Heads of School 

Niall Hand - Headteacher 

Vivien Nicholls - Head of School & Safeguarding Deputy  

Anthony Donohue - Assistant Head & Safeguarding Lead  

Jill Palliser - Assistant Head 

Elliot Morgan - Assistant Head

Raj Blanchard - Assistant Head, Inclusion & Transition, SENDCO

 

 

Our Senior Leadership Team 

Vivien Nicholls - Head of school & Safeguarding Deputy  

Having been born and bred just over the hill from Ladywell in East Dulwich, Viv is very much a local girl with a commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of children in South-East London. Viv’s own primary school years were spent in the relaxed atmosphere of the seventies pre-national curriculum. Enthusiastic teachers, with practise steeped in creativity, left Viv having happy memories of flared trousers, flower power shirts and a clear vision of the type of education she wanted to provide for children. Viv loves teaching, travel and telling people what to do (in a good way). In her pre-motherhood career, Viv worked for American Express as a sales executive and enjoyed travelling all over the world trying out and reviewing hotels and airlines for customers. A fabulous job, but nothing compared to the fulfilment of teaching in Lewisham (seriously!). She loves building teams, networking and talent spotting. Having been teaching in Lewisham for over 15 years she is always striving to find the next challenge and opportunities for pupils, staff and herself - definitely a bigger picture person delegating the details to her long-suffering, amazing team of staff who always come up trumps. Staff often hide or groan when they hear her dreaded words ‘I’ve had an idea....’. In her spare time, Viv loves walking, cinema, skiing and above all being with her family and two border terriers (Oscar and Chester) who still keep her very busy outside of school.  

Tony Donohue - Assistant Head Teacher, Head Safeguarding Officer & Key Stage One Phase Leader 

Jill Palliser - Assistant Head Teacher,  Teaching and Learning Coordinator & Key stage Two Phase Leader  

You may well hear Jill before you see her; she’s an avid singer and musician and if she’s not singing opera in her office, or playing a Kylie medley on the trumpet, she’s likely to be humming in the corridors! 
Growing up in Sheffield made Jill appreciate diverse, city life and, as such, she’s been enjoying living in London for 12 years. Alongside gigs and galleries, Jill appreciates some of life’s simple pleasures: the reward of a hard day’s work; a smashing brass band; and hot chips with gravy (veggie, of course). 

Raj Blanchard - Assistant Head Teacher, SENDCO & Inclusion Coordinator  

Elliot Morgan - Assistant Head Teacher

 

Our Early Years Team 

Rosie White - Duckling Class Teacher 

Rosie studied Drama & Theatre at The University of Exeter, working with a Theatre in Education company during this time. After University, Rosie worked in a busy drama department at a large secondary school in Surrey. Rosie decided to leave London and travelled around Asia and Indonesia until eventually ending up in Australia and staying for two years. Rosie returned to London and began working as a Teaching Assistant at Prendergast, she swiftly decided to train to teach and began studying at Goldsmiths University. Rosie taught in Year 1 for two years and is now enjoying teaching in Early Years.  

Jade O’Connor  - Duckling Class 

Lidia Aguilera – Cygnet Class Teacher & MFL Coordinator  

Back in 2016, I ended up in Mr Donohue's class as a trainee teacher. This wasn't my first time working in an educational setting but it was the first time I took over a class full of little humans. The entire experience was a fantastic learning curve! 

Prendergast Ladywell was very different from other settings I worked in. Children were happy, relationships with parents strong and the camaraderie among the staff great! So when I found out there were a couple of vacancies I didn't doubt it. I knew I wanted to be part of this big family and that they will support me in my career. 

Assunta Bongiovanni - Cygnet Class Teacher 

After graduating in English Language and Literature in Naples and obtaining her teacher qualification, Assunta moved to London. She has been working in Education for 10 years, most of which as a supply teacher. Working in different schools and across the key stages has given Assunta a breadth of experience across different teaching styles and curriculum approaches. When not teaching in school, Assunta is leading the Confirmation group and is a member of the youth group and children’s liturgy group in her local parish. 

Sibil Bratulic - Cygnet Class Learning Support Assistant

Level 3 Early Years Educator Sibil Bratulic holds a Bsc Hons Degree in Physiotherapy and a Holistic Therapist Diploma 

 

Our Key Stage One Team 

Year 1 Team 

Toy Mitchell  - Bluebird Class Teacher & Reading/Phonics Coordinator 

Victoria considers herself a Welsh Northerner, having spent her early years in Cardiff and moving to Lincolnshire at the age of 7.  The bright lights and music of London beckoned at 18 when she moved to study Humanities and later complete a PGCE at the University of Greenwich.  She has been teaching since 1993 with a rather extended maternity leave when she decided to stay at home with her children from 1998 to 2006!  Working in the Bexley borough for the majority of her career, Victoria made the move to Lewisham in 2017.  At Prendergast Ladywell she has regained her love and enthusiasm for teaching as it is such a wonderful place to be! She still loves living in London and likes to go and see bands as regularly as she can – even on a school night!  She also loves to read and spend time with her family and friends.  

Nicky Collins - Bluebird Class Learning Support Assistant

Nicky knew from an early age she wanted to work with children and is passionate about early years. So after gaining her Diploma in Nursery Nursing and qualifying as an NNEB she worked firstly as a private Nanny and then specialised in working one to one with a boy with severe physical difficulties in a Nursery School in Lewisham. Nicky then settled into a large Nursery attached to one of the biggest schools in Bexley Borough as a class-based Nursery Nurse and spent a considerable part of her career there. In September 2018 she joined the Prendergast Primary team as an EYFS Practitioner in one of the Reception Classes. Nicky's hobbies include walking in the local parks and countryside with her dog or sitting at her sewing machine creating unusual gifts for friends and family. 

Sinead Aaron-Lewis – Hummingbird Class Teacher 

Sofia Wyke - Humming Class Learning Support Assistant

 

Year 2 Team  

Tanya Waters - Flamingo Class Teacher 

Tania Maiarovska - Flamingo Class Learning Support Assistant

Anna Lesiecka – Nightingale Class Teacher, KS1 Lead and Maths Coordinator

Manal Ghebache - Nightingale Class Teacher

Zaira Presutto - Nightingale Class Learning Support Assistant

 

Our Key Stage Two Team 

Year 3 Team   

Luke Hayes - Penguin Class Teacher 

Nadine Nelson - Robin Class Teacher & Healthy School/DT Coordinator  

Sharon Shrubsall - Robin Class Teacher & Healthy School/DT Coordinator  

Sharon grew up in Brockley and gravitated back to the area. She enjoys a riveting read, going to the theatre, cycling, yoga and is an enthusiastic tennis player. Recently Sharon has taken up running (slowly) although she finds it a struggle to keep up with her speedy husband and her lightning-fast son.

Nargis Ulus - Year 3 Support Assistant 

  

Year 4 Team 

Donovan Walker – Dove Class Teacher, Art Lead 

Resident Kiwi. Studied in Marketing/Psychology at Victoria University in New Zealand before being lured into the world of Graphic Design. Worked as a Creative Director across Advertising and Publishing in the UK and NZ. A local of the School, completed his training for his PGCE at University of Buckingham School of Education while at Prendergast Primary. Make sure you do not get cornered into a discussion about the state of Rugby in this country or the best Ski fields for February midterm breaks. 

Elise Symes- Turnball - Goldfinch Class Teacher

Kirstie Fogarty - Year 4 Learning Support Assistant

  

Year 5 Team  

Nick Watson - Eagle Class Teacher  

Gainsborough born; Mr Watson spent a happy childhood in sniffing distance of the Cadbury's factory in Birmingham before moving to Nottingham. Despite studying to be a land surveyor, he ended up working in American comics. Before you ask, his artistic skills are closer to drawing spidergrams than Spiderman. He then followed his mother's footsteps into teaching where he particularly enjoys English, Art and, naturally, PE. His latest challenge is to combine all three subjects into one lesson! 

Outside of school, Mr Watson can be found Dad-dancing to obscure music, unflatteringly squeezed into cycling gear or dragging his weary frame across a muddy football pitch (not at the same time, obvs.). He also has a passion for disco lights, to which anyone who attended the school discos and productions, will attest. 

Emma Webster - Falcon Class Teacher, Phase Leader & Curriculum Coordinator 

Miss Webster is obsessed with all things creative! From humble beginnings gracing dance stages across Europe, nearly Dr Webster now inspires young minds and looks for lost jumpers. She is hugely passionate about the development of our uniquely creative curriculum, travelling as far as Nepal for inspiration. When she’s not working on the curriculum, she’s probably working on the curriculum, or doing ballet, or reading about the curriculum. 

 

Year 6 Team 

Alex Gwinnett – Peacock Class Teacher  

Emma Bushnell - Peacock Class Learning Support Assistant 

Hannah Tilley – Swan Class Teacher 

Graham Gaskell – Swan Class Learning Support Assistant