The Staff
Principal - Mark Love
After university in Bristol and several years working in industry, including two years working in the USA, Mark began his teaching career at Barton Peveril College in Hampshire teaching A-level Economics.
By the time he left in 1997 he had fulfilled various roles including that of Senior Tutor, with pastoral responsibility for three hundred students, and that of a Governor of the College. Between 1997 and 2003 he fulfilled the role of Vice Principal at a college in Surrey and joined Abbey College in 2004.
In 2005, Mark was appointed to the position of Principal at the College. With twenty years of experience in advising A-level students on university applications, a fundamental aspect of Mark's role from a student's perspective is ensuring that the chances of making an ultimately successful application to university are maximised.
Vice Principal - Lee Roberts
After four years of study at university in Cardiff, culminating in a degree in Business Management and a Postgraduate Diploma in European Economic Policy, Lee completed a PGCE at the Institute of Education, University of London.
After several years working as an auditor and then teaching he joined the College in 2004. Lee has responsibility for managing the Senior Tutors and Heads of Department at the College and works with them to enhance the existent high quality of teaching, learning and pastoral care. He also leads the development of the College's teaching and ICT facilities.
Director of International Admissions - Robert Whitehouse
Robert studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and went on to teach English for over twenty years, both in the UK and overseas, with four years in East Asia and others in Europe and the Middle-East. Between 2000 and 2005 he ran a foundation programme for international students going on to study at universities throughout the UK. He has recently worked as a cultural consultant to the managing director of Samsung Europe and joined Abbey in the spring of 2008. Robert deals with all enquiries and applications from overseas students wishing to study at the College and spends a considerable amount of time travelling to the Far East to meet with prospective students.
Registrar - Carol Soper
After graduating from the Central School of Speech and Drama, London, Carol worked as a teacher in London before going on to pursue a career in administration at Great Ormond Street Hospital. She maintained her interest in education through teaching drama part-time at weekends and by and completing a PGDip in Journalism. Carol is responsible for all of the administrative aspects of all students' applications, their admission and enrolment and whilst the student is studying at the College.
Facilities and Reception Manager - Angela Hayes
After graduating with a music degree, Angela's began a career in administration management and has worked for an extensive range of blue chip companies in London. She has also taught singing and dance to schoolchildren on Saturday mornings. She joined the College in 2005 and although she is the first point of contact for enquirers in person or by telephone, her role primarily involves managing the College's facilities and building.
Head of Science Department - Kevin Rayfield
Kevin completed his degree in Physics at the University of Kent. He has considerable experience of teaching physics as well as an extensive knowledge and experience of pastoral work. He joined Abbey College as Head of Physics in 2004.
Head of Mathematics Department - Ian Christie
Ian graduated from the University of St. Andrew's and subsequently gained an MSc in Mathematics Education. He joined Abbey College in 1999 after working for the UK Government on secondment to schools abroad. He combines his work at the College with various consultancy projects relating to mathematics education, including a role as a consultant to the development of the European Baccalaureate.
Head of Economics Department - Bhavini Pathak
Bhavini joined Abbey in 2009 from Bellerby's College where she had been a teacher of A-level Economics and had contributed to the development of the College's pre-masters programme. Prior to work at Bellerby's College she had taught both economics and business studies at a girls' school in Kent following her graduation from university with BSC (Hons) Economics. An A-level examiner for both economics and business studies, she has a keen interest in the development of e-learning.
Head of English Department - Jonathan Pratt
Jonathan graduated from Coventry University and subsequently gained the Trinity Cert. TESOL and University of Cambridge DELTA qualifications. He joined Abbey in 2007 after working as an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher, Summer School Director and Assistant Director of Studies in Surrey.
Senior Tutor - Louise Hunt
Louise graduated from UEA in history of art and subsequently gained an MA from the Courtauld Institute. She has worked in education since 2000 both as an A-level teacher and as a teacher of English as a foreign language. She joined Abbey in 2009.