Primary Team

Ed Finch | Principal Chagford C of E Primary School

Biography to follow

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Tara Penny|Principal North Tawton Community Primary School

Tara Penny has worked in schools in London and Surrey, most recently as an Associate Principal of a primary in Waterloo. She is excited to bring her skills and enthusiasm to Chagford, an area she has visited many times.

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Sarah Marvin|Principal South Tawton Primary

Sarah started teaching in Buckinghamshire in 1996. She moved to Devon with her husband in 2000 and took some time off from teaching to raise a family. She has two children now studying at Okehampton College.

Sarah taught years 5 and 6 at North Tawton Primary School for 6 years where she was science and P.E. coordinator before spending two years teaching in the Chulmleigh Academy Trust. In 2015, she returned to the Okehampton area and took up the post of literacy coordinator and year 6 teacher at South Tawton Primary School. 

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Sunita Chauhan  |  Principal Bradford and Black Torrington C of E Primary Schools

After completing her B.Ed.(Hons) Sunita Chauhan worked in and around Birmingham for a few years, before relocating to Devon nearly 20 years ago. She has worked in a range of schools, both large and very small and has taught across the age range. She successfully led her school out of Special Measures and secured promotion as Deputy Headteacher at North Tawton CP School. During her career she has completed the NPQH and is now looking forward to embarking on her new role as Head Of School.

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Anne Bunning | Principal Bridgerule C of E Primary School

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Adam Hill | Principal Lydford and Bridestowe Primary Schools

Adam was appointed as Head of School at Exbourne C of E Primary  in January 2018 as the school converted to academy status. In February 2019 Adam took on the role of Acting Head of School at Bridestowe Primary. Adam has been teaching since 2008 when he graduated from Bangor University with a BEd. Since then Adam has worked in inner city schools in Liverpool, has had experience in education systems in China, Germany, Austria and Finland before returning to Devon where he has worked in rural schools in the local area. Adam is passionate about providing enriching opportunities for children to develop and become global citizens of the 21st century. ​

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Deirdre Petersen | Principal Exbourne C of E and Highampton Primary Schools

I am committed to providing a broad and balanced curriculum, my career in education has enabled me to foster creativity and instill a love of learning in children. As Head of School, I aim to find a balance between academic research and effective school leadership. I offer transferable skills from my previous career in the creative sector, running my own photography business and managing a marketing team for a PR company, to take forward into educational leadership. My route into Teaching and Learning has been through a PGCE and Masters in Education at Exeter University and, more recently, Outstanding Leadership in Education and Aspiring Headship courses (DTSA).

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Janine Cook | Principal Boasley Cross and Northlew & Ashbury CofE Primary Schools

I was appointed the Head of school at Northlew C of E Primary in January 2018. Having qualified as a teacher over 20 years ago, my career has provided me with the opportunity to work in a range of schools in London as well as teaching overseas in South Africa, before settling down in Devon. My passion for developing reading and writing lead me to become an English subject leader, and in my previous role I lead a small group of schools developing early reading and phonics. I am passionate about providing all children with an enriched and engaging curriculum to enable them to access opportunities that support the development of the whole child; promoting ability and resilience, as well as strategies for physical and mental well-being

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Suzie Stevens | Principal St James C of E Primary

Suzie Stevens is Headteacher at St James C of E Primary and Nursery School, a brand new school in Okehampton.  When the school opened in September 2018, Suzie was appointed as Head of School and became Headteacher in February 2020.  Suzie has worked in education since 1995 in Bedfordshire, Somerset and Devon and has previously been an Early Years Consultant for Devon County Council.  Suzie has completed her NPQH and has held two Acting Headteacher roles before leading at St James.  Suzie is passionate about providing the best outcomes for all children, starting with our very youngest and building up our new school within the local community.

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Sarah Godbeer | Executive Principal Okehampton Primary School

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Martin Evely | Associate Principal Okehampton Primary School

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Sally Huxen | Associate Principal Okehampton Primary School

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