Meet the Support Staff

Mrs Butler - SENCO

Hello Year 7, I’m Mrs Butler and I am going to be working as the school’s SENCO. Although I won’t be teaching, I am a qualified teacher and have taught a range of subjects from English to H&SC all the way up to A Level. I have a BA(Hons) in Education from Canterbury Christchurch and also an HND from Coventry University in Equine Studies and anyone who knows me will tell you I am horse mad! My husband is a professional rider and between us we currently have five, they are called Jeff, Flo, Bibi, Ferdi and Sage. I have represented England and have competed internationally in Dressage on two different horses.

An interesting fact about me is that I ran the London Marathon in 2002 in under 5 hours and just 5 weeks after my appendix burst! These days the only thing I run is a bath but it remains one of my proudest achievements.

I am so excited to be joining you all and can’t wait to meet you and support you in your learning journey. Have a fantastic summer and see you in September.

Mrs Lynch - Student Service Manager

Hello Year 7, my name is Mrs Lynch. I will be the Student Service Manager at Leigh Academy Rainham and I will be there to support you on your exciting journey into secondary School.

I have been working in education for 36 years and 31 of them on the Isle of Sheppey. My roles have mainly been pastoral roles with my last position as Deputy Head of House.

I am and have always been passionate about educating young people. How it shapes and gives you the solid foundations for your future. Ultimately, seeing you become well-rounded individuals.

I love to read, walk, cycle, one of my achievements was cycling up Mount Ventoux in Provence France, and to listen to music, almost any music but especially live music. And finally, summer holidays with all my family in a country house in France.

I am really excited to be Working at Leigh Academy Rainham, to be able to share this exciting opportunity with you all.

I look forwards to seeing you in September.

Miss McColm - Receptionist

Hi Year 7, my name is Miss McColm and I will be working on completing my Business Administration apprenticeship in Reception at Leigh Academy Rainham. I’m really looking forward to starting a new career path at our Academy and very grateful for the opportunity to start alongside you all.

I’m really passionate about watching people grow, progress and better themselves in everything that they do and I hope that I get to see you all be the best versions of yourself and be happy with everything you accomplish. A hobby of mine would be to surround myself with family or friends in whatever I am doing as I love making memories with the people around me.

An interesting fact about me would be that I have worked since I was 13, I have always had a strong work ethic and wanted to be independent since I was young whilst also getting the grades at school which I needed to progress further.

I am very excited to start in September with you all and I hope you all have a great Summer!

Miss McColm - Receptionist

Hi Year 7, my name is Miss McColm and I will be working on completing my Business Administration apprenticeship in Reception at Leigh Academy Rainham. I’m really looking forward to starting a new career path at our Academy and very grateful for the opportunity to start alongside you all.

I’m really passionate about watching people grow, progress and better themselves in everything that they do and I hope that I get to see you all be the best versions of yourself and be happy with everything you accomplish. A hobby of mine would be to surround myself with family or friends in whatever I am doing as I love making memories with the people around me.

An interesting fact about me would be that I have worked since I was 13, I have always had a strong work ethic and wanted to be independent since I was young whilst also getting the grades at school which I needed to progress further.

I am very excited to start in September with you all and I hope you all have a great Summer!

Miss Chapell - Teaching Assistant

Hello Year 7, I’m Miss Chapell and I’m going to be working as an apprentice teaching assistant. Studying psychology and criminology piqued my interest into the human mind and as a result I very much enjoy watching, over analyzing and solving crimes in crime documentaries, series and films. I am also a productive person and don’t like sitting idly by and therefore I build lego sets and complete wordsearches or crosswords to keep my mind focused.

One interesting fact about me is that not only have I visited France, Spain and Tenerife many times, but I have also visited Washington DC where I went into the Capitol building, went to the very top of the Washington Monument, walked right beside the White House and FBI building and even saw the presidential motorcade drive past.

I’m very excited to meet all of you in September and are eager to start this new chapter with you.

Mrs Stewart - Librarian

Hello Year 7, I am Mrs Stewart and I am your Librarian (Literacy Support Assistant). I am extremely excited to share my passion for reading and books. I have taught English for over 12 years. My favourite books at the moment are written by David Walliams because I always laugh out loud whilst reading them! My favourite children’s book of all time is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory written by Roald Dahl. When I read this book, it takes me to a place of pure imagination.

I am a very creative person and I love creating bright vibrant wall displays, which will decorate the Library to give a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere. In my spare time I love to visit places of interest with my family and enjoy making personalised gifts varying from shadowbox pictures to sanitiser keyrings. An interesting fact about myself is that every other generation in my family has had twins, my great-grandfather was a twin, my mother is a twin and I was the lucky one that had twins! Hopefully one of my grandchildren will carry on the tradition.

I’m incredibly excited to have been given the opportunity to work at Leigh Academy Rainham. I can’t wait to meet you all in September, I know you are going to love spending time in the Library and don’t forget to read lots of books over the Summer!

Miss Shannon - Science Technician

Hello Year 7, I am Miss Shannon and I am your Science Technician. I have been doing this job for 11 years now and everyday is still as exciting as the first.

I love researching, trialling and delivering science practicals that I am sure you will find exciting and also help to enhance your science learning.

I have worked and lived on the Isle Of Sheppey all my life so it will be an exciting experience travelling to the mainland daily in my new role.

During the summer I love travelling to Switzerland and spending time in the mountains with my family. I also enjoy camping, walking and baking.

I am so excited to be a part of your learning journey and I cannot wait to meet you all in September.

Miss Hansford - Acting Assistant SENCO and Teaching Assistant

Hello Year 7 - I’m Miss Hansford and I’ll be your Acting Assistant SENCO and Teaching Assistant. I’ve been in Education for 12 years and SEN is a passion of mine. I love to see children and young adults achieve their best. I’m a qualified ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) not the Frozen kind as I can’t sing.

An interesting fact about me - I have recently set up a group for parents/carers and professionals of children and young adults with a SEND. It’s called SENG (Support Empathy Non-Judgemental Group). It’s been a dream of mine for a long time and I’m so happy to be finally getting it moving with a fabulous team.

Other passions of mine are baking, France (I’m learning French at the moment), Disney and organising parties. I entered the GBBO for this year and got through to round 2. Maybe next year you’ll see me on Channel 4.

At the weekend you’ll find me baking cakes, spending time with my family, pets and watching anything to do with true crime and CSI.

I’m really looking forward to meeting you all in September and being part of your secondary journeys. Je suis impatient de tous vous rencontrer et vous souhaite bonne chance dans vos choix futurs.

Mr Arnold - Site Manager

Hello Year 7, I will be your site manager for Rainham Academy I will be overseeing the daily maintenance needs of the academy , such as its security, safety and welfare requirements to ensure you have a safe and pleasant time whilst studying in this new wonderful building .

I have spent the last 38 years in the construction industry, and have been involved in all aspects of development work. Commencing as a shop assistant in a builders merchants way back in 1983 , to a painters apprentice, a trainee building supervisor working and studying to become a Project manager, building, fire stations, hospitals, new schools and multi use learning hubs.

I have a passion for 60s & 70s soul music and I enjoy to “dj “ at every opportunity. I read when time allows and enjoy Fantasy fiction and horror. My favourite author is David Gemmell. An interesting fact about myself , despite all my life in the building industry. My very first job was a zoo keeper at London zoo.

You never know which way life takes you, study hard and I look forward to seeing you all.

Mr Allen - Caretaker

Hello Year 7 I will be your site operative and will help with the daily maintenance of the academy which will include security and safety to ensure you have a safe learning environment in this brand new academy.

After leaving college I have worked within the Security & Retail sector covering a variety of different roles from CCTV work to loss prevention. I have also worked within the prison service ensuring the secure and safe running of the establishment.

My hobbies include football refereeing which I have done since I was 15 years old. I also have a keen interest in photography in particular animals and wildlife. I enjoy traveling abroad whenever possible and would like to visit as many countries as possible.

I look forward to meeting you all in September.