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.
Executive Leadership Team
BA (Hons) (King’s College), PGCE
headspa@davenies.co.uk
Alastair was educated at Felsted School before moving to London to read French at King’s College London. Following a brief stint at the John Lewis Partnership, he began his teaching career at Kingshott Prep School in Hertfordshire. Following this, Alastair moved to Herefordshire (for the first time) to take up the position of Head of French and Latin at The Downs in Colwall. An academic deputy headship followed at Lambrook School before he was appointed to his first headship at The Elms School, also in Colwall! After seven and a half years, Alastair moved back towards the South East as Head of The Manor Preparatory School in Abingdon at the end of 2017.
Away from school life, Alastair’s main interests lie in sport, particularly Cricket, Rugby, Golf, Tennis and Skiing. He is also very interested in music and (attempts to) play the saxophone, flute and double bass.
Alastair is married to a teacher and has two daughters both studying in the local area.
BSc Mathematical Studies (Southampton University) and ACA (ICAEW)
Jill attended Croydon High School GDST, before going on to read Maths at Southampton University. Following some time travelling she completed here ACA training contract with Buzzacott, before progressing to audit manager. After a series of part time jobs whilst having a family Jill returned to work at Teenage Cancer Trust – a small, but rapidly growing charity focussed on the needs of young people with cancer. Jill stayed at Teenage Cancer Trust for over 20 years heading up the finance and operations side of this rapidly expanding organisation. In 2022 Jill joined a prep school in Hertfordshire as Bursar before moving to Davenies at the start of 2025.
Away from school Jill enjoys walking, cycling, open water swimming and anything that involves being outside, preferably with friends. She loves yoga and is training to be a yoga teacher.
Jill has three adult children who attended local schools, all of whom went on to University in the US.
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.
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 (Hons) Portsmouth MA (Buckingham)
Sam attended John Hampden Grammar School before reading History at the University of Portsmouth. He then joined Davenies as a Gap Student post university and remains here after 11 years. Sam began his teaching career in the Junior School, learning on the job through his PGCE with the University of Buckingham. He enjoyed four years in Year 3 whilst also undertaking the role of Head of Activities, overseeing and expanding the Co-Curricular programme.
Sam then returned to higher education completing a research-based Masters in Education through the University of Buckingham whilst continuing with his teaching in the Junior School. Following this, Sam became Head of History in 2020 alongside being a Form Tutor for boys in the Senior and Middle School.
Sam then covered the Head of Middle School in the Academic Year 2024-25, being responsible for the wellbeing and personal development of boys in Years 5 and 6. He started the role of Deputy Head Teaching and Learning in September 2025, where one of the school’s principal aims for the boys is to help each of them to reach their individual academic potential and to further develop the academic strengths of the school.
Outside of Davenies, Sam is a committed athlete and has a major passion for sports and all things outdoors. In between the golf course and football pitch, Sam enjoys running and has taken part in two London Marathons and the Chicago Marathon, as well as a number of Half Marathons and triathlons, raising money for a number of charities in the process. Sam also finds relaxation in long walks around the Chilterns as well as venturing to the Lake District for weekends away, as well as more locally to the Cotswolds.
Coming Soon
MA (Cantab.), PGCE
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
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
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.
Charlotte completed her degree at The Arts Institute, Bournemouth, before working in the television industry for a number of years. Charlotte had always been interested in the field of education, pursuing a career change when her own children started school. After obtaining QTS with the University of Reading, Charlotte accrued experience as a class teacher in both the maintained and independent school sectors, before becoming a Special Educational Needs Coordinator [SENDCo]. She joined Davenies in 2022. Charlotte has completed further studies in Special Educational Needs [SEN], educational leadership, inclusion, literacy specialist teaching and cognitive assessment processes. Charlotte is Governor for Equalities at a local primary school. and is an ISI Team Inspector.
Chartered MCIPD
jcook@davenies.co.uk
Joanne was educated in Berkshire before moving to South Bucks and started studying for her CIPD degree in 2008 whilst she was working in a full time role in the Pharmaceutical sector. She was then able to gain Chartered MCIPD status in 2010 due to her extensive HR and Training experience which she had gained in various roles. Joanne spent the majority of her career in corporate HR roles before making the decision to pursue a HR career in the education sector and joined Davenies in 2021.
Away from school, Joanne enjoys spending time with devoted dog Monty, as well as her two grown up children Charlie and Maisie. Joanne also enjoys home interiors and decorating and loves travelling.
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 (Deputy Head: Pastoral & Safeguarding), and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs) are Mr Joe Stephenson (Head of Junior School) and Ms Sophie Bell (Head of Years 5 and 6) who are members of the SLT and have undertaken the necessary training to ensure that they can carry out their safeguarding responsibilities effectively. Mrs W. Dennis is the Governor responsible for Safeguarding at Davenies.
Further information can be found in the School’s Safeguarding 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.
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 2023/24, we raised over £70,000 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.
