Service Families - Your Key Contacts
The SPSG
Service Pupil Support Group
Here at the Wellington Academy we are very proud of our service children and their families. Around the school you will see various staff members who wear a green lanyard which signifies the staff member has some kind of military connection, they have served, are/were a military spouse, even a services child themselves or have worked with military families. These staff members can be relied upon as someone who understands the uniqueness of military life and can offer an understanding listening ear.
As part of the SPSG we have a communications hub where we will proudly support any service child, especially those with parents/carers currently deployed. The students can drop by to have a chat and a catch up and we can keep up-to-date with deployments, training and postings and most importantly the students will have access to IT equipment where they’ll be able to send a message to dad, or maybe skype with mum and send an INTOUCH message or Forces Free Air Letters (FFALS).
Kasia Cooper
Service Pupil Premium Coordinator
My name is Kasia Cooper, and I’m the Service Pupil Premium Coordinator. I live local to the academy with my husband, son and our family dog. Whilst we are not directly linked to the military community, I have worked at local schools with very high proportion of pupils as well as staff coming from the military background. I’m here to ensure your child’s transition to The Wellington Academy is as smooth as it possibly can be and, together with my colleagues, to provide strong and stable support to both you and your child.
Joe Glancy
Head of Year 9
Sophie Norrish
Associate Leadership | Head of Year 7 | Designated Safeguarding Lead
Hello my name is Sophie Norrish. I have worked at The Wellington Academy since September 2013, mostly as a PE teacher but I have also taught other subjects around school. I am currently Head of Year 7 and also Associate Assistant Headteacher covering Safeguarding (DSL) and Attendance.
I am very competitive through my love of sport, in particular, netball and also fully behind Hamilton House being the best house in the school!
I am passionate about pastoral care and making it the best it can be at Wellington and am always happy to support with any concern or problem so please do get in touch if needed.
Mr Dave Bissington
Associate Leadership | Head of 6th Form
I have been at the Wellington Academy since September 2011, joining as a newly qualified teacher before leading Business and Economics and then moving into the Sixth Form team which I now lead. I worked in sales after graduating from Cardiff University before training as a teacher. I grew up and attended school in Salisbury although have links to Wellington Academy as my step-father attended Tidworth Down School which was located on the site previously. I am a father of two young children and much of my free time is centred around family based activities. I also represent a local Sunday football team.
Richard Tidy
Student Manager Year 7
My name is Richard Tidy I am currently Student Manager for Yr10. I have been with The School since 2019. Before working within the Education Sector I worked within the Motor Industry for 24 years and decided on a change of career. Both students and staff have been incredibly welcoming and supportive since I began and I look forward to what the future holds.
Nadia McGettigan
Student Manager - Year 8
Fiona Tatlock
Student Manager - Year 9
I am Fiona Tatlock Student Manager, my dad was military so I experience moves every 18 months and attended boarding school (lucky to attend in Edinburgh some great stories).
I have lived in Tidworth for 21 years and love that we are located in the countryside yet not far from a town. I have worked at the academy for the last 3 years, one of my favourite parts of the role is meeting some extraordinary children and being greeted with over 200 smiles every day.
Suzanne Tozer
Student Manager - Year 10
Hello, my name is Suzanne Tozer and I am the year 10 student manager. I have worked at the Wellington Academy for over 6 years, as a student manager for KS4 (year 10 and 11). This was after previously working for Barclays for over 30 years in lots of roles.
I have been a student at Castledown (the former school) and all 3 of my children previously attended the Wellington Academy and I am therefore able to support your children from a knowledgeable position as a parent, student and now an employee.
I very much look forward to meeting your children and will support them and yourselves throughout their time at the academy.
Samantha Hadrick
Student Manager - Year 11
Hello, my name is Samantha Hadrick, and I am the student manager for year 11. I have lived in Tidworth for over 20 years and am a Military veteran and an Army spouse. In my spare time I enjoy playing rugby, dancing and reading. I am the proud mother of two boys, Elliot and Freddie, and a rather naughty parrot named Pumpkin. I love working at The Wellington Academy because the energy and enthusiasm of the students is contagious. In my role, I can change the trajectory of a child’s life for the better, not many jobs can impact a future like that!