What Our Staff Say
Shani Johnson, Assistant Headteacher
Shani has worked at Notre Dame for over 20 years, progressing to Assistant Headteacher and has ambitions to secure a Deputy Headteacher role within SELCAT.
From the moment I walked through the school doors, I immediately knew that I wanted to be part of this incredible community. The staff are warm, friendly and supportive, and our students are aspirational, confident and have a real zest for life. The school’s ethos of valuing and nurturing each student’s unique talents and potential really resonates with me – I was attracted to a career in teaching because of my passion to ensure every young person, no matter their background, ability or culture, receives the best possible education to succeed in their future endeavours.
Being part of SELCAT presents us with opportunities to collaborate with other schools within the Trust and thus access a rich network of resources, expertise and best practice, enhancing our offer for both students and staff at Notre Dame. It has been a real learning journey for me, and I am looking forward to what the future holds.
Siân Tragheim, Head of RE, Chaplaincy Lead and PSHE Curriculum Lead
Siân has worked at Notre Dame for 10 years and “wears many hats” being Head of RE Department, Chaplaincy Lead and PSHE Curriculum Lead.
Motivated by the supportive teachers I had whilst at school, and a desire to share my knowledge and experiences, I chose to pursue a career in teaching to become the person I had needed when I was young. I was blessed to be offered a job at Notre Dame and knew this was the place for me. I enjoy being able to teach ethics, philosophy and theology in a school located in the centre of a city known for its diversity, multiculturalism, change and passion – I believe it is critical to the growth, tolerance and pride our young people will have in the future.
Catholic life and mental health are my passions, and within the SELCAT community, these areas are treated seriously and with respect. I aspire to develop further in my career and one day become an Assistant Headteacher with a focus on Catholic life and mental health.
Stephanie Zoundi, Geography Curriculum Lead & Progress Manager
Stephanie has always had a zest for learning and was inspired into teaching to pass this enthusiasm on to the next generation as well as her love for the world of Geography.
The passion for putting girls in the best position to succeed is what attracted me to this unique school. Being a smaller school has its advantages – the staff and students really know each other, which fosters a good learning environment. One of the benefits of being part of a Multi Academy Trust is the ability to liaise with other subject specialists in order to share best practice and expertise.
My ambitions for the future are to continue to grow and create a Geography curriculum that inspires our young people to have a sense of wonder about the world around them. I also aim to develop ways and partnerships to get students out of the classroom and into the field.
Our students enjoy coming here because of their excellent relationships with the staff. When alumni return, they always reflect on just how much the staff care about them and are there to help them succeed – even if they couldn’t see it at the time!
Sharifa Sebaggala, Science Technician
Sharifa has worked at Notre Dame for 5 years and was attracted to working at this school because of its positive reputation and strong ethos.
I enjoy working here for a multitude of reasons - the strong relationships between staff and students, being able to share my knowledge and passion for Science, and the school's multiculturalism and inclusivity which I believe make Notre Dame unique. Being part of SELCAT provides incredible career development and progression opportunities; I aim to continue taking advantage of these to become high skilled in my role. Moreover, the Trust values the diversity of its schools, staff and students, ensuring everyone is equally valued and respected.
Olusola Goriola, Classroom Teacher & Form Tutor
Olusola’s love for imparting knowledge to young people and supporting them in achieving their potential in life spurred her onto a teaching career. She has been at Notre Dame for an impressive 22 years!
Being a Christian, the Catholic ethos of the school initially attracted me here. Over the years, the evolution of multicultural and religious diversity within the school, my love for humanity, and my core moral values have been the driving forces for my inspiration.
The relationships and support network amongst staff make Notre Dame and SELCAT an excellent place to work. I enjoy my interactions with the girls, getting to work with them and celebrating their uniqueness and achievements. My future ambitions are to continue advancing the strategic goals and objectives of the school and Trust, ensuring the progress of our students, who remain at the heart of everything we do. Additionally, I am to further my teaching career by taking in more responsibilities within the school and Trust.
Students enjoy coming to the school because it is a place where they learn new and engaging concepts within a safe environment. They interact with their peers and school staff in a way that provides them with a sense of belonging. It is a place where they are not just seen but also heard. The school environment is like a big family to them, and they contribute to the development of the school by sharing their valuable opinions.
Tilly da Cunha, PE Teacher
Tilly joined the school in September 2023 as an Early Career Teacher (ECT) and was immediately struck by the kind, warm welcome she received from both students and staff. She describes the friendly nature of the school as something truly special and a significant asset.
I enjoy working alongside a group of very experienced and knowledgeable teachers. Being able to learn and become a better teacher every day is of high importance to my own goals and career aspirations, and Notre Dame has given me the perfect environment to do that. With a passion for helping young people, I take great pleasure in using sport and physical activity to guide and equip students with the necessary skills to maintain a healthy lifestyle, both mentally and physically, beyond their school years. It is a great privilege to be able to do this as part of my job.
Furthermore, I value the opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge with other teachers across varying settings within SELCAT. Where I have learnt the most and built confidence in my own teaching is through liaising with others, both with fellow ECTs and expert colleagues.
Looking ahead, I have ambitious plans for my career. The ultimate goal is to set up and help run a school in the future. During my time at Notre Dame, and within SELCAT, I am committed to learning as much as possible from expert colleagues and students as I progress towards becoming a fully qualified teacher.
Cristina Rosu, Science Teacher & Head of Year
Starting her journey at Notre Dame as a supply teacher 14 years ago, Cristina quickly recognised the strong connections she was forming with both students and staff. It was this positive and nurturing environment that solidified her decision to pursue a permanent teaching position at the school.
Inspired by a great teacher during my own secondary school years, I realised early on I wanted to shape young minds by imparting knowledge. What I enjoy most about teaching at Notre Dame is forming deep and meaningful connections with students over time. Seeing their growth, progress and success is immensely rewarding.
Being part of SELCAT has provided me with numerous professional development opportunities, from training sessions to conferences and INSET days. These opportunities have allowed me to connect with professionals and experts in the field, sharing experiences and skills. I am also grateful for the visits from professionals who provide valuable feedback to help us improve our teaching practices. Looking to the future, I hope to continue developing as an educator to inspire and educate further generations. Additionally, I want to strengthen my leadership skills to become a more confident and effective leader.
I believe there are several reasons why pupils enjoy coming to Notre Dame. We are a welcoming and supportive community with dedicated staff who genuinely care about our students' wellbeing as well as their academic progress. We celebrate diversity through events and focus on the personal growth and development of our students. We encourage them to build resilience, explore their interests, develop critical thinking skills, and become well-rounded individuals.
Carla Zwies, Co-Head of English
Carla has been a dedicated member of the Notre Dame teaching staff for the past 10 years. Her passion for teaching stems from a deep love of literature and language, inspired by her own teachers who nurtured her talent for English.
As a child, I always had my head in a book. My teachers encouraged this habit by sharing recommendations and advice on further reading. Today, I remain a voracious reader and enjoy offering our students advice on what to read to improve their understanding of the world around them.
The sense of community at Notre Dame is what makes it really special. When I first started, I was made to feel welcome right away by both staff and students. The students are engaging, charming and always willing to speak up. As a small school, we are able to get to know them individually and support their learning more effectively. They are given opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom, to develop, learn and flourish.
Being part of SELCAT has provided me with valuable opportunities to network and interact with teachers from other member schools. I have participated in department training days and online meetings, allowing me to share challenges and solutions with my peers. Additionally, there are numerous CPD sessions and qualifications available to further enhance my teaching skills. I aspire to continue my professional development, with a focus on training and developing further as a teacher and leader managing a department to improve teaching practices and student outcomes.
Belyse Munezero, Science Teacher
Belyse has been a proud member of the Notre Dame community for 5 years now and comments:
I was attracted to a career in teaching to inspire small minds and share my knowledge. I chose to teach at Notre Dame because I am passionate about girls' education and faith education. What I enjoy most is seeing students' outcomes, the strong relationships between students and staff, and the inclusion and multiculturalism that our school embraces. Being part of SELCAT offers great CPD opportunities, which I find immensely beneficial for my professional growth. My future ambition is to become highly skilled in my field, continually improving my ability to educate and inspire.
Sylvie Hrouda, French, German, Child Development & Health and Social Care Teacher, Head of Year & Careers Leader
Sylvie has been a valued member of the Notre Dame community for over 8.5 years. She feels that she was born to teach, always enjoying the positive interactions with young people and finding it highly rewarding to watch them develop intellectually.
There was a rare opportunity to teach German at the school and to be Head of Year, so I jumped at the chance. In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I have recently taken on the role of Careers Leader, a position I find particularly stimulating. With 33 years of teaching experience and a keen interest in what happens to students after they leave school, this new role aligns perfectly with my passions.
Being part of SELCAT has provided me with the opportunity to share expertise with three other schools’ Careers Advisors as well as share resources. This network has been instrumental in enhancing my role as Careers Leader. I am currently pursuing a Diploma 6 in Careers Advice from the Open University to further develop this additional skill. I remain committed to expanding my qualifications and hope to pursue the NPQ (National Professional Qualification) in the future.
Our students have a strong sense of community and look out for each other; they are courageous and have strong ambitions. They are articulate and enjoy having their views heard here, a sentiment endorsed by our new Headteacher. Our students sense the exciting changes taking places, giving them renewed hope and energy.
Vivienne Stockdale-Garbutt, Language Support Assistant and EAL Support
Vivienne has worked at Notre Dame for over 10 years and comments:
After taking an early retirement, I was looking to refresh my teaching skills and sought a part-time role in support. I was fortunate to commence work here at Notre Dame. I enjoy supporting in French and EAL. The latter offers me a chance to visit other subject areas, and the former allows me to continue using a language I taught previously. I particularly enjoy the interaction with our students. What I love about Notre Dame and the Trust schools is that the religious ethos remains the same across the Trust.
Maribel Jones-Fombella, EAL Support
Maribel has worked at Notre Dame for over 5 years after initially being attracted to the school because of its diverse student body, resonating with her experience of working abroad for most her life.
Working in education has been a childhood ambition, particularly in EAL, having worked in Spain, France and parts of the USA. Notre Dame is an inspirational place, particularly for students arriving from abroad, as we support them in their educational and emotional transition. Working at a Catholic school was also important to me due to my own Catholic education, and Notre Dame's Catholic ethos was a significant draw.
What I enjoy most about working at Notre Dame is seeing and supporting each student flourish, especially EAL students. I am incredibly proud of all who have overcome language challenges to become excellent students and complete their GCSEs, despite the difficult journey. Every student at Notre Dame is important to me, and I am honoured to be part of their educational journey, leading them to success. Professionally, I am grateful for the support from the excellent management team and the teaching and support staff; they have always been there for me.
What makes Notre Dame unique is the building, the students and the staff. We are a school with a heart that strives to educate and emotionally support every student who walks through our gates. Being part of SELCAT will enable our school to thrive further, strengthening our educational standards with SELCAT’s vision and guidance. Our students will have the reassurance that SELCAT is listening to them and prioritising their education.
My future ambitions have shifted from finishing my degree in Education to aspiring to roles such as EAL Coordinator or even a pastoral/safeguarding position. Working within a multicultural environment has shown me that I am capable of more responsibility.
Deborah Clements, Director of Jubilee Centre
Deborah has been a dedicated member of the Notre Dame community for 18 years. Originally joining the school to gain experience in education, she brought with her a wealth of experience from the Youth Justice sector.
I previously worked for the largest and most forward-focused Youth Offending Service (YOS) in the country, serving as a coordinator for a Girls Focussed Support group and as a mentor for young people through the Reparation Programme. I believe my extensive training and experience led to me being offered the position of KS3 Learning Mentor after initially applying for an SSA position here at Notre Dame.
I love my job because I want to make a difference. This could be helping a young person through a crisis or simply asking or answering the right question for them. What sets Notre Dame apart is the school community, especially the staff. I have been to schools where departments do not really interact, but Notre Dame has been a family where, regardless of your role in school, you could ask for help from any member of staff. Helping a young person gain the confidence to ask for help is so important, and it takes our school community to make it happen.
Looking ahead, my future ambitions are clear: To be the best version of me, and in turn, support students to achieve everything they are capable of.
Suzanne McLean, School Business Manager
When Suzanne was a young girl, she wanted to attend Notre Dame, so when the opportunity to work here arose 11 years ago, she jumped at the chance.
I am so happy to be part of a school that has a friendly, caring environment for both students and staff. I enjoy the feeling of family and the fact that no days are the same; there is always something new to learn. The character of the school building, with many parts dating back to 1855, and the charisma of St. Julie have been carried down throughout the years, ensuring the girls who come to the school leave as confident and caring young women.
Being part of the Trust provides opportunities to discuss best practices with our peers and learn from each other, drawing on various experiences. Since joining, we have received training and support from leaders in the Trust. My future ambitions include continuing to improve my knowledge to provide a more efficient service and forming new working relationships within the Trust.
Denise Wright, Librarian, Cover Support & SEND Assistant
Denise was drawn to Notre Dame 5 years ago after hearing inspirational stories from colleagues, friends, and their children.
The school's location, history and longevity add to its distinctive character. The sense of family and the ever-changing environment make it a special place to work. I enjoy working with like-minded individuals who aspire to create a community full of enrichment, offering knowledge, excitement, opportunities and faith to empower young women to reach their full potential. Additionally, I appreciate that Notre Dame is a faith school welcoming girls from a diverse array of faiths. We celebrate our differences while maintaining a Catholic ethos. Learning from our students is also equally rewarding.
With a background in Community Development, my future ambitions include developing partnerships with agencies and organisations to support the school, whether through opportunities for our students, financial aid or charitable contributions. I aim to support young people affected by mental health issues, bridge the gap from school to university for students needing extra support, and find innovative ways to teach and support SEND children.
It is good to be under the umbrella of SELCAT, as knowledge is power. Being part of a larger community allows us to share experiences – both positive and challenging – and learn from each other. We support one another and benefit from the collective wisdom and resources.
