Mrs Yardley- Headteacher

Safeguarding Lead . Designated Person for Looked After Children . SIRO

Hello! I’m thrilled to be part of this wonderful school community. I truly love working with children and making a difference in their lives, while also supporting families in any way I can. Our community is incredibly friendly and supportive, and it’s heartwarming to see both staff and students genuinely excited to be here. When I’m not in school, you can find me walking my dog, Dave, enjoying cooking, or spending quality time with my two boys. I can’t wait to get to know you and your children better as we embark on this learning journey together!

Mrs Ainsworth- Deputy Headteacher – MAT leave

Curriculum, Assessment & Data, GDPR, Safeguarding

Hello! I’m delighted to share a bit about myself for our school community. With over ten years in teaching, I pursued this path because of my genuine love for children and a passion for making a positive difference in their lives. I truly appreciate the calm and caring environment of our school, where our well-behaved children consistently give their best. Being deputy at Church Vale is my most treasured accomplishment. Outside of school, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, indulging in gardening, and immersing myself in a good book. I also have a beloved dog and cat who bring joy to my life. I look forward to connecting with you all!

Mrs Etheridge- Assistant Headteacher and Year 6 Teacher

Safeguarding, Maths and DT

I have been teaching at Church Vale for the whole of my teaching career and love that I am a part of this family.  The staff and children are truly a pleasure to work with.  For many years I have been maths lead and it is a subject that I am passionate about.  It is one of my favourite subjects, along with History.  I am a big Disney fan and try to squeeze a little Disney magic into most of the tasks I do.  Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my family and travelling to different places.  My favourite place being Disney World in Florida of course!

Miss Law – Assistant Headteacher and F2 Teacher

Safeguarding, EYFS Leader and English Leader

Hello everyone. I have worked in our lovely school for the whole of my teaching career and it is such a happy place to be. Our children, staff and families we support are truly the best and we make a fantastic team. I am passionate about the Early Years and love instilling a love of learning in our youngest children and welcoming new parents to our school community. I lead English across school and am passionate about enthusing our children with a love of reading, you can often find me with my nose in a book! Outside school I love to spend time with my family and friends, bake sweet treats and take my whippet on long walks!

Mrs Darby- School Business Manager

Hello parents! I'm thrilled to be the School Business Manager here, where I get to combine my love for working with children and ensuring our school runs smoothly. After moving around a lot during my time in the army, it’s truly rewarding to help children navigate their transitions and thrive. Originally from Mansfield, it’s wonderful to be back in the area! I take pride in making sure everyone has what they need and love the challenge of keeping everything organised, especially when it comes to finances. In my spare time, I cherish moments with my two children, enjoy shopping, and love going for walks.

Mrs Fisher Admin and Midday Supervisor

Hello I am Mrs Fisher I have multiple roles within school. I work in the school office; at lunch time I am a midday supervisor and at the end of the day I cover the last hour in homework club. Every day is busy with varied challenges, but I always aim to be friendly, approachable and helpful with a smile on my face. The office door is always open for anything even if you only want to pop in for a chat!

Mrs Rawcliffe- Foundation Stage Teacher

I have taught at Church Vale since 2013 and feel very lucky to work at this wonderful school with such lovely children, families and staff. It is a privilege to work in the early years supporting our youngest children as they start their Church Vale journey. I strive to help every child develop a love of learning from day one by forming strong relationships and making every day lively, fun and exciting. I love the outdoors and I’m fortunate to spend lots of time outside (in all weathers!) whilst running our Forest School sessions throughout school. From toasting marshmallows over the campfire, to learning about the flora and fauna in our Forest School area, to being creative with tools, no two sessions are the same! I also enjoy learning more about the world through science with the children, they help us see things in a whole new way. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with friends and family, reading, baking (and eating!), drinking tea and travelling to as many places as I can.

Mrs Hibbert -Foundation Stage Teacher 

I love teaching at Church Vale, I’ve been in teaching for over 25 years and have worked in several schools, but Church Vale is my favourite place to be! It’s such a supportive and nurturing place to be where everyone is valued. Helping our students reach their full potential is a job I love and watching our students grow and learn is a privilege to be a part of. I’m really interested in History, locally and internationally, and how the worlds history has shaped our lives today, which is why I am History lead. Outside of school I love to spend time with my family, long walks in the Peak District with our springer spaniel, bike rides, gardening, reading and paddleboarding (when I get the chance!) 

Mrs Savage- Year 2 Teacher

Pupil Premium and MFL

I’ve been a Primary School teacher for over 25 years, with experience across all year groups. From a very young age, I knew I wanted to be a teacher—it’s a passion that began when I was in Primary school myself. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is watching the children in my care grow in confidence, develop new skills, and make progress every day. I have a real love for maths and a curiosity for exploring new places. Outside of school, I enjoy spending quality time with my wonderful family and our much-loved deaf rabbit, Tom.

Mrs Leadbeater- Year 2 Teacher

Computing and Music

I have been teaching for over 20 years and have been at our lovely Church Vale since 2007. I have always wanted to be a teacher and absolutely love working with children. I love working at Church Vale and can't see myself ever being anywhere else, I feel so lucky to be part of this fabulous community and to work with such amazing people. My favourite things to teach are English, Music and Reading. I adore reading aloud and love to get stuck into a good book. In my spare time, I love listening to music and if you happen to walk past my classroom, you will often hear me burst into song! I do enjoy a good sing-a-long! I also love musicals, walking and spending time with my family. 

Mrs Gibbison- SENCO and Year 3 Teacher

Art

I love working as a teacher at Church Vale. It is a happy school filled with the very best pupils! I teach in Year 3, alongside Mrs Goncalves, but have previously worked across Year 2 and 4. I am passionate about helping all of our students reach their full potential. My favourite subject to teach is English, especially reading as I love reading myself and disappearing into new worlds. I co-ordinate Art and SEN. I am passionate about ensuring that every child in our school has the opportunities and support to engage in an exciting curriculum so that they can follow their dreams into secondary school and beyond. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, swimming and running.

Mrs Gonclaves- Year 3 Teacher

PSHRE and Music

I have worked at Church Vale for 17 years now which is a testament to the amazing team here and the lovely community of parents and children we have.  I love teaching and find it so rewarding watching our amazing children flourish and progress through their journey here.  I currently teach Year 3 and have a background with Key Stage One and Foundation Stage too.  I have a passion for promoting positive mental health amongst pupils and am always happy to offer support to parents, pupils and staff whenever needed.  

As PSHRE, Mental Health and Co-Music Lead these are areas of focus for me within school.  My favourite subjects to teach however are PE, Art, Music and English (specifically poetry and reading).  I love getting lost in a book and bringing stories to life with drama.  You may also hear the children talking about my Wednesday afternoon Yoga classes where I can often be found leading sun salutations and teaching tree pose (amongst others) to each class!  In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my two children, practising yoga, attempting to play my guitar and hiking in the peaks!

Miss Dennison – Year 4 Class Teacher

Hello! I have been a teacher at Church Vale for one year now and have loved getting to know the children and community. I am so excited to begin my second year at such a wonderful school and continue to support the children in their learning journeys. I have a passion for sports, especially swimming and worked as a swimming teacher before moving on to school teaching. I have a love for nature and enjoy going on long walks in the countryside. My interests include theme parks and going to concerts/musicals! I’m also a big fan of children’s books such as The Wild Robot, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and Jacqueline Wilson’s stories, just to name a few of my favourites.

Mr Debic- Year 5 Teacher

Physical Education and Geography

 I have worked in primary schools for over 20 years. I began my journey as a teacher in Derbyshire, working at the same school for 18 years before moving to Church Vale. I have had the pleasure in teaching all year groups from Years 2 to 6.  I have a true passion for supporting children’s physical development and have run many after-school clubs and competitions. My proudest achievement is winning the Derbyshire Sportshall Athletics County Finals 2 years in a row. My aim is to now give as many different sporting opportunities to all the children within our fantastic school. In my spare time, I love to cook and bake for friends and family. I also enjoy playing Dungeons and Dragons with a group that includes my 2 sons. I can also be found on the many trails around Mansfield on my mountain bike. 

Miss Walker- Teacher

Hello! I'm Miss Walker and I absolutely love being a part of the Church Vale community. Having worked in a variety of schools, I can honestly say that there's something truly special about the atmosphere here. It is warm, friendly and incredibly supportive of students, parents and staff. I feel extremely privileged to be a part of this wonderful school family. One of the things I enjoy most is that my role allows me to work with every class across school- which means I get to work with every single child too! Teaching music is a real passion of mine and leading singing assemblies on a Wednesday is always the highlight of my week. Outside of school, I continue to share my love of music by teaching it online. I also enjoy keeping active with Zumba, going to the theatre and spending quality time with my family and friends.

Mrs Coupe- Teaching Assistant

I have been at Church Vale for over 25 years and have worked with so many amazing members of staff. I have also loved every single moment! I am currently based in Foundation Unit but I help with SEN throughout the school and with our hub in the afternoons. I absolutely love doing Speech and language therapy. I get a sense of achievement watching children progress in both their work and seeing their confidence blossom. Outside of school I love socialising with my friends. I also love spending time my family, especially my grandson making lots of precious memories!

Miss Varley- EYFS Teaching Assistant

I started my role as a midday supervisor at Church Vale, then trained to be a TA which has always been my dream! I am passionate about my job, I like to be creative and imaginative (you can make anything out of a cardboard box!) and make the learning environment fun, stimulating and a welcoming place to be. I want the children to be HAPP Y and to be whatever they want to be, to grow into confident little people. My favourite subjects are phonics, and I have taught so many children to read over the years. I like spending time with my friends and family (especially my grandchildren) walking and travelling.

Mrs West- Key Stage 1 Teaching Assistant

Hello! I'm thrilled to introduce myself to you as a passionate member of the Church Vale Primary family. Having attended this wonderful school myself, I have a deep-rooted connection to it and have proudly been part of the staff for 23 years and counting. Working with our children and getting to know each of them truly brings me joy. I adore our school community and cherish the bonds we create together. Outside of work, I play for the local ladies' football team and love spending quality time with my granddaughter. Here’s to many more exciting years ahead!

Miss Smith- Key Stage 1 Teaching Assistant

I began my journey in childcare at the age of 16, driven by a passion for supporting and nurturing young people. Over the years, I have worked as a nursery nurse, pre-school leader and have spent 16 fulfilling years working as a teaching assistant in Foundation Stage. More recently, I transitioned into Year 1, where I continue to support each child on their individual learning journey. Outside of school, I love to draw, sew, spend  time with my family and friends, long walks on the beach and going to the theatre.

Miss Bull- Key Stage 2 Teaching Assistant

I love being a part of Church Vale and really enjoy seeing children build their confidence and feel proud of themselves. My favourite subjects are: maths because it gives your brain a workout and I like working on times tables challenges. English because I like stories and poems and enjoy having a go at making some up too.  I love to learn alongside the children and there's never a day when they don't make me smile! Out of school I love to spend time with my family. We enjoy escape rooms and quizzes. Playing pool and darts followed by a pub tea (of course) is fun too! In our house we support Arsenal ladies and Liverpool men.  We love to go and support the ladies at matches. I've been learning the chants but don't ask me to sing them as my singing voice is a little off-key!

Mrs Kacperski- Key Stage 2 Teaching Assistant

I’ve been part of the Church Vale team since 2004, and during that time I’ve had the pleasure of teaching and supporting many children as they’ve passed through school. One of the most rewarding parts of my role is helping to prepare children for their next steps into secondary. I have a passion for art and creative learning, and I love helping children express themselves creatively in the classroom. I’m especially enthusiastic about helping children learn to read, and I’m proud to support them through the Switch-on Reading program, which makes a real difference in their confidence and progress. I always aim to create a warm, welcoming environment where children feel safe, supported, and inspired. Church Vale is very close to my heart - not just as a staff member, but also as a parent. My own child attended the school and absolutely loved his time here. I always knew he would be well looked after, and that same care and commitment is something I bring to my work every day.

Mrs Berney- ELSA

Hello everyone! I'm thrilled to introduce myself as part of the wonderful Church Vale community, which I have proudly called my workplace for the past 38 years. I originally started as a teaching assistant, opening the brand, new nursery unit. I flexi-retired in October 2024 and now I work one day a week as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) I find it a truly rewarding job and feel it’s a privilege to support our children and families in their emotional wellbeing. I am passionate about helping each and every child to reach their full potential. Church Vale is not just a school, it’s a wonderful caring, family orientated environment, where everyone is loved and valued. Outside of school, I love spending time with my grandchildren, curling up with a good book, enjoying meals out, seeing friends, watching the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team and indulging in a little pampering. Here's to many more fantastic years at Church Vale!

Miss Watts- Breakfast club and dinner

I have been at Church Vale for over 16 years. Each day is different; the children bring me so much laughter that makes my job worthwhile. The school holidays are an extra bonus! My hobbies are hiking for charity and walks, gym classes and gardening.

Miss Roberts – Midday Supervisor

I have worked at Church Vale for over 19 years. I have been part of swimming, trips and currently work in the kitchen and as a midday supervisor. The children always put a smile on my face and make you feel amazing. The staff are lovely and friendly. My hobbies are gardening, sewing clothes and repairing things.

Miss Wilson- Teacher

Mrs Boden- Teaching Assisstant

Miss Forbes- Teaching Assistant

Miss May- Teaching Assistant

Mrs Poole- Carer

Mr Freer- Site Manager

Mrs Moore- Chef

Mrs Smith- Cleaner

Mrs Lincoln- Midday Supervisor