Head Teacher
Mr Athanasiou is our Head Teacher. The children know him as 'Mr. A.' He has taught every year group during his career which has spanned over 14 years. He enjoys teaching a variety of subjects and insists that staff use all of learning environments the school has to offer. It is his job to keep the children safe alongside all of the other staff. He loves to talk to people so please come in and see him, anytime.
Favourite movie: Mrs Doubtfire
Favourite book: Revolting Rhymes
Favourite food: Greek vine leaves
Favourite song: It is too embarrassing!
Deputy Head - Eagle Class (Maternity Leave)
Miss Reis is our Eagle Class (Year 5&6) teacher and the Deputy Head. She studied Chemistry and Maths at University of Sheffield, before her PGCE in Portsmouth. She is very passionate about reading and phonics. Miss Reis looks after English in our school.
Favourite movie: Singin' in the rain
Favourite book: Anything by Roald Dahl
Favourite food: Mrs Wain's Chicken pie!
Favourite song: That'll Be The Day By Buddy Holly
Class Teacher - Eagle Class
Mr Laing is our Eagle Class (Year 5&6) teacher. He studied at UEA and brings a wealth of experience as a teacher. He has a particular interest in Maths and Sport. Mr. Laing always delivers exciting lessons, he is very skilled at making learning memorable and 'hands on'. We love his assemblies! Mr Laing looks after Maths in our school.
Favourite movie: Star Wars, or The Breakfast Club or Three Colours Blue
Favourite book: Farmer Duck, or The War of The Worlds, or The Grapes Of Wrath.
Favourite food: Cheese Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza, Buffalo mozzarella and Pepperoni pizza.
Favourite song: Happy by Pharrel, or Hurt by NIN/Johnny Cash, or Shine on You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd
Class Teacher- EYFS Robin Class
Mrs Armstrong has a B.Ed (hons) degree in Biology and Education. She has a vast amount of experience in teaching and is an early years specialist. Mrs Armstrong creates exciting learning journeys for the children in her care ensuring she uses both indoor and outdoor learning environments. Mrs Armstrong looks after humanities in our school.
Favourite movie: Chocolat
Favourite book: Hounds of the Morrigan (Pat O'Shea)
Favourite food: Raspberries and chocolate
Favourite song: Spectrum (Florence and the Machine)
Class Teacher - Puffin Class
Miss Swain is our Puffin class (Year 1&2) teacher and has a B.Sc. (hons) degree in Biochemistry and a P.G.C.E (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) from Cambridge University. Miss Swain really enjoys teaching and regularly gives children opportunities that are 'outside of the box'. Miss Swain looks after the arts in our school.
Favourite movie: Tangled
Favourite book: Beyond the Deep Woods by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
Favourite food: Macaroni cheese
Favourite song: Tightrope from The Greatest Showman
Class Teacher - Swift Class
Miss Creedon is our Swift class (Year 3&4) teacher. She completed her BA at Goldsmiths College before joining the school direct teacher training for her PGCE.
Favourite movie: Legally Blonde
Favourite book: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Favourite food: BBQ chicken wings
Favourite song: Anything by Taylor Swift
Mrs Murrell teaches in all classes. She joined Great Sampford in September 2008 and has been teaching for fourteen years in total. Mrs Murrell has a B.Sc. (hons) degree in Maths and Statistics from Anglia Ruskin University and a P.G.C.E (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) from Cambridge University. Mrs Murrell also looks after science in our school.
Favourite movie: Jerry Macquire
Favourite book: Room (Emma Donoghue)
Favourite food: Cake!
Favourite song: Paradise (Coldplay)
Higher Level Teaching Assistant - Puffin Class
Miss Laidler is a Teaching Assistant in Puffin Class. Miss Laidler has the Higher Level Teaching Assistant qualification.
Favourite movie: The Green Mile
Favourite book: Watership Down (Richard Adams)
Favourite food: Indian
Favourite song: Take me to Church (Hozier)
Higher Level Teaching Assistant- Eagle Class
Miss Mitchell is a Teaching Assistant in our Year 5/6 Class with Miss Reis and has been at Great Sampford since September 2006. Miss Mitchell has the Higher Level Teaching Assistant qualification.
Favourite movie: Lion
Favourite book: Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Favourite food: Fish Fingers Sandwiches (with salad cream of course!)
Favourite song: Our House (Madness)
Teaching Assistant - EYFS
Mrs Hale is a Teaching Assistant in our EYFS Class with Mrs Armstrong and has been at Great Sampford since September 2001. She has a particular interest in the children's voice and organises our School Council. She is also particularly interested in the outdoors and runs our Gardening Club as well as the knitting club. Mrs Hale is the best teaching assistant in Essex, she won the county wide award 2018!
Favourite movie: Any James Bond Movie
Favourite book: The Complete Guide to Self Sufficiency (John Seymour)
Favourite food: Spotted Dick and Clotted Cream or Cornish Pasty
Favourite song: Why (Tracey Chapman)
Teaching Assistant - Swift Class
Mrs Mikkides is a Teaching Assistant in Swift Class. She enjoys working with all of the children and has a particular interest in phonics and reading. Mrs Mikkides encourages the children to keep going, she runs a sewing club.
Favourite movie: Up
Favourite book: Black Beauty
Favourite food: Chinese
Favourite song: Happy
Mrs Taylor
Learning Mentor
Mrs Taylor takes care of us all. She enjoys working with every child in the school and supports our wellbeing. Mrs Taylor helps us to believe in ourselves knowing that we can do anything! She makes us feel unstoppable...
Admin Officer
Mrs Bullock works part-time in the school office. She will happily answer any questions about the school that supports our families and visitors.
Favourite movie: Love, Honour and Obey
Favourite book: Tigers in Red Weather (Liz Klaussman)
Favourite food: Curry and cake... together?
Favourite song: Perfect Day (Lou Reed)
Admin Officer
Mrs Lander has worked at Great Sampford since 1998 in various roles throughout the school and has worked in the office since 2006. Mrs Lander takes care of finance and HR.
Favourite movie: The Adjustment Bureau
Favourite book: The Cazalet Chronicles (Elizabeth Jane Howard)
Favourite food: Freshly baked bread
Favourite song: Piano Man (Billy Joel)
Catering Manager
Mrs Wain is amazing! She has been cooking in schools for over 10 years. She cooks us a scrumptious meal every day. She really enjoys coming to work and experimenting with new flavours for us to try.
Sport Coach
Miss Wilson is our sports coach. She teaches us a range of different sports and games and helps us to keep active during our playtimes with fun and exciting activities.
Peripatetic Music Teachers
Our music teachers offer piano, keyboard, guitar, drums, flute, clarinet, saxophone and trumpet lessons.