School Staff
Headteacher – Mrs Rowen Prigg
Mrs Prigg has lived in Essex since she was 6 and did live in Galleywood when her son was first born. At 13, Mrs Prigg moved to sunny South Africa for four years, spending holidays travelling around Africa. Mrs Prigg completed her teaching training in 1997, having attended University in Wales. Her first teaching job was actually at Danbury St John’s school where she started school when she moved to the area as a child. Three years ago Mrs Prigg worked as a Deputy Head and SENCo and then became Head of School for two years. She has always enjoyed teaching and is very excited about joining everybody at St Michaels.
Mrs Prigg is married with two children and has a spotty dog called Oscar who she enjoys running with. Running is one of Mrs Prigg’s favourite pastimes and she has completed two marathons! Now she just runs so that she can continue to eat crisps, her favourite! When younger, Mrs Prigg was called the Pepsi Max girl because of her zest for trying new things like jumping from planes, running marathons, canyoning and white water rafting!
Deputy Headteacher – Mrs Lisa Dines
Mrs Dines was born and raised in Essex. Before becoming a teacher, she had a ‘proper’ job in London! She was inspired to train to become a teacher when she saw the impact that great teachers had on her daughter when she started school. Now that her children are grown up, Mrs Dines enjoys going on warm summer holidays, reading, walking her dog and watching murder-mystery series. She dislikes sprouts, being cold and spiders!
Special Needs Co-ordinator – Joanne Watts
Coming soon!
School Business Manager – Andrea Wolahan
Mrs Wolahan was born in Reading but has lived in Essex since 1995. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Manchester whilst working at a large accountancy firm, after completing a degree in Natural Sciences at Pembroke College, Cambridge. She moved to Essex in 1995 and qualified as a Chartered Tax Accountant in 1996.
Tired of a busy life in the city, Mrs Wolahan took a break from the hustle and bustle to raise her two children. This lead to an interest in the Education sector and she has been working in Education since 2011. She currently shares her home with her husband, two children, a greyhound called Sid and lots of chickens. In her spare time, she likes to watch films, complete sudoku puzzles and study more maths!
Class Teachers
Mrs Orton
Mrs Orton grew up in Colchester before going to university in Norwich. She completed her teacher training at the University of East Anglia before gaining her first teaching post in Lawford, Essex. Her second post at East Bergholt Primary School enabled her to teach creatively and develop her skills in using drama and dance and a Mantle of the Expert approach. Mrs Orton aims to inspire a love of writing in her pupils. She is a keen poet and has a dream of publishing her very own novel one day. Travelling is another big passion and her classroom is a showcase of artefacts collected from many different countries.
Mrs Harriet Stevens
Mrs Stevens originates from Dorset but grew up near Epping Forest in Essex. Having Godparents who were, until recently, teachers encouraged her to consider a career herself as a primary teacher. This ambition became a reality once both of her children were happily attending Infant school. During this time she was able to undertake a Post Graduate Teaching Certificate course at Middlesex University. Prior to having a family, Mrs Stevens undertook some independent travel and voluntary work in Asia, Africa and Europe and worked predominantly in London, including a rewarding time at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Mrs Stevens really enjoys teaching and is especially inspired by the super children and her colleagues at St. Michael’s.
Mrs Bowcher
Mrs Bowcher was born and raised in Essex. Ever since starting school herself, she has always wanted to be a teacher. She studied Early Years and Education at Southend University then went on to gain a PGCE with Billericay Educational Consortium to fulfil her dream. Mrs Bowcher originally wanted to be a reception teacher but soon realised she loved the independence of children in Key Stage 2 so never returned to Early Years. Since teaching, she has worked at Bonnygate Primary School and Sunnymede Junior School before joining St. Michael’s. In her spare time, she loves listening to music (especially Busted), spending time with her dog Maggie, travelling, going to the theatre, eating chocolate and going to the gym.
Miss Morris
I was born and raised in Shenfield in Essex and grew up loving the outdoors, horse riding and travelling. As an adult I have continued to enjoy travelling and have acquired a love for unusual foods and love to cook and share meals with friends and family. I have two children 16 and 14 who also love to spend time outdoors. We often go geocaching (a bit like a treasure hunt). I qualified as a teacher once my children were at secondary school, this has allowed me to bring lots of life experience to my role at St Michael’s including seven years spent as an LSA at another Chelmsford school. It’s a privilege to be able to share my passions and interests with not only my own children but those that I teach too.
Mrs Victoria Marlow
Mrs Marlow was born in Surrey and has always had a passion for working with children and teaching. From a very young age she was always the first to step in to care and play with her siblings or other younger children around her, and then as the years went on took on tutoring and mentorship roles, until eventually completing her teacher training at Kingston University. She took the plunge to move to Essex in 2015 and has since worked in two primary schools in Thurrock. Having recently moved to Chelmsford, she is now looking forward to meeting lots of new, inspiring children and colleagues at St Michael’s. She lives with her husband, daughter, a munchkin cat and a French bulldog. Away from teaching, she enjoys keeping fit, finding and cooking new recipes and spending time with her family.
Mr Luke Archer
Mr Archer grew up in Essex before going to university in Leicester where he studied Drama. When he left University he worked in the pub trade for 3 years where he started off as an Assistant Manger in The White Horse in Great Baddow. From there, he moved to Thundersley, Hornchurch, Romford, Bury St Edmonds and Braintree moving up to a Managerial position. He then decided that he did not want to run pubs anymore and worked with his Dad for a year fitting windows and doors so that he could pay to get his teaching degree. He has now been a teacher for 7 years (as at 2022) and has found a true love for teaching and Science; organising many different experiments, experiences and Science days in the schools that he has worked in. He was the Behaviour Lead and Science Lead in his last school and has a dog called Jasper that he enjoys taking on long walk even opportunity that he gets.
Mrs Rhianna Rodwell (neé McManus)
Mrs Rodwell was born in Dagenham and began her schooling there. Half way through her first year, she moved to Chelmsford and has lived there ever since! Mrs Rodwell studied Business Studies at college and tried office work for a few months. She realised this wasn’t for her and carried on her education at Anglia Ruskin University where she gained her Early Years Professional Practise degree as a route into teaching. She went on complete her SCITT year through Essex Primary SCITT. Since qualifying, she has worked at a school in Hutton before joining St. Michael’s. In her spare time, she loves exploring new places and countries with her boyfriend, spending time with family and friends, going to the gym (occasionally) and eating anything sweet!
Miss James
Miss James grew up in Chelmsford with her family. When Miss James left school, she trained to become a teacher at a university in Twickenham, the home of England rugby. She has a little dog called Henry – he is a working cocker spaniel, who absolutely loves belly rubs and going to the beach. Miss James enjoys going out for long dog walks, going on hot summer holidays and cooking at the weekends.
Mrs Lorraine Maxwell
I was born in Ilford but moved to Chelmsford and went to Moulsham High School where I discovered my passion for music and began to learn clarinet and piano. Inspired by a fantastic music teacher at Moulsham, I decided that I wanted to become a teacher myself. After A Levels I started a teaching degree but dropped out, switched my studies to Accountancy and worked in various financial settings for many years, I had the chance to give teaching a second go when my children were growing up, I returned to Anglia Ruskin and completed my PGCE in 2009 and have been happily teaching ever since. Aside from playing a variety of musical instruments (recorder, saxophone, clarinet, piano, ukulele, violin & a few others) I am a keen linedancer and have my own weekly class, I also enjoy sewing and crochet. I love animals, I am lucky enough to have a visiting family of hedgehogs which I have a house in my garden for. I share my house with my husband, two children, 4 cats, 1 bearded dragon and 2 fish…. life is never quiet for us!
Mrs Loates (maternity cover)
Teaching Assistants
Catherine Cullen (HLTA) – Pastoral Care Manager
Marian Fletcher (HLTA)
Helen Scott (HLTA)
Jemima Hanberger (HLTA)
Bev Hockey (HLTA)
Maria De La Pena (HLTA)
Learning Support Assistants
Sarah Bensusan
Louise Wilson
Shireen Taverner
Cath Power
Antoinette Vine
Louise Gannicott
Jo Burns
Wendy Martyn
Luke Evans
Wrap Around Care Staff
Helen Scott
Samantha Brown
Lindsey Beatty
Jessica Diebelius
Kitchen Staff
Cilla Darvill
Sharon Stagg
Sarah Garnham
Midday Assistants
Donna Francis (Midday Supervisor)
Kim Ross
Emma Hunt
Helen Scott
Louise Wilson
Wendy Martyn
Lindsey Beatty
Office Staff – Admin Assistants
Catherine Abercromby
Krissie Thomson
Support Staff
Site Manager – Richard McAdam
Cleaners
Wendy Martyn
Charlotte Eaves
Louise Wilson
Bank Cleaners
Penny Osborne