Who's Who?
Please see the Contact Us tab for information about how to make an appointment to come into school. Staff are happy to make appointments to meet with parents as part of our broad set of tools to communicate with you as partners in your children's learning.
We aim to answer email within 2 working days.
Alternatively, you can also message staff via Class Dojo, but please allow 24hrs for staff to reply on this app. Urgent messages, e.g. within a school day, should be left with the office via phone or email.
Please see your child's class page to meet the teaching team who work with the children.
Kate Bonney
Headteacher
Mrs Bonney was appointed Headteacher in September 2016. She knows the school well having taught at Robert Arkenstall since she moved to Cambridgeshire in 2012 and was the Deputy Headteacher from September 2013. As Headteacher she sits on all the Governor committees and leads the Senior Management Team (SMT). Mrs Bonney is the Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection and Prevent Lead for the school. Kate sits on the board of the Opportunity Area of Fenland and East Cambs. She is a member of the Academy Council of The Harbour Special SEMH school in nearby Wilburton. She works alongside the EEF and the Norwich Research School in founding the East Cambs and Fenland Evidence Network, supporting the work of Evidence Advocates who promote evidence informed practice in a rural space.
Poppy Penningon
Year 5/6 Class Teacher (Neptune Class)
Miss Pennington joined the school in 2024. She teaches in the Upper Key Stage 2 team. She is studying for her masters this year and shares the class teaching with Mrs Maynard.
He shares the teaching in Jupiter class with Mrs Nock and is in class on Thursdays and Fridays.
He shares the teaching in Jupiter class with Mrs Nock and is in class on Thursdays and Fridays.
Karen Gale
KS1 Leader, SENDco and Year 2 Class Teacher (Comet class)
Mrs Gale leads her team of Key Stage 1 teachers and TA’s running a lively
and highly experienced team and liaising closely with EYFS, who share the same topic cycle. Mrs Gale teaches 2 days a week in Comet Class and otherwise works as SENDco, KS. In her role as SENDco she is responsible for liaising with outside agencies and all staff to ensure the best provision for all pupil. She is one of our Safeguarding Child Protection Officers and sits on the SMT.
and highly experienced team and liaising closely with EYFS, who share the same topic cycle. Mrs Gale teaches 2 days a week in Comet Class and otherwise works as SENDco, KS. In her role as SENDco she is responsible for liaising with outside agencies and all staff to ensure the best provision for all pupil. She is one of our Safeguarding Child Protection Officers and sits on the SMT.
Lisa Jaworski
Deputy Headteacher and Year 5/6 Class Teacher (Neptune Class)
Mrs Jaworski is one of our Safeguarding Child Protection Officers, co-ordinates assessment across the school and is the school's Pupil Premium lead.
She shares the teaching in Jupiter class on two days each week. Mrs Jaworski has been a part of the Robert Arkenstall team for many years currently and has led on many subjects from Science to Geography and in areas of school pedagogy like Oracy throughout school.
She shares the teaching in Jupiter class on two days each week. Mrs Jaworski has been a part of the Robert Arkenstall team for many years currently and has led on many subjects from Science to Geography and in areas of school pedagogy like Oracy throughout school.
Mrs Jaworski is our Mental Health Lead for School and will support families to access support for their child
Sally Sharpe
PPA Cover Teacher KS1 (Star Class and Sun Class)
Mrs Sharpe has enjoyed working at our school for many years and is currently one of our PPA cover teachers in KS1. She supports Phonics intervention and is an Early Years specialist and particularly enjoys sharing the children’s amazing creative ideas.
Rebecca Daniels
Year 1/2 Class teacher (Moon Class)
Mrs Daniels has taught here for several years both within Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 1. She is currently job sharing in Moon Class with Mrs Swift. She loves supporting PE having been a very active and dedicated swimmer in a former life!
Hazel Swift
Year 1/2 Class teacher (Moon Class)
Mrs Swift teaches part-time in Moon Class alongside Mrs Daniels, and joined the team in 2013. She has a passion for the creative arts and enjoys teaching through the use of film, music and movement. She leads maths and is responsible for the School Council.
Carolyn Allen
Year 2 Class teacher (Comet Class)
Mrs Allen has been a part of the Robert Arkenstall team for many years and currently job shares with Mrs Gale teaching in Comet class. Mrs Allen loves getting her wellies on to go outdoors with the children. She is also the Reading Leader for our school.
Mel Wordsworth
Year 3/4 Class teacher (Mercury Class)
Mrs Wordsworth joined Robert Arkenstall in 2022 and has taught throughout the school from Year R to Key Stage 2. She teaches full-time in Mercury Class. Mrs Wordsworth loves being outdoors, is our trips and visits coordinator and a trained Forest school teacher. She also leads on PSHE having worked for the LA PSHE service earlier in her career.
Katie Brocklehurst
Year 3/4 Class Teacher (Earth Class) and also Sun Class
Mrs Brocklehurst joined our teaching team in 2026, having previously worked with us as a tutor and as our Drawing and Talking counsellor. Mrs Brocklehurst is an experienced teacher anis currently supporting in two classes.
Natasha Hew-Martin
Early Years Foundation Stage (Sun Class)
Miss Hew-Martin joined us in 2017 in KS2 to teach Year 4 and is now enjoying a new role as EYFS teacher in Sun class. She is a home-grown teacher having previously attended Robert Arkenstall Primary as a pupil. She loves sharing new picture books with the children. When she is not at school she enjoys trips to the cinema and in the holidays is a keen traveller - she has visited Mexico and Malaysia and her next stop is India!
David Hodge
Year 5/6 Class Teacher (Mars Class)
Mr Hodge joined Robert Arkenstall in 2013 and teaches Year 5/6 in Mars Class. With a background in I.T. and a love of sport, he unsurprisingly leads both Computing and P.E. Within these roles, he's been working to ensure that all our e-safety planning and policies are up-to-date and that we have plenty of sporting events to attend.
Mr Hodge also loves a game of bingo and he can regularly be found calling out the balls (often whilst dressed in an absurd costume).
Emma Vardy
Year R/1 Class Teacher (Star Class)
Mrs Vardy teaches Year R and 1 children in Star Class. She has a love of reading and hopes to enthuse the children by sharing some of her favourite stories. MRs Vardy is currently covering for Miss Lloyd who is on maternity leave
.
Lucy Maynard
Music Specialist and PPA Cover
Mrs Maynard works across school teaching music and also is a PPA cover teacher in years 3 and 4. She teaches music to all pupils, leads singing practise, runs the choir and teaches recorder to huge numbers of children. Each year she supports the school productions and leads our amazing Spring Music concert, accompanying many of the children herself.
Alix Ritchie
Year 3/4 Teacher (Earth Class)
Mrs Ritchie joined our team in 2015 and has worked across school since, as a PPA cover teacher, as job share in KS1 and currently shares the teaching of Earth Class with Mrs Beaumont. She brings her own skills in RE and History. Mrs Ritchie also leads the school on its travel plan and works with our Travel Ambassadors to make sure we all keep safe in our journeys to school.
Denise Nock
Year 5/6 Teacher (Jupiter Class)
Mrs Nock joined in 2017 to cover maternity leave and liked us so much she stayed. She currently teaches in Jupiter class Monday-Wednesday, sharing with Mr Fisher. Mrs Nock is responsible for Art and DT leadership for KS2. Among her many creative talents, Mrs Nock creates beautiful scenery for our school productions. She loves the outdoors, walking her beloved dog, Ladybird, and also has a soft spot for pigs.
Becky Layfield
Year 3/4 Teacher (Saturn Class)
Mrs Layfield joined the Lower KS2 team in 2019, teaching Saturn Class full time and leading PSHE and RE throughout the school. She has lived and taught abroad, in the Middle East and Central Asia and loves sharing her passions for reading and learning more about our amazing world with children. When she's not in school, Mrs Layfield can be found trying out new recipes in the kitchen or pottering in her garden. Mrs Layfield is the project coordinator for the East Cambs and Fenland Evidence Network and has worked with the DfE Priority Area locally from 2022-2025 and currently coordinates the EEF Regional Partnership in collaboration with Norfolk Research School on the project 'Great Talking.' An Early Years focus on Oracy .