Our staff

2025-26

Senior Leadership Team

Executive Principal - Alison Ashcroft

Vice Principal - Lianne Vickers

Assistant Principal: Behaviour and Culture - Chris Lamming

Assistant Principal: Curriculum -  Andrea Brown

Key Stage Two Phase Leader- Ed Helliwell

Key Stage One Phase Leader - Ben Hyde

Early Years Phase Leader - Emma Clements

SENCO - Claire Middlemore

Office Team

Roza Kozlowska (Office Manager)

Joanna Douglas 

Annie Hobbs

Early Years Team

Pre-school Teacher Acorn Class teacher: Samantha Duckett and Emily Holden

Level 3 Practitioners: Hannah Brett, Rachel Spencer 

Learning Support Assistant: Jayden Dwight

Reception Teachers: Louise McMaster (Hazel Class) and Bella Mills (Cherry Class)

Learning Support Assistants: Hayley Gage, Zuzanna Ziman and Julia Watkins

Key Stage One Team

Year 1 Class Teachers: Emma Clements (Beech Class), Rea McMordie(Maple Class) 

Year 1 Learning Support Assistants: Olivia Elliot and Angharad Evans 

Year 2 Class Teachers: Claudia Challis (Rowan Class), Elle Paterson (Willow Class)

Year 2 Learning Support Assistants: Di Bradley, Margaret Xavier and Salina Chalise

Key Stage Two Team

Year 3 Class Teachers: Hannah Mason (Chestnut Class) and Charlotte White (Sycamore Class)

Year 3 Learning Support Assistants:  Lucy Wilson and Kelly Marshall

Year 4 Class Teachers: Andrea Brown & Chris Lamming (Birch Class) and Ella Hemery (Elm Class)

Year 4 Learning Support Assistants: Lucy Taylor, Elsie Waligo and Gemma Smith

Year 5 Class Teachers:  Caroline O' Brien (Alder), Ben Little  (Ash)

Year 5 Learning Support Assistants: Tina Bone, Michelle Sagoo

Year 6 Class teachers: Ben Hyde (Oak Class), Ed Helliwell (Cedar Class)

Year 6 Learning Support Assistants: Sally Foster, Kate Smith, Daisy McDonald

PPA cover: Cara Sullivan and Molly Chalmers

Family Support Worker: Alex Wright

Behaviour Support Learning Mentor: Cathy Venes 

Lunch time supervisors:

All Learning Support Assistants also have a lunch time supervisor role.

Catering Staff: From Fresh Start

Breakfast Club staff: Di Bradley, Cathy Venes, Zuzanna Ziman, Jayden Dwight

After school club is run by Get Active please see extended hours for more details.

Caretaker: Rafal Kozlowski

Cleaners: From Rapid Commercial Cleaning Services Ltd

Our Leadership team

Alison Ashcroft - Executive Principal - DPA and Sires Hill Primary Academy

Alison Ashcroft is our founding principal and so has been leading the school since it opened ten years ago.  A highly experienced leader (16 years of headship, 26 years of school leadership and over 30 years in primary education) who has led DPA through two inspections - both of which were graded as outstanding in all areas. As Executive Principal, Alison leads across both DPA and Sires Hill Primary Academy and is present in both schools across the week. Alison is dedicated to ensuring the best possible education for every child. Alison has been teaching within the Didcot area for the last 26 years, but ensures that the curriculum and wider provision remains relevant for children of today. 

Lianne Vickers - Vice Principal 

Lianne Vickers is the Vice Principal of DPA and has been with the school since 2021. Lianne has great experience in leading special educational needs and is now supporting DPA's SENCo, having previously held this position herself.  Lianne is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the school. Lianne has been teaching since 2012 and has worked within the Abingdon partnership before moving to DPA.  Working alongside the Principal, Lianne brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the school.

Chris Lamming - Assistant Principal

Chris has worked at DPA since 2018 and alongside his leadership role for behaviour, leads English across the school.  Chris has written a bespoke English scheme which has really transformed writing in the school over the last few years.  Chris has been teaching since 2012. 

Andrea Brown - Assistant Principal

Andrea has worked at DPA since it opened in 2016 and has helped shape its development from the very beginning. Andrea leads mathematics across the school and is also responsible for our Early Career Teachers.  

Ben Hyde - Senior Leader and Phase Leader of KS1

Ben started his teaching career at DPA when he joined the school in 2017.  Alongside his teaching role, Ben leads PE ensuring that we participate in as many competitions as possible. He is also responsible for Pupil Premium and for induction of our new staff - ensuring that the quality that we expect of every member of staff is upheld as new members join. This year Ben is also leading KS1, ensuring that strong foundations of spelling, reading, speaking and handwriting form the basis of an enriching curriculum. 

Emma Clements - Phase leader of EYFS

Joining us in 2020, Emma brings deep knowledge of the early years foundation stage and works to ensure that our provision is of the highest standard. 

Ed Helliwell - Phase leader of KS2

Ed joined the school in 2021 as an additional teacher, to help raise standards after the impact of covid.  He quickly became a valued permanent member of staff - establishing himself within Year 6 and becoming the phase leader.