Academic Success and Student Destinations

Sally Saunders has over 22 years experience of working in Education. Sally oversees our university and careers guidance counselling and has qualifications in careers education, information and guidance as well as being a qualified careers leader. She is particularly interested in supporting students with their future decisions and helping them to develop key aspects of their character to prepare them for adulthood. Sally was selected from over 400 applicants to represent the UK as part of the Fulbright Teaching Exchange Programme.

Helen Taylor has 25 years of teaching experience and completed her PGCE at Oxford University. Helen manages the Sixth Form Tutor Team, who support our Sixth Form students with their UCAS applications. Helen has two daughters who have successfully completed a Leighton Park Sixth Form education with one pursing A Levels and the other taking the International Baccalaureate.

Jenny Powlesland has been teaching for fifteen years. Jenny gained her double first undergraduate degree in Modern History and English at Oxford University and completed her PGCE at Oxford. Jenny oversees our Aspiring High Programme, which supports students applying to Oxbridge, Medicine, Law or overseas universities - as well as any student wanting support to apply for competitive or challenging courses.

Kees Luteijn has spent his career working in a number of high-achieving academically excellent schools. Before starting teaching Kees studied Geography at Durham University gaining a first class Master in Arts degree. Kees oversees the IBDP programme and supports our IBDP students to go on to top courses in the UK and abroad. He has joined the Aspiring High Team to help broaden and individualise the support available to any student aspiring to apply to competitive pathways.

Jack Sims has been teaching for nine years. He gained a 2:1 in his integrated masters degree in Marine Biology at the University of Southampton and completed his PGCE at Reading. More recently, he achieved his NPQSL from UCL. Before joining Leighton Park, Jack led the more able provision at Pangbourne College for 5 years as part of the school academic leadership. This included being awarded a prestigious Challenge Award from NACE in 2023, a charity who Jack works for as an assessor and associate. He has also spoken at their national conference about the importance of curricula and supra-curricular design.