Key Staff

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Senior Leadership Team

Rachel Perks Principal

Rachel joined NCW in September 2022. Her previous role was as Head Teacher for another Worcestershire residential special school so she has a great deal of experience in the education of children and young people with special educational needs.

Steve Farr Vice Principal

Steve joined NCW in 2023 and brings over 20 years worth of teaching experience with him. For the past nine years he has been an Assistant Head in a secondary school in South Gloucestershire. Having attended Worcester Uni on a cricket scholarship, he then went on to live and work in New Zealand for several years. Steve is now based in Worcester where he lives with his wife, two children and dog. Steve is a keen cricket and hockey player and a lover of New Zealand wine and Cadbury chocolate!

Will Stark Assistant Principal - Curriculum, Teaching & Learning

Will joined New College in January 2014 as Head of Science. He has taught Science since 1997 and he joined NCW from a school in Bromsgrove where he had been Head of Physics. Over the years, Will has mastered Science Braille, and delivered Outreach to support staff, teachers, and QTVIs from all over the country. Will won Worcestershire Teacher of the Year in 2022, and has been a presenter at the VIEW National Conference in Birmingham, and more recently a keynote speaker for the Republic of Ireland Institute of Physics, sharing his experience of teaching Science to Children and Young People with Vision Impairment. Will has been responsible for setting the student timetables for many years, and his new role combines his experience in this, with a strong passion for improving student outcomes. Will lives with his wife and two children, and his dog, Moo. His interests away from work include playing guitar and bass guitar, and going to the gym as often as possible!

Paul Stephens Assistant Principal - Personal Development

Paul joined NCW in September 2023 as 6th Form Manager and is extremely pleased to be starting the new role of Assistant Principal responsible for Personal Development. Paul spent 15 years working in a local further education college with a focus on student development and is keen to bring this experience to the students of NCW. Paul lives in Worcester with his wife and dog, his children are all grown up and have moved to cities that he enjoys visiting. Paul and his wife sponsor and fundraise for a local charity that supports education for students in Tanzania to attend secondary and tertiary education. Paul’s son introduced him and his wife to international development which led them to this charity. Paul is a keen cyclist and has recently found a passion for open water swimming.

Jo Dursley Director of Residential

Jo is a highly experienced education professional and joined NCW in February 2023 from a local Independent school. She has been a teacher for over 15 years having taught Physical Education, EAL and has been Head of a Sixth Form. In previous residential roles, Jo has been a Houseparent and Head of Boarding. Jo loves sport and has rowed and played netball internationally. Jo lives with her husband, 3 children and cat just outside Worcester. Her priority at NCW is being able to contribute to the happiness and wellbeing of students.

Simon Morom Director of Finance

Simon joined NCW in March 2023 as Strategic Lead for Business and Finance and is looking forward to helping NCW achieve it's new 5-year Strategic Plan. He has worked for over 20 years in the Educational Sector covering FE Colleges, Schools and Multi-Academy Trusts, spending 13 years at North East Worcestershire College, initially as Head of Finance and then as Director of Finance, 2 years at South Worcestershire College as Vice-Principal Finance & Resources and most recently 2 years at The Four Stones Multi-Academy Trust as the Chief Financial Officer tasked with centralising the MAT’s finance and resource functions. Outside work, Simon enjoys tennis, following Formula One and is a member of the local Cotswold Alfa Romeo Owners Club enjoying their events and taking part in the club annual Cotswold Treasure Hunt. Simon lives in Redditch with his wife Emma and their dog Rufus, two house rabbits, Bobby & Moosa and two guinea pigs, Toby and Zac.

Victoria Ward Associate Principal: NCW Lead Practitioner for VI

Victoria joined NCW in 2000, initially as Director of Music, where she developed an expertise for Music Braille and introduced Music Technology to the curriculum. She remains committed to ensuring that students are taught the skills that they need to become independent learners. Victoria leads on VI Education, a role which encompasses continuing professional development of staff; ensuring that every student has equitable access to the whole curriculum including the specialist VI curriculum and that students are fully prepared for life after College and the world of work.

Paul Marnell Designated Safeguarding Lead

Paul joined NCW in September 2021 and is the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Paul finds this a really interesting role as it includes being responsible for safeguarding across the residential settings and during the college day. Before joining NCW Paul spent twenty years in primary education in a variety of roles including Class Teacher, ICT Lead, Assistant Head and Headteacher. When not at work, Paul enjoys keeping up-to-date with news and current affairs, travelling and going to the gym for exercise and relaxation.

Other Key Staff

Anthony Rooney - Deputy Head of Residential

Anthony Rooney Deputy Head of Care and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Claire Mogg - Deputy Head of Residential

Charlene Smith - SENCO

Chris Styles - Assistant SENCO

photo of Chris

Katie Rule - Head of Science and Key Stage 5

Katie joined NCW in September 2022 as Head of Biology, and progressed to Head of Science within her first year. Katie joined NCW from another Worcester based school where she was STEM and pupil premium lead. This experience allowed her to gain extensive knowledge based around student engagement and inclusivity within the Sciences.

Katie quickly passed her and has implemented the Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People into her lessons, whilst bringing in experience she has gained throughout her career in education. She has a deep interest in inclusive teaching for children with Special Educational Needs, and over the years has specialised in Vision Impairment. In 2023, Katie became Head of Key Stage 4 and brings years of pastoral experience to this role.

Katie lives in Worcester, and enjoys spending her time away from work with her toddler son and her partner. She enjoys visiting animal conservation projects, and travelling with her family.

Staff - Rachael McGirr - Head of Psychology

Karen Morris - Trauma Informed School Practioner

Karen qualified as a teacher in 1994 working initially in Further and Adult Education. She soon realised that she wanted to work with young people and made the transition to working in secondary schools taking on alternative provision and pastoral roles. She joined NCW in 2015 as the Health and Social Care teacher and gained her QTVI qualification and an MEd in the process. She is a Trauma Informed School Practioner

Tracey Smith - Liasion Co-ordinator

Tracey has worked at NCW for 20 years. In her role as Liaison Co-ordinator she works closely with the Marketing team to show potential parents and students what life is like at NCW on a day to day basis. She works with prospective families to plan and organise an assessment for their child and is the point of contact for the families whilst they navigate the funding process. Tracey’s liaison role continues during the induction phase whilst the new student settles into NCW.

Tracey is also the Staff Governor

Keris Fogg - Safeguarding Officer and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Keris has worked in education for over 25 years, primarily in pastoral roles. She is married to Jonathan Fogg the Head of ICT