Our School Heads
Headmistress
Sarah Ebery
Sarah Ebery joins TEMS as its new Head in September 2018, having transferred from another Cognita school in England which she led successfully for four years. This international move is the culmina...
Sarah Ebery
Sarah Ebery joins TEMS as its new Head in September 2018, having transferred from another Cognita school in England which she led successfully for four years. This international move is the culmination of a long held dream as Sarah was educated overseas in both Turkey and Mexico. She graduated from the University of Southampton with a BSc in Economics, has a PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages and a Masters in Educational Leadership. Her strong focus on academics and the social wellbeing of the student body has led to a developing interest in the workings of the adolescent behaviour inspired by the work of Sarah Jayne Blakemore, Nicola Morgan and the “Braincando” foundation at Queen Anne’s in Caversham England where she herself was a student.
Directora Técnica de Español
Belén Ulecia
The educational project of The English Montessori School is dedicated to providing our students with the necessary skills to reach their maximum academic and personal potential, one that helps them...
Belén Ulecia
The educational project of The English Montessori School is dedicated to providing our students with the necessary skills to reach their maximum academic and personal potential, one that helps them to enter into an ever-changing, increasingly competitive world.We understand that intellectual development does not only involve the acquisition of knowledge, but the awakening and empowering of students through all areas of the curriculum, skills that allow them to “learn to learn”.
We seek, not only a high academic performance, but the full development of the personality of our students through an integral education, promoting respect for the rights and fundamental freedoms of the individual.
One of our main objectives is to incorporate into our educational project the best of both cultures, British and Spanish, so that our students can continue their university studies in either of the two countries, or in any of the many Countries of the world that recognize their studies.
Head of Senior Department
Kathryn Slack
I joined the school in September 2005 and ever since my first day I knew I’d made the right choice. Our pupils are friendly and generally (!) very well behaved and the atmosphere is happy and rel...
Kathryn Slack
I joined the school in September 2005 and ever since my first day I knew I’d made the right choice. Our pupils are friendly and generally (!) very well behaved and the atmosphere is happy and relaxed. They are full of life and confident in their individuality.We have a great staff who are highly motivated and caring. We strive to encourage pupils to fulfill their own potential to the best of their ability and become independent, autonomous, confident, enquiring, informed and critical learners. Pupils should take an active role in their own learning which leads to increased enjoyment, understanding and achievement. They should show self-respect, respect for others and respect for their environment. They should use self-correction and selfdiscipline and listen to the opinions of others and understand when it might differ from theirs.
We go on regular residential trips skiing, camping and to a field study centre in Gredos. Pupils are encouraged to raise money for our sponsored children in Nicaragua through various fun activities that each tutor group organizes. We have parties at Halloween and Christmas and a talent show in the summer.
Despite all this our pupils have time to be fully prepared for IGCSE exams and pupils from TEMS now achieve excellent results which are as competitive as schools in England.
Head of Junior Department
Cynthia Davies
I first joined TEMS way back in 1995, as a Year 5 teacher. One of the things that struck me most in my first year was the friendly, cooperative environment throughout ...
Cynthia Davies
I first joined TEMS way back in 1995, as a Year 5 teacher. One of the things that struck me most in my first year was the friendly, cooperative environment throughout the school. Pupils and staff alike welcomed newcomers and were always ready to lend a helping hand. Many years later, the school has grown, but that friendliness and spirit of cooperation endure and are evident in every aspect of school life.Our students stand out for their empathy, tolerance, and ability to communicate with others, all values that we aim to foster. Through drama, role play and group work, children learn to express themselves confidently and understand others’ feelings. The Junior Department helps raise funds for charity, and I am always amazed at the generosity and initiative of the students. They work enthusiastically to help others and firmly believe in the importance of doing so, confident that they can make a difference.
Academics, of course, are also important, and we work hard in the Junior Department! The whole staff demonstrates that cooperative spirit I referred to before, sharing ideas and experience. Through cross-curricular learning and hands-on activities we aim to make learning come alive to our pupils.
The Junior Department functions as an important bridge between Infants and Seniors; the children are old enough to begin doing things more autonomously, and yet they still need significant guidance from the teacher. Our goal as Montessori educators is to help children attain that autonomy; to help them believe in themselves and their ability to achieve goals; to see that hard work and effort lead to great things. To that end, all of the staff functions as a dedicated team. Teachers encourage not only their own students, but every student in the school, to reach these goals.
In my years at TEMS I have seen many children join us at the age of 3, and go out into the world at the age of 18, prepared for great accomplishments. I feel proud of the grain of sand each of us at the school has contributed to that preparation. I look forward to continue doing so for many more years!
Head of Infants
Abigail Kay
After teaching for five years in my home town of Leeds in Yorkshire, England, I came to Madrid to seek new challenges and experiences. I joined The English Montessori School and taught my first yea...
Abigail Kay
After teaching for five years in my home town of Leeds in Yorkshire, England, I came to Madrid to seek new challenges and experiences. I joined The English Montessori School and taught my first year here in Year 1. I enjoyed every minute of it, working with enthusiastic and motivated staff and with children who eagerly took on the challenges of learning in English. I am now very excited to take on the role as Head of Infants this year.Working with Infants is not for everyone. It’s messy! It’s noisy! But it’s where the magic happens! I am proud to say we have a team of staff who all clearly share the passion for Early Years learning and want to play a part in the important formative years of your children’s education.
Everyone is special in the Infants; talents are discovered and nurtured and an enthusiasm for learning is encouraged through an exciting, relevant curriculum. Learning is about trying your best and having a go; making mistakes and learning from them. Children are taught that it’s right and safe to question; to think for themselves and do the right thing. We place children’s emotional security, health and personal / social development at the core of everything we do and we know that this work is impacting positively on our children’s lives, securing their sense of safety and happiness at school, building their self- confidence and enabling them to achieve more positively in the classroom.
Our school has always had a commitment to providing quality education and we are dedicated to ensuring that this continues. It is a real pleasure for me to teach the children here and play such an important part in their young lives.
