Jon Gray - Headmaster

Educated at Bedford Modern and Christ Church, Canterbury, where he read history, Jon began his teaching career with spells at two boarding schools; Vinehall in Sussex and then Belhaven Hill in Scotland.  A move to Arnold House in St. John's Wood saw him join the Senior Management Team there and after six years he crossed the river to become Deputy Head at Hornsby House.  At the age of 32 he became Headmaster here and, six years into that role, he is loving the job more than ever.  Married to Emma, who was until recently Director of Studies at Knightsbridge School, and is currently studying for her Doctorate in Education at Sussex when she is not busy looking after their two year old son, Harper and newborn son Ivo.  Jon's interests include cricket and climbing mountains in the Highlands. 

Jennifer Paul – Deputy Head

After training at Jordanhill College of Education in Glasgow there were no jobs for teachers in 1981 and so Jennifer headed south to London and Brighton for a while.  Her charge attended Thomas’s Kindergarten, Pimlico and soon Jennifer joined the team.  She worked at Thomas’s for many years, eventually Heading the Maths Department at Battersea.  This led the way to a Deputy Head/Head of Maths post at Rowan Preparatory School in Surrey and a term as Acting Head.  Throughout this time Jennifer enjoyed singing with The London Philharmonic Choir and playing double bass in Kensington Symphony Orchestra and later Ceroc classes and aerobics.  She is now very happily teaching at Hornsby House where she mainly teaches maths but enjoys her forays in to handwriting sessions with Y2, reading with Y4 and reading to Reception. 

Alistair Gerry – Assistant Head

After completing a Bachelor of Science in Manchester, Alistair spent eighteen months travelling in South America, where he learned to speak both Spanish and Portuguese.  While at University he ran a cabaret in Turkey in his summer holidays and has lived in Australia for six years.  He is qualified to teach all ages having first gained a PGCE in Further Education at the University of Greenwich, before a six-year stint living in Australia, where he got a Diploma in Primary Education at La Trobe University, Melbourne. For the last fourteen years he has taught throughout Primary Schools from Nursery to Year 6 and joined the Hornsby House team in 2002. Last year he taught Year 5 & 6 ICT and Maths to Year 6. He is currently the Assistant Head, which he is enjoying immensely. His passions include cycling, music and travelling.

Nicky Black – Director of Studies

After training at the University of Durham, Nicky began her teaching career at Durston House School in Ealing.  She moved to join Hornsby House as Head of Maths eight years ago and enjoyed being a form teacher in years 2, 4 and Reception before becoming Head of Lower School.  She is now Director of Studies, looking after the curriculum and overseeing learning and teaching throughout the school.  Although teaching a reduced timetable to accommodate the paperwork, the highlights of her working week are having lunch with Reception and teaching reasoning to Year 6.  When not at school, Nicky enjoys running, reading and looking after her two year old daughter, Emmy.

Camilla Webster – Head of Lower School

Camilla completed a Bachelor of Education at Homerton College, Cambridge, specialising in Lower primary and Music. She worked at Town Close Preparatory School in Norwich for 3 years before re-locating to London and getting married. She is in her 4th year at Hornsby House, and has enjoyed teaching Reception, Year 2, and being Head of Cousteau. In her free time, Camilla treads the boards with a theatre company in Balham and enjoys playing tennis and hockey.

Sheila Bailey – Head of Early Years

Sheila qualified from Cardiff as a secondary science teacher more years ago than she cares to remember.  She taught Biology and Lower School Science before taking the opportunity to retrain as an Early Years teacher.  She worked in several primary schools teaching Nursery, Reception and Years One and Two.  During this time she acquired an M.A, a daughter and became a registered Ofsted Early Years Inspector.  Twleve Reception Classes at Hornsby House later, Sheila she is still enjoying and appreciating teaching in such an innovative and caring school.

Mark Peters – Director of Sport