Senior Leadership Team

Rob Pavey - Headteacher

Cheney is a wonderful place to work, with excellent colleagues, independent-minded students and a very diverse community around it, and it is a very great pleasure to be the headteacher. In my previous roles, I worked in a very wide range of schools, State and independent, boarding and day; most recently, I was Vice Principal of Kensington Aldridge Academy in West London, and before that, I was Head of Sixth Form at Magdalen College School. I therefore have very recent experience of helping young people from the widest possible range of backgrounds to achieve their full potential. Before becoming a teacher, I had a career as an infantry officer in the British Army, and running a mine clearance programme in Afghanistan.

Louise Marsh - Deputy Head (Teaching and Learning)

I'm delighted to be welcoming you to Cheney School as Deputy Head leading Teaching and Learning.  Like many of our staff, I was drawn to Cheney by its diversity and have now spent nine years here, enjoying it too much to leave!  After studying English Literature at university, I worked in legal and educational publishing in London before deciding on a career change and achieving my long-held ambition to become an English teacher.  I then taught in London and elsewhere in Oxford and have held other roles including being responsible for teacher training and for whole school literacy. I live locally and am absolutely dedicated to ensuring our students and staff have a positive and productive experience as parts of our community.

Charlotte Broom - Deputy Head (Behaviour and Attendance)

I joined Cheney in 2017 after having worked in several local Oxford schools as the Head of English; I have been lucky enough to be an Assistant Head at Cheney and now appointed as Deputy Head - Behaviour and Attendance. It is the diversity of the Cheney school community that makes me enjoy my job so thoroughly. I enjoy supporting students to be ready, respectful and the best versions of themselves in school, knowing that growing here will hugely benefit all of our community in their lives outside of Cheney. In addition to that, I hope to remain a source of uncool enthusiasm across the school.

Louise Elias - Deputy Head (Personal Development)

This year I have the privilege of being the Deputy Headteacher for Personal Development, and my role is to ensure that our students grow up to be responsible, respectful and active citizens who have a sense of agency and command over their personal, social, and emotional lives. My work is broad ranging, but I am responsible for the year teams; house system; careers; relationships, health and sex education; enrichment; character education; and extracurricular activities.

I moved to Cheney School in 2011 as the Head of Science, having previously taught Science in schools in Hampshire and Dorset, and joined the Senior Leadership Team as the Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion in 2018. I believe in building a strong and cohesive school community that meets the needs of its diverse student body, which strives for the very best outcomes for every student, and is enjoyable to attend every day for students and staff alike.

Astrid Fox - Assistant Head (Inclusion)

I joined Cheney School in September 2023. I have more than twenty years experience as a pastoral/inclusion lead in Oxfordshire and Swindon schools and a teacher of French.

I am passionate about inclusivity and diversity. Making a difference to young people’s lives, and guiding them to be the best version of themselves is at the heart of everything I do. Barriers to learning are to be overridden, so that every young person can experience personal growth, achievement and success.

As the Inclusion Lead, I will oversee Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Pupil Premium, alternative provision and the Cheney enhanced on-site provision, ensuring that every Cheney student leaves our school prepared and ready for adult life.

Zoe Hamilton - Assistant Head (Data)

I joined Cheney School as the Assistant Headteacher for Data and Assessment at the start of 2023, coming from an all boys state school in Didcot where I was the Head of Maths. I love the variety that comes from working in schools, no day is ever the same and working with young adults is a real privilege, where you get to see them learn, achieve and grow as people.

Tom Haines - Designated Safeguarding Lead

I joined Cheney in 2018 and have held a range of positions within the pastoral teams. I am now part of the Senior Leadership Team as the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). I have overall responsibility for safeguarding and student welfare across the whole school, ensuring that all of our young people are safe, that we prevent and protect them from harm and their well-being is put at the forefront of everything that we do. In addition to being the DSL, I am also the Designated Teacher for Children We Care For, supporting all of our young people who are in care, and I also oversee other areas of student welfare including mental health and young carers.

Robert Bown - Associate Member of the Senior Leadership Team

I began my teaching career in Bedfordshire and then moved to Oxford and taught for two years at Matthew Arnold before moving to Cheney in 2009. Cheney is my local school and my children went through years 7 to 13. I love teaching at Cheney. There are certain values that are reflected in the way we are structured. We are inclusive - there for everybody in the local community. We respect diversity - we are as diverse as the local population. We are egalitarian - all students receive equality of support and challenge regardless of their wealth. All students are encouraged to strive to be the best they can - regardless of their ability and attitude to learning. Cheney school is a true comprehensive - it’s a little snapshot of England. I am a languages teacher and I oversee the induction of our newly qualified and trainee teachers. I am also senior link for PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) and citizenship and the very dynamic PTA (Cheney Friends). I am passionate about Cheney as a school which not only helps students get excellent qualifications, but also prepares them to reach their potential as good citizens, good employees and good parents.

Emma Hart - Associate member of SLT / Head of Teaching and Learning Development / Head of Transition 

I have been teaching at Cheney School since 2000 and absolutely love my job. I have undertaken various roles at the school including Head of PE and currently I am Head of Teaching and Learning Development. As an associate member of SLT I am also Head of Transition and Educational Visits Coordinator. I am passionate about every student fulfilling their potential and ambitions. I work closely with students, teachers and the community to ensure the progression from primary school in year 6 to Cheney School in year 7 is smooth and reassuring for all involved.