Each striving
for the
good of all
Community
Our school motto, singulus pro fraternitate laborans – each striving for the good of all – defines the ethos of Davenies as a school. Similar to the life that bees live in this country, we work together to ensure the very best outcome as a team, focusing on how we can help our community in varying ways.
House System
A sense of community is important at Davenies and each boy is allocated to a House: Cook, Drake, Scott or Shackleton.
Named after intrepid explorers, our House system ensures that each and every boy, and member of staff, feel a sense of belonging. The House system incorporates various competitions throughout the year from the House Pancake Race to Sports Days. We also have an House Quiz and singing competition. Each boy’s effort and achievement are rewarded individually and House Points are awarded as a result. There is a termly competition for these where a cup is presented to the winners at the End-of-Term Prize Givings. There is also an additional incentive for the Pre-Prep boys to compete for a weekly House Points Cup. At the end of the School year, the House Cup is awarded to the House that has accumulated the most points throughout the year, taking into consideration all House competitions.
In the Pre-Prep, House allegiance is signified by a coloured trim on the collar of the boys’ polo shirts, whereas in the Prep School, a House Tie is worn. The boys are proud of their House affiliation and it gives them an identity across the School and its age ranges.
Senior Leadership Team
BEd. (Hons) (Cheltenham)
headspa@davenies.co.uk
Carl was educated at Richmond School, North Yorkshire and St Paul’s College, Cheltenham where he studied for a Bachelor of Education degree. Having qualified as a teacher he taught Physical Education and Religious Studies at The Thomas Alleyne School, a large secondary school in Stevenage where he was also Head of Year 7. Following this he spent three years working for the RFU as a Youth Development Officer before returning to education at Aysgarth School where he was Director of Sport, Head of Religious Studies and a senior teacher on the SMT responsible for pastoral care and boarding. Following six years at Witham Hall School as Deputy Head and six years at Barnard Castle Preparatory School as Head, Carl was appointed Headmaster at Davenies in September 2015; He is a member of IAPS and the NAHT, a serving inspector for ISI, and a governor at Watford Boys Grammar School.
BEd. (Hons) (Lancaster)
rcooke@davenies.co.uk
Roland was educated in a number of services schools overseas, a boarding prep school, and attended senior school in Wimbourne. A stint as a Gap Student sparked his passion for teaching, resulting in a place at Charlotte Mason College, University of Lancaster, where alongside studying he was able to indulge in many outdoor activities including rock climbing, mountain biking and fell walking.
After gaining a Bachelor of Education degree, Roland spent some time travelling, including working for the Outward Bound school in Sabah, before returning to England to take up a teaching position Lincolnshire. This was followed by several years working in a co-ed boarding school in Hampshire and a school in Guildford, before moving to Davenies in 2003. During his time at Davenies he has held the positions of Head of Maths, Head of Middle School, Director of Studies, Head of Pastoral Care and Deputy Head!
Away from school life, Roland likes to kayak on the Thames and elsewhere, cycle whenever possible and enjoy the pleasures of amateur photography. He is married (to a teacher) and has two adult children, one who works in London and the other is at university in Leeds.
MA (KCL), BA (Hons)(Open Uni)
bursar@davenies.co.uk
Ken was educated at Kings School Mansergh barracks in Germany before joining the Royal Air Force as an Air Loadmaster on a mix of helicopter types in 1987. Selected for specialist training he qualified as a rescue helicopter winchman, flying instructor and as a combat survival instructor before starting officer training. Upon commissioning he served further tours dealing with operational planning across the UK, Africa, the Middle East and for a significant time in Germany with the army and NATO. His final tour before arriving at Davenies was at Ramstein in Germany as Head of Contingency Planning within the Nato Air Command HQ.
Ken is a keen sportsman having represented the RAF at rugby and latterly Oxfordshire as a county level referee. He was awarded an RAF Fellowship to Kings College London where he completed his Masters in Military History and is a member of the Guild of Battlefield guides.
BA (Hons)(Cardiff), MA (Buckingham)
dbattersby@davenies.co.uk
Deborah was educated in Wales and studied for her Bachelor of Education degree at what is now known as Cardiff Metropolitan University. Her first teaching post took her to the Middle East, to the British School of Bahrain where she taught Year 5 for two years before teaching Reception. On her return to the UK she job shared a Year 3 and 4 class before moving to England and teaching a Year 2 class in a state school in Old Windsor. From there, Deborah moved to Long Close and became Head of Pre-Prep and achieved her Master’s in Education Leadership from Buckinghamshire University before starting at Davenies in 2012. Deborah is an active member of the Friends of Davenies Committee.
Coming from Wales, Deborah is an avid rugby fan and remains proud of her Welsh roots! She has two daughters and enjoys travel and reading.
BA (Ed)(Hons)(Exon)
pgibson@davenies.co.uk
Having emigrated from South East London in the early 1980s, Philip was educated at the then Chesham High School before reading Education with Maths at St. Luke’s College, Exeter University. Upon graduating, Philip started Chesham Prep as a shy and retiring Maths and PE/Games teacher. Since joining Davenies in 1998, Philip has held the positions of Head of Maths, Assistant Director of Studies and Director of IT before elevating to the SLT in 2009 as Assistant Headmaster. He relishes being able to visit other schools regularly on behalf of the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI) and being able to mentor PGCE students and Early Careers Teacher; a role that he enjoys enormously.
When not at Davenies, Philip has his hands full looking after his daughter, Imogen, and is an avid watcher of egg-chasers, reader, failed Tour de France entrant, budding etymologist and Francophile.
MA (Cantab.), PGCE
egibson@davenies.co.uk
Schooled at Berkhamsted, Elizabeth went on to read English and Education at the University of Cambridge; after graduating, she remained at Cambridge to undertake her PGCE. Upon its completion, Elizabeth started her teaching career in the EYFS and KS1 at St Mary’s School, Amersham, before joining the Davenies Pre-Prep as a Year 2 Teacher and English Co-ordinator in 2007. During her time at the school, Elizabeth has taught across all year groups from Year 2 upwards, taking on the mantle of Head of IT in 2012, having qualified as a master teacher for Computing at School (CAS). Following a short period of maternity leave, Elizabeth returned to Davenies as Head of Digital Learning and, having steered the school through online provision during two lockdown periods successfully, joined the SLT in 2020. Putting her whole-school leadership experience to good use, Elizabeth is now responsible for the academic life of the school in her capacity of Director of Studies. A member of the Chartered College of Teaching, Elizabeth continues to develop her educational and leadership skillsets with keen interest.
Away from her desk, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her husband, Philip and daughter, Imogen, and pottering around in her garden.
MA (Cantab.), PGCE
asergeant@davenies.co.uk
Adam attended Abingdon School, Oxfordshire before spending four years at the University of Cambridge, leaving in 2009 with an MA (Cantab) in Education and Theology and a PGCE teaching qualification. After leaving Cambridge he moved to The Elms, a co-educational boarding Prep School in Herefordshire, beginning as an Assistant Boarding Housemaster and teacher of English, Maths, Science, Religious Studies and Games. In the following years Adam’s roles included: Director of Studies, Assistant Headmaster, Head of Religious Studies, Head of Extra Curricular and Head of Cricket. After eleven years at The Elms he moved to Davenies, where he has been Head of Senior School since September 2019.
Adam is married with two primary aged children and his major passion outside of school is sport – these days following more than playing football and rugby, playing cricket and coaching at a local youth football club. He also enjoys cooking and amateur oenology.
MA (Hons)(Cantab.), GTP
sbell@davenies.co.uk
Sophie was educated at Wycombe High School, before joining Davenies as a Gap student, seemingly for a year, but remains loyal to Davenies after 14 years in various positions. Having been gripped by teaching as a Gap student, assisting in the DT and Music departments, she then studied Education with History at Homerton College, University of Cambridge. Sophie returned to Davenies to complete her Graduate Teacher Programme, achieving qualified teacher status with the University of Reading Upon achieving this, she became Head of History, alongside being a Form Tutor for boys in the Middle and Senior School. Sophie has held the role of Educational Visits Co-ordinator for 4 years, overseeing and expanding the day and residential trips provision across the school. Sophie was promoted to Head of Middle School in 2021, responsible for the wellbeing and progress of boys in Years 5 and 6.
Away from school Sophie returns to Cambridge at any given opportunity to watch the rowing, having been Homerton Rowing Captain during her time there. She is an avid baker in her spare time, and also the proud owner of a cockerpoo, Buddy, enjoying time in the great outdoors with him.
BA (Hons)(Leeds), PGCE
jstephenson@davenies.co.uk
Joe Stephenson has been Assistant Head: Head of the Junior School since September 2011. He cites the school community and its desire to continually be evolving as the main reasons he enjoys working here. He was educated at Lancing College, then Leeds University where he obtained a BA in History and Management, followed by a PGCE at Chichester University. He started teaching at Tavistock and Summerhill School in 2007 and was a Form Teacher, Housemaster and coached sports to teams of all ages. Joe also met his wife, Nicky, there before making the trip up the M25 to join Davenies.
Joe enjoys spending time with his family (he has two daughters, Evie and Millie) and interests include theatre, tennis, curries and watching Brighton stay in the Premier League, hopefully. Following lockdown, he has added going on long walks to the list.
Initially educated at the Beacon (the less said about that…) Jack went on to study at Dr Challoner’s before reading for a BSc. in Mathematics and Philosophy at Sheffield University. After his gentle foray into the north of England Jack returned south to undertake his PGCE at St Hugh’s college Oxford. After spending 3 years teaching at the Misbourne School in Great Missenden, Jack made the step to join Davenies enticed by the prospect of not only more Maths but also more sport. He now further cements Maths teacher stereotypes by looking over whole school data and just generally being far too interested in spreadsheets.
Outside of school Jack is an enthusiastic sportsman predominantly playing/watching/talking about rugby, cricket and football.
Chair of Finance Committee
Mr Watkins is a former parent, and a Partner at a Restructuring Advisory Firm and joined the Board in December 2020.
Bursar & Clerk to the Governors
Pastoral Care & Wellbeing
Davenies’ vision is to Engage, Inspire, Challenge.
At Davenies, we believe that happy, confident pupils become more caring individuals equipped with a greater sense of perspective and emotional control to grasp all the possibilities that life has to offer. Furthermore, happy pupils really do make better learners.
The School is split along pastoral lines: Pre-Prep (Reception – Year 2), Junior School (Years 3 and 4), Middle School (Years 5 and 6) and Senior School (Years 7 and 8), each with its own Pastoral Head. Each Pastoral Head oversees a team of staff, whose responsibility is to support the boys’ wellbeing on a day-to-day basis. This support is undertaken as follows:
Pre-Prep – by the Class Teachers, who also teach all subjects except French, Music and Sport.
Junior School – by the Class Teachers, who also teach the majority of each class’s academic lessons.
Middle School – by Form Teachers, with all subjects being taught by specialists.
Senior School – by Tutors, who will see the boys through both Years 7 and 8, supporting their academic and personal development as they mature both emotionally and intellectually during these key years.
The Pastoral Team (which includes our School Nurse and SENCO, in addition to the Pastoral Heads) convenes weekly in order that we continue to understand and meet the needs of the pupils. Additionally, our peer mentor scheme affords further support for the boys.
Child Protection & Safeguarding
The Governing Body takes seriously its responsibility under section 157 of the Education Act 2002, and the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2014, to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements within our school to identify, assess, and support those children who are suffering harm.
We recognise that all staff and Governors have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm, and that the child’s welfare is our paramount concern. The School prohibits the use of Corporal Punishment.
At Davenies, the Lead Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs Deborah Battersby (Assistant Head: Pastoral & Safeguarding), and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs) are Mr Joe Stephenson (Head of Junior School) and Miss Sophie Bell (Head of Middle School) who are members of the SLT and have undertaken the necessary training to ensure that they can carry out their safeguarding responsibilities effectively. Dr D. Sahota is the Governor responsible for Child Protection at Davenies.
Further information can be found in the School’s Child Protection Policy.
Friends of Davenies
Welcome to Friends of Davenies (FoD)
Whether you have a child here, work or teach here, or are involved in any way with the School, you are all Friends of Davenies and we thank you for your interest and support.
Your 2023/24 FoD committee members are listed below (including our sons’ year groups).
| Ann Tennant | President |
| Liz Smith | Chair (Year 6) |
| Deborah Battersby | Head of Pre-Prep & Headmaster’s Representative |
| Sophie Baber | (Reception) |
| Jennifer Brinkworth | (Reception) |
| Jodi Coe | (Years 1 & 3) |
| Sasha Connell | (Year 7) |
| Rebecca Dickinson | Secretary |
| Nhila Farooq0Bashir | (Year 7) |
| Nicole Forder | (Years 2, 5 & 6) |
| Shona Hooker | (Year 7) |
| Bettina Hussain | (Reception) |
| Monica Lennon | (Year 6) |
| Anna Lindgren | (Year 8) |
| Steven Lunn | (Year 2) |
| Amy Pratsides | (Years 4 & 6) |
| Anna Sheward | Treasury (Years 3 & 6) |
| Jonathan Woodward | Treasury Assistant (Year 1) |
Old Davenians
Davenies is extremely proud of its sense of community, and that the relationships and friendships formed here last a lifetime. Our alumni network of former pupils, known affectionately as Old Davenians (ODs), therefore forms an important and valued part of our community.
Through a range of approaches, we aim to stay in touch with our alumni and to maintain and enhance the relationship between the School and ODs after they leave, ensuring that the bond with Davenies continues. We are keen to hear about the endeavours, successes and achievements of our alumni, as well as provide opportunities to reconnect with the School and former school friends. We welcome news from our alumni that we can share with the OD community, so please send us any news, details of special events – births and marriages – or articles that you have written or produced that would be of interest to all.
Former Davenies parent?
Stay up to date by completing our form here.
Sense of Service
Throughout the academic year 2021/22, we raised over £23,000 through a programme of activities in conjunction with our Houses, the Friends of Davenies and local charities. Most of our main events are timetabled, but we also retain the flexibility to respond to immediate humanitarian appeals, or local needs. It is not always about raising money either; there are often alternative ways to support others such as through our care home music concerts, grocery collections for One Can Trust, or a warm clothing collection for Wrap Up London.
