Our Leadership Team
About Amesbury
The Senior Leadership Team at Amesbury comprises the following members of staff: the Head (Mr Gavin Franklin), the Senior Deputy Head (Mr Michael Armitage), the Bursar (Mrs Sarah Jones), the Deputy Head Academic (Mr James Guest), the Deputy Head Teaching & Learning (Mrs Jo Kean) and the Head of Marketing & Admissions (Mrs Helen Gustard).
The SLT provides both the strategic direction and the long-term vision that drives the school forward, always guided by what will best serve our children. Each member of the team has responsibilities for different areas of school life and is accountable to the Head and, through that position, to the governing body.
Gavin Franklin
Head
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Gavin's Bio
Gavin joined Amesbury from Wellesley House, Kent in September 2023. He was Head at Wellesley for over six years gaining significant experience in leading an all round prep school. Prior to Wellesley House, Gavin worked at Wellington College as a Housemaster and English teacher as well as being heavily involved in the co-curricular life of the school. Prior to this Gavin was a professional cricketer with Warwickshire County Cricket Club.
Sarah Jones
Bursar
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Sarah's Bio
Sarah joined Amesbury in September 2022. She is a Chartered Management Accountant with a degree in Economics from University College, London.
Prior to becoming Bursar at Amesbury, she was Bursar for St Hilary’s School in Godalming and Moor Park in Ludlow, each for 6 years.
Michael Armitage
Senior Deputy Head
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Michael's Bio
Michael Armitage has a BA (Hons) in Journalism and gained Qualified Teacher Status from Sheffield Hallam University. He started his teaching career in the Peak District before making the move to London where he worked in Hayes, Middlesex and London.
Before joining Amesbury in 2019, Michael worked as Head of Upper School at Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School in Hammersmith, West London. As Senior Deputy Head, he has responsibility for Safeguarding and pastoral care. He believes that the secret to a child reaching their potential in ensuring that the child feels happy and secure in their learning environment.
James Guest
Deputy Head (Academic)
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James' Bio
James qualified with a Higher Diploma in Education in South Africa prior to moving to the UK in 2002. He gained his PGCE from Durham University and completed his Masters in Educational Leadership and Management at Buckingham University. James has a wealth of experience teaching in three different prep schools prior to Amesbury. He has had a broad range of opportunities within these schools as he has been a Head of Boarding, Head of Teaching and Learning, run departments and coached many sporting teams.
Married with three children who keep him busy, James enjoys making sure each Amesbury child achieves success in their own personal way within the classroom.
Helen Gustard
Head of Marketing & Admissions
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Helen's Bio
Helen is a chartered marketer with over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. She has previously worked at Merrill Lynch International Bank, Brunswick Group and ICG plc. She has two children who attend Amesbury. She graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London with a BSc (Hons) in Geography, after which she studied for a postgraduate Diploma in Marketing.
Jo Kean
Head of Teaching & Learning
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Jo's Bio
Jo Kean has an MA in English and French from the University of St Andrews and a PGCE from the University of Surrey. She began her teaching career in London as an English teacher at The Henrietta Barnett School before moving to the independent sector where she held a variety of roles (English teacher; Head of English; Head of Faculty; Assistant Head of Sixth Form) in a range of different settings: co-educational senior (Emanuel School; Seaford College), co-educational full boarding (Fettes College, Edinburgh) and co-educational prep (Amesbury).
Before re-joining Amesbury in 2024, Jo worked at St Catherine’s School, Bramley. As Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning), she aims to foster a culture of shared best practice and research-informed pedagogy that inspires learning. Her goal is to create an environment where every pupil learns in the most supported and personalised way possible – and loves doing so.