Meet the Staff

Miss Paula Blackburn

Executive Head Teacher, Federation of Boskenwyn and Germoe Schools

head@fbgschools.co.uk

I was born in Manchester a long, long time ago! I moved to Cornwall 20 years ago and my 2 lovely children grew up here. Before then I lived and taught in a variety of places including Sweden (where I developed a love of the Scandinavian way of learning). I became head of Germoe School in 2006 and then Executive head of Boskenwyn and Germoe 8 years ago. I love my job and I'm passionate about enabling children to have a wonderful experience at school, developing a lifelong love of learning and being the best they can be. In my spare time I like to travel and immerse myself into different cultures. I am a member of Coverack Bluetits and sea swim when I can, I also enjoy coastal walking and I love reading.

Miss Z Symons

Deputy Head/Class 3Teacher/Maths

zsymons@fbgschools.co.uk

I was lucky enough to be born in Cornwall and loved growing up here. I left to go to university and study maths and returned back to Cornwall after completing my degree to carry out my teacher training. I still love maths- as all my classes all know- and I love leading maths across our schools. Outside of school I love to spend as much time as I can outside and exploring, especially at beaches. I will give almost any watersport a go at least once and particularly enjoy gig rowing. I've been lucky enough to take part in the world championships out on the Isles of Scilly a few times now and have even raced against Mrs Basher!

Mr A Height

Class 2 Teacher/Music Lead/Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead

aheight@fbgschools.co.uk

Hello,

I am Mr Height. I am originally from West Sussex and I love: All things musical, surfing, skateboarding catching fish and of course, educating. My route into education (as a teacher) started very young. Through teaching guitar to friends and family members, my interest in the power of education and how we learn fueled my desire to teach. I studied for my degree in music at Falmouth University and enjoyed it so much that I ended up teaching guitar at the university for some time afterwards. The next step was then to fully realise the dream by training as a primary teacher so that I could do the highly rewarding job that I do today. I like to keep musically active outside of my role as a teacher and perform regularly around the country.

Mrs Denise Rusga

Teacher Class 2

Mrs C Basher

Class 2 Teacher

Cornish born and bred, I feel incredibly lucky to have achieved my dream of working as a teacher in a local village primary school. I have always been passionate about enabling children to become the best that they can be and to develop their curiosity and love of learning. I am a keen musician, having previously toured the UK as a singer and bassist of a metal band as well as still regularly performing in the local music scene! I love sharing my passion for music with the children, particularly leading our whole school choir.

Outside of school, I absolutely love spending time, riding, training and competing in showjumping with my horse Ruby (who I'm sure the children are already sick of me talking about!) I also gig row for my local Cornish Pilot Gig Rowing club and can often be found being competitive on the water with Miss Symons!

Mrs B Reeves

Class Teacher

BReeves@fbgschools.co.uk

Hi!
I'm Beth and I was also lucky enough to be born in Cornwall- I even went to Germoe School in Y5 and Y6!

I love to travel and spent the early part of my 20s doing ski seasons and exploring our brilliant planet. I came to primary teaching after having spent a decade teaching English as a Second Language in many different places. I realised that teaching was my vocation! My biggest love is teaching reading, and I especially enjoy working with early readers and emerging readers. I feel very strongly that high levels of literacy, good critical thinking skills, and a love of books is the best way we can empower our children for the future.

I still enjoy travel, cooking, being outside or in the water, and spending time with my three hilarious and mischievous children. And, of course, I love a good book.

Miss J Burns

Class 1 Teacher/ EYFS/ RE Lead

jburns@fbgschools.co.uk

I have been at Germoe School for almost 10 years now, how time flies when you are having fun! I have been working in the early years for 28 years and I can honestly say I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else! First and foremost, the most important thing for me is to make sure your child has a happy start to school, where they feel safe and cared for in a nurturing environment. I have previously worked in many different schools across the North West . I graduated at university with an Arts degree and when I'm not busy at school, I enjoy sketching in and outdoors and taking long relaxing walks on the beach. I also enjoy spending time with my little 'zoo' of animals, I have two Romanian rescue dogs and 3 rescue cats., plus a huge tankful of fish!

Mrs Katie Knight

Class 1 Teacher and Inquiry/DT/Languages Lead

knight@germoe.cornwall.sch.uk

I have been teaching for 23 years, and started my career in Kidderminster having completed my teacher training in Birmingham. After a few years I decided to volunteer with VSO as a teacher trainer in Malawi (South East Africa). I loved Malawi so much that I stayed for eight years, teaching at the International School. After that, myself, my husband and two daughters moved to Beijing, China for another seven years. Living in such different cultures was a wonderful experience and taught me to be a life-long learner - although I wish I had been better at learning Mandarin!

On return to the UK we settled in Cornwall, and I was thrilled to discover Boskenwyn and Germoe schools. I have many years of experience teaching inquiry-based learning, which I am delighted to continue developing with the children and my colleagues.

In my spare time I love to walk the coast path with my two dogs. I really love winter in Cornwall and the exhilaration of a chilly dip in the sea followed by a flask of tea and a piece of cake!

Mrs Angie Larcombe

SENDCO

alarcombe@fbgschools.co.uk

I worked as a Teaching Assistant in local schools whilst my daughter was growing up, and decided I’d like to have my own class, so set about 7 years of part time study before achieving BA in Historical and Cultural Studies. I then did PGCE with Exeter University.

I started working at Boskenwyn school when it was a small two class school, with just four part time teachers. Before this, I worked in Penzance and other Helston and Lizard schools for a few years. I’ve taught all ages and key stages, and around 5 years ago, left the classroom for the role of Special Educational Needs Coordinator.

I have always been interested in children’s development and the development of the ‘whole’ child. I feel so privileged to be working with children and their families, and with colleagues, that really value the important things – relationship, nurture, and commitment to supporting children to achieve their best, and to thrive, academically, emotionally, socially and physically.

In my spare time, I enjoy family time, gardening, cooking, my cats and chickens, and spending time in the beautiful Cornish landscapes. I have interests in archaeology, family and local history and I’ve just started yoga.

Mrs H Fish

Class 1 Teaching Assistant

Mrs P Bird

Class 2/3 Teaching Assistant

Mrs A Segal

Class 3Teaching Assistant

Mrs A Care

Senior School/Federation Secretary

Mrs L McKeown

School Secretary (Boskenwyn)

Miss K Mitchell

Cook

Mr P van-Kesteren

Premises Manager