“Pupils feel valued and safe in the school's nurturing environment.  Pupils know that staff care about them. ” Ofsted July 2024

Nicola Bardgett - Headteacher

Hello there! I am the school’s headteacher. Remember, I am here to listen to you and your children's concerns and do everything possible to help but I also like to hear about your good news and achievements too. I have mainly spent my teaching career in large primary schools in Carlisle.  I have lived in The Eden Valley all my life.  I enjoy all it has to offer including walks, running and paddle boarding.  

TEACHING STAFF

Helen Dixon - Teacher - Class 1

Hi! I am the teacher of the Early Years class (N/R) - Class 1. I will be the first teacher that your child works with in school. I started my teaching career in a nursery school in Kendal then I moved to Wakefield and taught in a large reception unit. I returned to Cumbria in 2006 to teach in a small rural school near Carlisle for a year before joining the Long Marton School  staff. When not at school I enjoy spending my time riding my horse and walking my dogs.  

Lucy Peart - Teacher - Class 1 and SENCO

 Hi, I teach the Nursery and Reception children in Class 1 and am also the school SENCO. I am very excited to help the children to settle in during their first year at school! I studied 'Early Years and Childhood Studies' at Northumbria University before moving home to Carlisle to complete my PGCE at the University of Cumbria. I taught the Nursery class at Brunswick School for 2 years before starting here at Long Marton. I love teaching in the Early Years as we can get involved in all kinds of creative and 'hands on' learning! In my spare time, I enjoy baking and going for walks in the Lake District.    

Alison Birkett - Teacher - Class 2

At Long Marton I work with the year one and two children (class 2), my specialisms and interests lay in the Arts so I also work with Key Stage Two children teaching Art and Design. Outside school, I enjoy days out in the lakes with my family and visiting new places. I have  a BEd with HONS from the University of Derby, along with 'many' years experience working in a range of village or city schools, here in Cumbria and overseas.  However, I believe that it is the 'community' within this whole village that enriches the school and encourages the children to continue learning outside the classroom.

Charlie Ellison - Teacher - Class 3

I teach years 3 and 4 in class 3 as well as teaching Computing to classes 2,3 and 4. I have a master’s degree in Town and Country Planning and was a town planner before seeking a career change in teaching. I gained my PGCE from the University of Worcester in 2012 and returned to Cumbria in 2014 and have taught at Long Marton school since 2015.

Fiona Eva - Teacher - Y2

It has been a lifelong dream to move north and in 2020, my family and I were fortunate to be able to fulfil that dream, relocating to the Eden Valley. I have taught for ten years across key stages one and two as well as being a qualified Forest School Practitioner. I believe that being outdoors encourages children to take risks and challenge themselves in different ways to the classroom - I love the curiosity and confidence that it develops. The outdoors is a huge part of my life when I am not in school too. I can often be found getting my hands dirty in the garden or exploring new parts of the Eden Valley or hiking in the Lakes with my husband and our boys.

John Davis - Deputy Headteacher - Class 4

I teach Class 4, plus Class 3 for PE. After taking a BA in English Language & Literature and MA in 19th Century Studies at the University of Sheffield, I qualified from Newcastle University with a PGCE in Primary Education. I taught in Sheffield for two years before returning home to Eden, where I grew up, when appointed at Long Marton in 2009. I love to read, play sport and to travel, and spent five months volunteer teaching in 2016 in Nepal while on sabbatical from Long Marton.

Kate Walsh - French Teacher

I love French having lived in France for a couple of years! I teach in 6 primary schools within the Eden Valley.  I began teaching in secondary schools but now thoroughly enjoy introducing the language to younger learners.  Out of school, I enjoy mountain biking, skiing and running with the rest of my family and dog!

SUPPORT STAFF

Wendy Swinbank - School Business Manager

Hello, my name is Wendy Swinbank, I am the Small School Business Manager (SSBM) and clerk to governors here at Long Marton School. I have had an association with Long Marton School since 1995 when our daughter started school and have worked here since 2001. I am the first person you meet when you come into school at the office. I am always willing to help with any queries or questions parents and children may have. I am a farmer's wife and our three children all attended Long Marton School.

Rebecca Bird - Higher Level Teaching Assistant and Breakfast Club Leader

I started my career at 19 working with children in a school with special educational needs. After gaining my NVQ level 3 in Children and Young People I soon realised that this was the path my career would take. My experience as a nursery assistant with pre-school children is where I'm happiest, watching young children first experience the joy of the classroom is something I feel very privileged to be apart of. In my spare time I enjoy swimming and taking my children on fun filled days out in the Lake District which I'm fortunate enough to have been my home my whole life.

Michelle Deighton SEN Teaching Assistant 

My background has been in Early Years, working in a variety of nurseries. I then had the opportunity to work in a school and I have enjoyed spending time with children in this environment. Before joining the Long Marton team I worked at Shap Primary school supporting children in Early Years and KS1. In my spare time I enjoy spending it with my family, going off for the day or just been together at home. I also like reading, gardening and going for walks.

Laura Johnson Senior Teaching Assistant 

I have worked with children for 12 years, building up my experience and qualifications, mainly supporting children with Special Educational Needs.  Most recently I completed my Level 4 and have been working as an HLTA providing teaching cover in Hampshire for 2 years.  We have finally bought our forever home back in the North after 16 years of moving around with the RAF, including 3 years in Cyprus, where I worked in the Station school. Outside of school I run a business working with medals of all kinds and I am also a keen gardener, growing all of our own produce. I love getting away with my family and our dog in our caravan and getting out for walks. I am a keen F1 fan and if I get time, I relax by reading and cross stitch - although there never seems to be much spare time for those!

Sarah Harker - Teaching assistant and Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA).

Having moved to Long Marton at the age of 4 and attending this school, I now feel very lucky and privileged that both my children are also a part of this wonderful school community! 

I worked in the care sector for nearly 12 years specialising in a variety of areas, before becoming a stay-at-home Mum.

Having completed my Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning and recently becoming an ELSA, I am enthusiastic to continue developing and learning as much as I can, to provide the best support to the amazing children of this school.

I'm a farmer's wife and love helping on the farm whenever I can. In my free time, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, taking our two energetic Border Collies for long walks, and gardening.

Phillipa Burgess - Teaching Assistant - I have lived in Long Marton for 9 years and feel like part of the community working at this school.  After gaining a degree in animal behaviour and welfare from Lincoln university I joined the school at the start of 2024.  I enjoy the creativity that comes with working in class 1 and helping the children start their school journey.

Sandra Longstaff - Cleaner in Charge and Midday Supervisor.

My two daughters attended Long Marton school in the 1990's and I started working here as Cleaner-in-Charge in 1996. Before that I had helped out with dinnertime supervision because of high pupil numbers. Out of school I enjoy looking after my dog and helping out with the grandchildren.

Sheila Banks - Midday Supervisor

Originally from Edinburgh. Married for 50 years to Alan. I have three children, Sarah Cameron & Johanna and two grand children.  In my working career I have worked in 2 school offices – George Heriot’s in Edinburgh and Dumfries Academy.  We came to Appleby 6 years ago after retiring from our Newsagents Business in Cuper, Fife to help with childcare. I do a lot of Bowling both outdoors and short mat indoors.

Steph Woest - Orian Team Leader - awaiting information