Our Staff

Headteacher

I am very proud to be the Headteacher of this fantastic school. I joined the staff in September 2015 and very soon realised that the children are wonderful – polite and hardworking; the staff are fabulous - dedicated and highly skilled; and the parents are terrific – supportive and welcoming.

I have 32 years of teaching experience, during which time I have taught every year group from Year 2 to Year 6. I have 26 years of Senior Leadership, having been a Year Group Leader, an Assistant Headteacher, a Deputy Headteacher and a SENCo.  Cross in Hand is my second Headship. My philosophy of education is that all children have the right to be happy, to reach their potential and to be treated with respect.

In my spare time I enjoy walking in the beautiful East Sussex countryside and going to the theatre and cinema. I also absolutely love to read, which I do every day. Since September 2021, we have also been thrilled to introduce Winnie Whippet, our School Dog, so much of my spare time is taken up with training her.

If you wish to contact me via email, please do so using office@cross-in-hand.e-sussex.sch.uk.

Deputy Headteacher

Mrs Williams-Finch - (Inclusion Manager and SENCo)


After spending 13 years as a classroom teacher, from Early Years to Key Stage Two, I have spent my time since January 2010 here at Cross in Hand focusing on Special Educational Needs and Inclusion. I love learning about the specific needs of individual children and thinking creatively how best to provide the support they require. I also enjoy leading, and working in partnership with, a fabulous team of adults at Cross in Hand who really do have the best interests of our children at heart.

In my spare time I love gardening and walking my Cockapoo puppy ( I also have a beautiful rescue cat but he doesn't come for walks with me). I have a keen interest in Art and am currently part way through a Classical Art course. I’m passionate about mental health and have learnt how important it is that we nurture our own wellbeing so that we can be the best we can be for the children in our care.

If you wish to contact me about matters of SEN and Inclusion, please do so using this email address: mwilliams-finch@cross-in-hand.e-sussex.sch.uk or by telephoning the school office on 01435 862941.

Early Years

Mrs Codd (Lewes Class)

I am so pleased to have joined the fantastic team at Cross in Hand School. The staff, children and parents are so friendly and welcoming. I am very much looking forward to the year ahead.

Since graduating from Canterbury Christ Church University, I have taught EYFS or Key Stage 1. I love working with this age group, being at the beginning of a child’s school journey and watching how they grow and blossom as they progress through the school.

When I am not working, I love spending time with my friends and family. I enjoy cycling in the countryside as well as watching different sports but Formula One is my favourite! Should I find a quiet moment to myself, I also enjoy reading a book.

Mrs Banfield (Lewes Class)

I am delighted to have joined such a caring and friendly team at Cross In Hand. All the staff, children and parents are so welcoming and supportive. 

I have been teaching for just over 10 years now, prominently within EYFS classes. I absolutely love teaching this age. I see it as a privilege to be part of such an important milestone in the children’s lives. It is wonderful to watch the children grow and flourish throughout their first school year. 

When I am not working, I love spending time with my family and friends. I can often be found pottering around in the garden, going on long walks or day trips out. I also enjoy baking with my two children; we love trying out new recipes and making family favourites.

Mrs Gardiner (Hever Class)

I joined Cross in Hand in 2009 and have mainly taught in Key Stage 1 and Early Years, which I thoroughly enjoy. It gives me great pride to be involved from the start of the children's school journey and watch them progress through the school into Year 6. I have a strong passion for history and reading; I can often be found curled up at home with a good book!

In my spare time, I enjoy pottering in the garden and going on picnics with my family.

Mrs Kerrigan (Hever Class)

I started my teaching career in 2001. For much of this time I have been in Early years. I feel that working with children at the start of their educational journey is an incredible privilidge and a great joy. I am very passionate about The Early Years and child development. I have had a great deal of training and experience in the field of acquired brain injury and speech and language development. I am passionate about using high quality texts in Early Years, to support speech and language development and to inspire a love of reading. 

It was my absolute pleasure to join Cross in Hand last year. I have been made to feel incredibly welcome since my arrival.

In my spare time, I enjoy gardening, arts and crafts, photography, hosting international students and spending time with family and friends. I also love to travel and explore the world with my husband and son. 

Learning Support Assistants:

- Mrs Cottingham

- Mrs Evans

- Mrs Bousell (Maternity Leave)

Year 1 & 2

Mrs Bailey (Bodiam Class)

I joined Cross in Hand in January 2014 as a Year 2 teacher. I have loved teaching at the school, the children are so responsive and the other staff very supportive. It is a very happy place to be working in. With my recent background being in Early Years, I looked forward to being able to move to Year 1&2 and to all the challenges of being part of one of the first chapters in a child’s school career!

When not working, I spend time with my family. We love to go walking on the Ashdown Forest – especially if the ice-cream van is there! I also love gardening and cooking.

Mrs Elphinstone (Camber Class)

I was delighted to join the Cross in Hand team in 2016 after having spent the previous 11 years working at a primary school in London. I have been fortunate enough to teach in all the primary years but I have to say my heart is with Key Stage One and Early Years. This year I am going to be teaching Year One and I couldn’t be happier. Cross in Hand is a warm and welcoming environment to work in but the most wonderful thing is that the children are happy, content and encouraged to be individuals. 

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, going for long walks with my children and my dog. I also enjoy visiting the theatre to watch a play, visiting museums and popping into an art gallery.

Miss Read (Leeds Class) - Senior Leader

I joined Cross in Hand in 2020 as Year 1/2 Class Teacher after working for 10 years in a primary school in St Leonards on Sea.  It was an unusual start to my time at Cross in Hand as we spent a large amount of time in lockdown. I love teaching here - the staff are incredibly supportive and the children are so engaged and ready to learn. The school has a clear vision and child-centred approach, this was one of the reasons why I wanted to work here. As well as being a class teacher, I am the senior leader for EY and KS1. I love this role as it means I get to know all of the children across the two key stages really well. I am also the senior mental health lead for the school. 

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family. We often visit the beach for long walks and scooter rides (I am not the one on the scooter!). I enjoy visiting markets and then cooking (and eating) everything I buy there.

Mrs Turner (Hastings Class)

I am pleased to have joined the team this year at Cross in Hand School. I love the child-centred ethos that Cross in Hand school has and I'm looking forward to working in this environment. I have always believed that happy and confident children are able to thrive in all areas. 

After finishing my degree in 2020, I have had the pleasure of teaching mixed Year 3/4 classes in local schools. I am excited to take on the new challenge of moving into KS1. 

In my spare time, I enjoy baking and trying out new recipes. I also enjoy going on long walks with my family. Over the last year, I have been teaching myself Makaton and have enjoyed incorporating it into my teaching to support communication.

Learning Support Assistants:

- Mrs Razlik

- Mrs Gloria

- Mrs Neve

- Ms Changleng

- Mrs Bennett (INA)

- Mrs Brown (INA)

Year 3 & 4

Miss Walter (Rochester Class) 

I joined Cross In Hand after a two-year break from the classroom, having attempted a little travelling before lockdown brought my plans to an end! I then worked in a local residential home for children and young adults. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my role supporting some wonderful people, I couldn't wait to get back to teaching again!

It is a privilege to become part of such a caring and compassionate school where the focus is on the whole child, nurturing them to be safe and happy so that they can achieve their full potential. I have taken on the lead of our Life Skills curriculum and I love the way that Jigsaw supports each year group to develop and grow together, supported by our Thrive approach.

As a home grown local, I love to walk in our beautiful area with my ever mad but slightly aged boxer dog and enjoy spending time with friends and family. 

Mrs Barden (Scotney Class)

I joined Cross in Hand as an LSA in 2014, and now find myself still in the classroom but now as a very proud teacher. It is a truly magical place to work and I enjoy being able to play a part in delivering a rich and varied curriculum to the children. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to work with such engaging and fabulous children who are always ready to learn. 

Spare time, as a teacher and mum to three teenagers, I have quickly found is something to be cherished. When I do get a spare moment, I enjoy nothing more than a long walk in the beautiful Sussex countryside with my frankly very badly behaved but very lovable Staffie, Kenny.  

Ms White (Arundel Class)

I am very lucky to have joined Cross in Hand school and be a part of a caring, dedicated and friendly team. It is also a privilege to be teaching such lovely, enthusiastic children. Their resilience and passion for learning is admirable. I have been working in education for over twenty years in different capacities both in the UK and in Turkey. During that time, I have taught in every year group except Early Years. 

When I’m not at work, I enjoy going for long walks, dancing (especially Salsa) and swimming. I have always lived by the sea and enjoy swimming and doing water sports. If I am at home, I enjoy cooking, gardening and doing jigsaw puzzles during longer school holidays as I can not stop once I start!

Mrs Tucker-Bays (Amberley Class)

I joined Cross in Hand in January 2024 after extending my maternity leave with my second child.  Thrive provision at the school and the friendliness of both staff and children brought me here. I began teaching in 2014 in Hertfordshire, then moved to Tonbridge.  

When not at school, you will find me in the garden - usually covered in soil - along with my two little boys, husband and cat.  I enjoy doing puzzles, singing and playing board games - you'll know I'm close because I'll be singing a song as I walk!

Mrs Bristow-Diamond (Amberley Class)

I was delighted to join the Cross in Hand team in January 2022 after teaching in Tunbridge Wells for the past five years. I love the welcoming feel at Cross in Hand and it is such a supportive, caring and friendly school to be a part of. Most of my teaching experience has been in upper Key Stage 2, but I am thoroughly enjoying teaching Year 4. It is a privilege to be teaching such enthusiastic children.  

When I am not at school, I enjoy making scrapbooks full of pictures, which I enjoy looking back at and reminiscing past events. During the week, I like to tap dance and swim. I also enjoy going to the beach and walking by the sea during the weekend. 

Learning Support Assistants:

- Mrs Boreham

- Mrs Neil

- Mr Mugridge

- Mrs Oliver (Thrive Practitioner)

- Ms Cowell (INA)

- Mrs Humphrey (INA)

Year 5 & 6

Mr Lowe (Pevensey Class) - Senior Leader

Since joining the school in 2009, I have enjoyed every moment of working at Cross in Hand - no two days are ever the same! I have spent the majority of this time teaching in upper Key Stage Two, which I have loved as there is such a wide variety of things to look forward to through the course of the year. Although maths is my specialist subject, I love teaching at primary level with the opportunity of being able to enjoy such a wide range of different subjects.

When I'm not at school, in my spare time I like to play the guitar; photography and drone flying; mountain biking on the South Downs; or doing baking on a Sunday afternoons. Having once played for Sussex at county level, I also enjoy playing badminton or, when the sun is shining, getting out onto the golf course. Also, I am quite partial to an Oreo - or two!

Miss Grainge (Bolebroke Class)

I joined Cross in Hand in September 2024 after working in Crawley and Tunbridge Wells for several years. During my time as a teacher, I have taught in Years 4, 5 and 6 and I am thoroughly enjoying working in Key Stage Two. I have a particular passion for PSHE education and feel that building positive relationships with the children is really important. 

Outside of school, I enjoy taking my two dogs for long walks and exploring new places. I also love to travel and have a big list of countries I am working through, next stop...Japan!

Miss Rumsey (Chiddingstone Class)

I was delighted to join Cross in Hand in September 2017, after working in Crawley for 8 years. I have taught every year from Year 1 to Year 6 and have loved the challenges that each year group brings. The children and the staff at Cross in Hand are so friendly, kind and very supportive. It is a very happy place to be working in and I am thrilled to be a part of it.

When I’m not at school, I enjoy being a mummy the most. I love spending time at home doing fun and exciting things with my daughter as well as roaming around East Sussex trying to find a good trail to do. I also enjoy reading a good book, completing cross-stitches and swimming.

Mr Nickolls (Herstmonceux Class)

I have been very happy since joining the wonderful team at Cross in Hand in September 2019. There is a tangible sense of happiness, pride and support from all at the school, including the children. The large majority of my teaching career has been in Year 5 and 6, where I find myself again. I love the challenges of teaching the 'top end' of the school and helping to prepare the children for their big move up to secondary.

When I'm not at school, I'm a husband and father of two young girls, who love getting outdoors and being active. I also captain a tennis team for a local club and love watching lots of sport whenever I get the chance.

Learning Support Assistants:

- Mrs Cordner

- Mrs Gatt

- Mrs Jeffery

- Mrs Vincent

- Mrs Vincent (INA)

- Mrs Siggs (INA)

- Mrs Walker (INA)

- Mrs Morris (INA)

Miss Ritman-Meer (HLTA)

I feel very lucky to teach at Cross in Hand Primary school. It feels fantastic to be a part of a team who strive to do their best for the children and value every subject area equally. I love the ethos of the school and the focus on nurturing the whole child. I have taught as a primary teacher for over ten years in London and Kent. I have spent most this time teaching Years 3 and 4 but have taught across both Key Stages. I studied English Literature at University and have a particular passion for reading and writing.

When I’m not working, I like to read, play my guitar and bake cakes with my daughters. I also love to get out into the countryside for long dog walks with my family. 

Support Staff

Mrs Harrison - Thrive Practitioner

Mrs Harding - Thrive Practitioner

Ms Olivia Kerr - School Counsellor

Mrs Walter - PPA Support

Business Manager

Mrs C Howells

School Secretaries

Mrs Jenkins

Mrs McGarvey

Site Manager

Mr Voss

Breakfast Club

- Mrs Jeffery

- Mrs Vincent

- Mrs Neve

After School Club

- Paige

- Miss Kat

- Verity