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New Deputy Head and Director of Studies at Ockbrook School

New Deputy Head and Director of Studies at Ockbrook School

Two highly experienced members of the teaching staff at a 222-year-old independent Derbyshire school have been successfully promoted to join its senior leadership team.



With almost 40 years of loyal service at Ockbrook School between them, Mrs Keri Moorhouse and Mrs Cath McBeth will take on new roles from September. Mrs Moorhouse is promoted to Deputy Head, whilst Mrs McBeth is promoted to Director of Studies.


Keri Moorhouse takes over the post of Deputy Head from Ms Helen Springall, who has announced she will retire from teaching after 33 years at May half-term.

Mr Jeff Shipway, Head Teacher, Ockbrook School, says:

“Helen Springall has been a friendly face around Ockbrook School since 2014. She will be resigning from her post as Deputy Head at May half-term, though she will continue to teach her A-Level classes through to the end of the academic year. I know that pupils and parents will want to join me in wishing her a long and happy retirement.

“I am looking forward to working very closely with Mrs Moorhouse and Mrs McBeth going forward. They have both been part of the thriving Ockbrook School community over the last 20 years. Together, we have exciting plans to move the school into the next era.”


Mrs Moorhouse started at Ockbrook in September 2002 as an NQT before receiving a promotion to Head of PE in January 2004. For more than 10 years, she enjoyed teaching students and coaching sports teams, with highlights including back-to-back regional netball finals and finishing 7th in the National Schools Badminton. In September 2015 she took on the role of Assistant Head of Upper School, followed by a promotion to Head of Sixth Form in September 2019. Alongside her role in teaching, she is also a published educational author and principal examiner.

Mrs McBeth has been at Ockbrook School for 20 years. She is currently the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator and provides additional support and guidance that enables all pupils to access the curriculum and achieve success. The role of Director of Studies focuses on the academic needs and development of the school curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment; ensuring curriculum accessibility and maximising achievement for all is a priority.

After seven years at Ockbrook School, Ms Springall looks forward to keeping busy in retirement by putting her skills to use in part-time volunteering roles within the charities sector.

Ms Springall says:

“Working at Ockbrook has been a fantastic way to spend the past seven years. From the day I arrived, I felt welcomed into the Ockbrook family of pupils, parents, staff and governors. Working with young people is an absolute privilege and to have had even a small impact as they develop into confident and well-rounded young adults has been perhaps the ultimate highlight.”


Ockbrook School is a leading independent school located between Derby and Nottingham. Visit www.ockbrooksch.co.uk.


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