoyed.
Why is PE important?
There are so many benefits to students being active and engaged with sports, and I love seeing their faces when they achieve something. The students enjoy being competitive and they do so well. We have so many trophies now from a whole range of competitions. It’s great to see them engage with extracurriculars too. Sport is a big part of the foundation here, certainly more than how it is at other schools I’ve seen.
Justine Anglin-Smith – 2ic Science
When did you join HGABR?
I started as a trainee and usually trainees won’t be given certain responsibilities, but towards the end of my training year, I was offered the chance to take on a form group. That really showed me that the school saw something in me and trusted me.
What are you most proud of?
For me, I’m proud of being a black woman and my grandparents coming from the Caribbean, my Dad’s Mum came over in the Windrush generation and I’m the first person in my family to have gone to university. I just strive to be the best that I can for myself, my family, and my students.
Gill Stockwell – Pastoral Manager
Why did you join HGABR?
This was actually my old school when I was a student; it’s a nice school and the girls are good to work with. I’ve found my vocation in life, and I’ve been able to build a good relationship with the students here. The girls are really nice and come to me with issues and I like being able to support them.
What is your favourite memory from HGABR?
One of my favourite memories is I worked with a student for a long time and when she left, she wrote me a note that said when she grows up, she inspired to be like me. I still have it, and she must be about 30 now. That was really lovely.
Richard Wood – Vice Principal
What inspires you?
I previously worked in Bangladesh, despite not knowing anyone who had been there before. I was working in classrooms where you might have 100 students with almost no resources, and it showed me how much can still be achieved. From that experience, I learnt that education is something universal to every society and every person internationally.
What is your favourite memory from HGABR?
My favourite memories are when you have a really strong relationship with the students so it’s a great environment in the classroom; and the really special moments come from when you’re explaining a tricky concept and all the work you’ve put in and relationships you’ve built with the students pay off and you see them have lightbulb moments where they make sense of something, and it clicks.
Chris Blackburn – Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages
What inspired you to teach?
I was working in luxury retail for 10 years but always had an interest in education. I’d been considering doing my teacher training for a few years and was never sure when the right time was. Then about 5 years ago, I became a governor for a school in Streatham and I’ve absolutely loved it. That experience just confirmed for me that working in education is what I want to be doing. I really like that I’m now doing something with more purpose and in a job where I feel like I make a difference every day.
Amy French – Director of Art and Design
What were you doing before teaching?
I have a degree in costume making and worked in various theatres, mostly around London. I worked in wardrobe which meant I was maintaining, altering, and laundering the clothes for the shows that are running. I worked for the National Theatre for a long time and did a couple of West End shows too.
How did you get into teaching?
I’d been thinking about teaching for a while and then did some more research. I discovered that you could train on the job and be paid a salary, and that felt like the only viable route for me so when I found out it was an option, that was what I decided to go for.
