Our Junior section offers a superb foundation for bright young minds. By the time each leave in Year 6, they are brilliantly placed to expand their education in our Senior section. Our teachers also know each individual student well and teaching and learning happens in small classes in a highly personalised, effective way. Meet our Junior academic leaders here.
Mrs J Butterfield, 3JLB: BA (Hons) (Trinity Laban London), PGCE in Primary Education with QTS (Manchester Met). Mrs Butterfield has 30 years of teaching experience in Junior Education. She started her teaching career in Staffordshire and moved to East Yorkshire where she was a leading teacher of Literacy for schools in the area. She came to Wakefield Girls’ Juniors in 2006 and has been keen to develop enthusiasm and enjoyment for reading with the girls she teaches ever since. She is Junior English lead and Lower Junior Science lead.
Miss C Walker, 3CHW: BSc (Hons) Sport, Physical Activity and Health (Leeds), PGCE in Primary Education with QTS (Huddersfield), National Professional Qualification for Middle Leadership (Dept. for Education). Miss Walker has been teaching for 9 years and has taught across the primary age range (from the Early Years Foundation Stage, through to Year 6). She has recently returned to Yorkshire after 2 years of teaching abroad at Kings’ School Dubai, an outstanding British international school in the United Arab Emirates. Throughout her career so far, Miss Walker has enjoyed many leadership roles including: Head of Reception/FS2, Head of Primary PE, Head of Phonics and Reading Leader. She has also recently secured a place to study the MEd in Educational Leadership through The University of Glasgow. Outside of the classroom, she is a keen sportswoman, having represented Yorkshire at National level in swimming.
Mrs V Hutchinson, 4VH: BsC (Hons) with QTS. Mrs Hutchinson has been teaching for 26 years and has enjoyed working with children across KS1 and KS2, from Year 1 to Year 4. She has held many subject leader positions in this time, from maths to D&T coordinator and is currently the upper KS2 Science lead and Junior Wellbeing Officer. She is passionate about supporting children both academically and pastorally through their school journey, ensuring it is an enjoyable and positive experience. She has many hobbies out of school and is an avid reader – a passion that she tries to instil in all the students she’s taught.
Mrs S Rowbotham, 4SER: LLB (Hons) (Nottingham), PGCE with QTS (Warwick). Mrs Rowbotham has been teaching for over 22 years now and has had the pleasure of teaching children from Year 2 to Year 6. Recently, she has been school lead for Science and had the opportunity to share best practice with other schools developing their science curriculum within that role. Over the years, Mrs Rowbotham has been involved with many clubs and extra-curricular activities in school, including drama and maths clubs, school councils and a gardening group.
Mr A Bray, 5AB: Business and Enterprise Development (Huddersfield), PGCE in Primary Education with QTS (Sheffield Hallam). As Computing and Digital Learning lead, Mr Bray has always had a keen eye for technology, finding interest in new and innovative ideas. An avid lover of the outdoors, Mr Bray also runs our Junior Outdoor Education programme. Mr Bray is a member of the England Mixed Netball team, and has played netball internationally.
Miss S Morris, 5SCM: BA (Hons) Sociology (Leicester), PGCE with QTS (Leeds). Miss Morris has over 15 years experience of teaching in primary education and as Humanities lead she has a particular passion for all things historical. Before becoming a teacher, Miss Morris worked in advertising and publishing in London.
Miss H Coe, 6HEC: BA (Hons) Primary English Education with QTS (Edge Hill University). Miss Coe has taught across Key Stage 2. She is passionate about working with children, ensuring each child progresses in all areas of their development; both academically and socially. She is keen to prepare the children in Year 6 for a smooth transition to the Senior Section; drawing upon her first hand experience from being a student here herself. Personally, Miss Coe is a keen sportswoman who enjoys running and tennis in her spare time. She looks forward to her new roles in school this year leading the Creative Curriculum, and being the head of Lee house.
Mrs K Grundy, 6KJG: BA (Hons) in Sport, Physical Education and Coaching Science (Birmingham), PGCE in Primary Education with QTS (Huddersfield). Mrs Grundy has worked across various years in the primary sector, within KS1 and KS2. She is Maths lead in the Junior Section and extremely passionate about driving education forward, along with providing exhilarating and holistic opportunities which develop vital skills required for future endeavours. As a talented sports player and old girl of Wakefield Girls’, she also contributes to clubs and fixtures to further develop our talented students.
Mrs R Arundale, Learning Support Teacher: BA (Hons) English (York St John), QTS. Mrs Arundale has worked across a variety of schools as a Primary School Teacher. She has always been passionate about helping students overcome barriers to learning. She works in the Learning Support department delivering personalised learning to pupils with additional needs.
Miss H Boughton, Director of Sport (Junior Section): BSc (Hons) Physical Education with Environmental Studies (De Montfort University), PGCE Secondary PE (Leeds Met). Miss Boughton has 24 years teaching experience and has taught PE, Games and Swimming through Key Stages 1 to 5. She is passionate about encouraging students to become well-rounded sports players and leading an active healthy lifestyle. One of Miss Boughton’s main interests out of school is playing hockey and she still competes at club level and representative Masters hockey.
Miss K Fear, Physical Education Teacher: BEd (Hons) Physical Education (Leeds Carnegie). Miss Fear’s long teaching career has seen her teach PE, Games and Swimming through Key Stages 1 to 4 in both the state and private sector. She is passionate about ensuring that every student achieves the highest standard of which they are capable, facilitating this through excellent coaching and participating in competitive sport at the highest level. A highlight of her career includes teaching ex-student Sophie Carrigill in the Junior Section and then seeing her progress to play wheelchair basketball for Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. She has played both netball and hockey at county level and currently enjoys all things fitness.
Mrs V Gardiner, Foundation Director of Learning Support: BEd Hons (Birmingham University), NASENCO (Sheffield Hallam), AAA – Patoss. Mrs Gardiner qualified as a teacher with a Geography specialisation in 1993 at Birmingham University. Since qualifying she has taught pupils aged 3-18 in a variety of school settings. Most of her roles have been linked to inclusion and included community engagement projects. She took her first leadership role as a SENCo in 2014. She is now a fully qualified SENCO and Access Arrangement assessor.
Mrs R White, Assistant Director of Music and Junior Modern Languages Lead: BMus (Hons) (Kent), PGCE Secondary Music (Institute of Education). Mrs White has over 25 years teaching experience having taught music pupils at Key Stages 2, 3, 4 and 5 and French and German at Key Stage 2. She has performed widely both as an orchestral musician and chamber musician, the most bizarre being opposite the waxworks of the Royal Family at Madame Tussauds. She is passionate about helping pupils find their singing voice and encouraging them to push themselves just that little bit further … aim for the stars!
Additionally, we have four teaching assistants who work throughout the Junior Section, providing that all important further support for students and support.