Staff
Meet our dedicated team of professionals, where each member brings unique expertise and passion to deliver exceptional service.
Staff
At Worthgate School, our staff are passionate, experienced, and dedicated to providing the highest quality education. Our team includes expert educators, examiners, and leaders in their fields, all committed to nurturing students’ academic achievements and personal growth. With a focus on fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and character, our staff work closely with students to help them thrive in an inspiring and supportive environment.
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Dr Ian Gross
Principal
Ian was appointed Principal of The Worthgate School from August 2023. Over the past two decades, Ian has held several senior academic leadership positions at prominent international schools worldwide, including Bahrain, Thailand, Egypt, Argentina, and, most recently, Malaysia. He joins with in-depth knowledge of delivering GCSE, A Level, and International Baccalaureate programmes to international students. Ian holds a Doctorate in Education (EdD), an MA in Educational Leadership and Management, both from the University of Bath, and a PGCE Secondary Science from the University of Greenwich. Ian has been a visiting team member for the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA). Ian is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching (FCCT) and believes all staff and students should be inspired and empowered to achieve and reach their full potential in all that they do.
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Rebecca Champion
Assistant Principal Academic
Rebecca joined the Worthgate School in December 2022 as Assistant Principal Academic. She graduated from the University of Plymouth in 2001 with a BSc (Hons) in Geography, then trained to teach. Rebecca entered the teaching profession with an enthusiastic and dedicated approach to both her subject and the world of education, and has maintained that approach throughout her career. She has taught in secondary education for 23 years. During that time, Rebecca has been a teaching coach, Head of Department, Head of Faculty and is thoroughly enjoying her current role as Assistant Principal Academic. Rebecca continues to be ambitious for herself, the school and the students that attend.
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Helen Rose
Assistant Principal Boarding and Welfare
Helen is an experienced educator with a unique blend of artistic insight and educational leadership. Helen has a Master’s in Fine Art Sculpture from the University of Leeds and has worked in a range state schools and specialised settings, more recently, independent boarding schools. Having held the position of Director for Teaching and Learning across four schools, Helen possesses a wealth of experience in educational management and pedagogical innovation. Driven by a passion for student welfare and character development, Helen transitioned into pastoral care. Recognising the role of holistic education, Helen is committed to nurturing environments where students feel valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Helen plays an active part in shaping best practices within the independent school sector and is involved with The Institute of Boarding and the Boarding Schools Association, contributing expertise to support fellow professionals, particularly for boarding and student welfare. Helen’s approach to education is founded on the belief that academic achievement is inseparable from personal growth.
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Mike Bell
Assistant Principal Pastoral and Senco
Mike joined the Worthgate team in 2022 and leads our Pastoral and ALS departments. Champions of the Worthgate Characteristics, Mike and his team are passionate about supporting every student to develop their skills beyond the classroom and make the most of their time in Canterbury. They role model and promote a caring community, with effective communicators, who are open-minded, resilient and critical thinkers. They notice the little wins and celebrate the big successes. They establish and develop trusting relationships with every student, helping them understand and overcome any barriers to learning. Success in the classroom is the tip of the pyramid; underpinned by positive mental health, opportunity to participate in the community and the resilience to turn failure into a learning tool.
Mike is proud to be a leading part of ‘the school that cares’ as we continue to innovate our provision for the best student experience. When you visit, be sure to pop by, his door is always open.
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Alison King
Registrar
Alison joined The Worthgate School in 2016 as the Student Services Manager and was subsequently appointed Registrar. As the first point of contact for current and prospective students, she is a vital ambassador for the school, building and maintaining effective relationships with parents and agents. Her duties include overseeing the enrolment and registration processes, interviewing and organising visits, managing UKVI compliance in the school and providing first line support to the sales and marketing teams. Alison heads up the Student Communications Team assisting current students face to face with day-to-day queries including passport and visa support, opening bank accounts and promoting key messages.
Alison has worked in the education sector for over 30 years and managed customer service departments within schools and colleges for over 20 of these. She therefore understands that maintaining excellent customer service is vital to ensure the satisfaction of our students and parents.