Mrs C O’Donnell

Headteacher

I am Clare O'Donnell, the newly appointed Headteacher of Dedworth Middle School.

It is a tremendous privilege to lead a school that has played such an important part in my professional journey. In many ways, this feels like coming full circle. I am beginning my headship at Dedworth twenty-two years after first walking through the doors as a newly qualified teacher. Whilst I have been fortunate to work in other schools and gain valuable experience throughout my career, Dedworth has always held a special place in my heart, and I am incredibly proud to return as Headteacher.

Many of you will already know me from my previous roles within the school. Having worked at Dedworth for a number of years, I have had the pleasure of teaching many of our pupils, working closely with families and being part of this wonderful community. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of what makes Dedworth such a special place and a strong belief in what we can achieve together.

What I love most about Dedworth is its people. We are fortunate to have a dedicated, talented and loyal staff team who care deeply about our children and go above and beyond every day to support them. Their commitment, professionalism and passion are at the heart of everything we do, and I feel incredibly privileged to work alongside them.

I am passionate about education and firmly believe that every child should be known, valued and supported to achieve their full potential. I have high aspirations for our school and am committed to ensuring that every pupil receives an excellent education, develops confidence in their abilities and leaves Dedworth equipped for the opportunities and challenges of the future.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am passionate, determined and fiercely proud of our school. I am immensely proud of all that Dedworth has already achieved and excited about what lies ahead. My ambition is for Dedworth to continue building on its many strengths and to be recognised not only for academic success, but also for the exceptional care, opportunities and sense of belonging that we provide for every child.

Although my role as Headteacher brings many responsibilities, spending time with pupils remains my favourite part of the job. Whether that is visiting lessons, celebrating achievements, attending sporting fixtures, supporting trips and residentials, or simply chatting with children around the school, these moments are what make education such a rewarding profession.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, keeping active and watching sport. I am naturally competitive, which probably explains why I am always looking for opportunities to improve, develop and strive for the very best. Above all, I believe in hard work, positivity and making the most of every opportunity.

I strongly believe that successful schools are built on strong partnerships between home and school. I want all parents and carers to feel welcomed, valued and able to approach us when they need support. By working together, we can ensure that every child has the very best experience during their time at Dedworth.

Mr M Cross

Deputy Headteacher

Hello Dedworth Middle School, I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Mr. Cross and I am proud and excited to work with the Dedworth community in my role as Deputy Head Teacher: Inclusion. I will be working hard with members of the school community to ensure that our students are embracing our A.C.H.I.E.V.E values. I passionately believe that all children have the right to a strong education regardless of barriers and will work with all our fantastic staff to ensure every student at Dedworth Middle School has the skills they need to achieve success. I will be working closely with our fantastic inclusion team to ensure all students at Dedworth Middle School are given the support they need to reach for the stars. 

I have the opportunity this year to teach Mathematics to students in year 6, 7 and 8. I will also be teaching year 6 history through the academic year. I have a passion for these subject areas and look forward to working with my students to strengthen their understand and knowledge.

I enjoy travelling and have already visited a wide variety of foreign locations. I enjoy experiencing the different cultures and learning about the country’s history. I also enjoy hiking and rabbling in the countryside.

I have worked in the Education sector for 18 years in two vastly different countries. Completing my first 14years in Australia before moving to England to teach in primary school. I have worked in a variety of schools with a wide range of needs. I believed that the key to education is developing strong relationships forged with honesty, trust and consistency. I look forward to working with the Dedworth Middle School community to Unlock the Potential to Achieve for all our pupils.  

Mr D Moult

Assistant Headteacher

Hello, I'm Mr Moult, one of the Assistant Headteachers at Dedworth Middle School!

I focus on the quality of education across the school. This means I look after all of the children and teachers to make sure that the teaching and learning is the best it possibly can be! I also work closely with newly-qualified and trainee teachers as well as working with Mrs O'Donnell on our curriculum. You can find me in my office upstairs in the new block, or in room 4 teaching English to years 7 and 8.

In my spare time I love to engage with lots of hobbies: reading as many books as I can, going to the gym, video gaming, collecting trainers, singing and playing piano. I'd love to know if we have some common interests!

Mr B Day

Assistant Headteacher/ SENCo

Starting as an English teacher in 2011 in North London, I have been a school senior lead since 2018. My areas of focus have always been pastoral, safeguarding and inclusion. I come to the role with a keen awareness that school is much for challenging for some than others, but also an ambitious for what all pupils can achieve with the right support in place. I am passionate about developing the whole child as well as focusing on academic attainment, ensuring they have the personal development in place to thrive in our ever changing world. Finally, I am passionate about working in collaboration with parents and carers to get the very best for their child (recognising that school does not have happy memories for all!)

Miss R Walton

Assistant Headteacher

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Assistant Headteacher and to become a part of this vibrant and welcoming school community. It is a true privilege to work alongside such dedicated staff, supportive families, and enthusiastic children. From my very first day, it’s been clear that this is a school where kindness, curiosity, and
high expectations are at the heart of everything we do. To the children – I am so excited to get to know each of you. I look forward to seeing you thrive in your learning, grow in confidence, and enjoy all the wonderful opportunities this school has to offer. My door is always open, whether you want to share something you’re proud of or need someone to listen. To parents and carers – I look forward to building strong relationships with you as we work together to ensure the very best for your children. I believe in open, honest communication and in creating a school environment where every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to achieve their full

Mr S Pearce - SLT - Curriculum & Outcomes

Hello! I am Mr. Pearce and I am the Head of English at Dedworth Middle School and I have the exciting and happy job of inspiring pupils adoring all, things written and read! I’ll be teaching Year 6 and 7 English lessons and working with the rest of the English team to make every year group’s English curriculum thrilling, engaging and one that will make them the best readers and authors possible. I have high expectations of the pupils at Dedworth Middle and I will work my hardest to ensure each and every pupil in our school finds their English lessons fun and ones that they feel they can succeed in. I have been an English teacher for over ten years and love reading anything and everything from historical fiction to blogs and poetry. In my spare time, I love spending time with my wife and children as well as trying my hand at baking – I make a killer salted caramel cupcake!