Staff & Senior Leadership Team
Senior Leadership Team
Headteacher
Simon Underdown
Mr Underdown joined PHSG in September 2019 from Churston Ferrers Grammar School. He has been a senior leader since 2008 and a teacher for over 25 years having served in six different schools. Mr Underdown is determined to ensure that our students have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience at school.
Deputy Headteacher
Donna Roughton
Miss Roughton joined PHSG in 2008 from Lipson Community College. Before being promoted to the senior team at Plymouth High, Miss Roughton was an extremely successful Head of Mathematics at both Lipson and Plymouth High. She has been a teacher for over 20 years. As Deputy Headteacher, she is responsible for the curriculum and academic standards and makes sure that our systems run smoothly and efficiently.
Assistant Headteacher, Thinking Teaching and Learning
David Britz-Colwill
Mr Britz-Colwill returned to PHSG in 2008, having led the Biology Department at Carisbrooke High School on the Isle of Wight. Serving as our Deputy Head of Science, he left in 2013 to take up a science leadership role at Woodhouse College, a highly-successful sixth form college in North London before returning in 2018 as our Head of Science. An experienced teacher of more than 17 years, Mr Britz-Colwill was appointed in 2023 as Assistant Head Teacher responsible for Thinking Schools accreditation as well as teaching and learning. He also oversees teacher training, including early career teachers and Curriculum Enrichment Week.
Assistant Headteacher, Head of Sixth Form
Alan Jenkins
Mr Jenkins has joined PHSG from Devonport High School for Boys in September 2021. He is an experienced leader with over 20 years of teaching experience. Mr Jenkins is responsible for making sure that the quality of teaching and learning in the Sixth Form is of the highest standard. He oversees all post Sixth Form learning applications including those for Oxbridge and all medical related courses.
Assistant Headteacher, SENDCo & DSL
Samantha Payne
Mrs Payne joined PHSG in 1991 from The University of Exeter. She has been a teacher for over 28 years and in that time has held a wide variety of teaching and leadership positions. Mrs Payne is responsible for ensuring that our students with additional needs receive appropriate support and guidance. Mrs Payne is also our Designated Safeguarding Lead and manages the support base.
Curriculum Leads

Mr Tom Varrall
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Mrs Siobhan Blunden-Currie
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Miss Georgina Freeman-Alford
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Miss Sophie Lee
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Mr Matthew Thackray
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Mrs Gemma Young
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Mr Leon Graves
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Mrs Heidi Walsh
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Miss Tanya McAuliffe
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Mr Matthew Davies
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Miss Claire Crouch
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Mr Richard Mallard
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Mrs Alison Pickles
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Mr Adrian Waite
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Heads of Year
Mrs Philippa Hatfield
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Mrs Fiona Banks
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Full Staff List
Art Department
- Mr Tom Varrall (CL)
- Miss Megan Walsh
Business Studies (6th Form)
- Mr Peter Goodchild
Computing
- Mr Pete Richards
Design & Technology
- Mrs Gemma Young (CL)
- Mrs Penny Brown
- Mr Darren Watson
- Mrs Fiona Banks
- Mr Eamonn Keating (technician)
Drama
- Mrs Claire Crouch (CL)
- Mrs Joanna Clews
Economics (6th Form)
- Mr Alan Jenkins (SLT)
- Miss Victoria Carter
English
- Mrs Siobhan Blunden-Currie (CL)
- Mrs Ruth Readey
- Miss Catherine Taylor
- Mrs Nicola Ilott
- Ms Luci Findlay
Geography
- Mr Leon Graves (CL)
- Mrs Zoe Nicol-Boyle
- Miss Ellen Richards
History
- Mr Richard Mallard (CL)
- Miss Kate Tomalin
- Ashton Wright
- Miss Ellen Richards
Law (6th Form)
- Ms Luci Findlay (AHOS)
Literacy Lead
- Helen Brownbridge
Mathematics
- Miss Georgina Freeman (CL)
- Mr Simon Underdown (HT)
- Miss Donna Roughton (SLT)
- Mr Duncan Law (HOY)
- Mr Pete Goodchild
- Mrs Victoria Carter
- Mr Pete Richards
Modern Foreign Languages
- Mrs Heidi Walsh (CL)
- Mrs Anna Carter
- Miss Elizabeth Hofmann
- Mrs Jade Gilchrist
Music
- Mrs Kristy Marcer-Griffiths
Physical Education
- Mrs Alison Pickles (CL)
- Miss Lowenna Jones
- Mrs Joanna Clews
PSHE
- Miss Sophie Lee (CL)
- Mrs Sam Payne (SLT)
- Various staff members are trained to deliver PSHE
Psychology (6th Form)
- Edward Baines
Religious Studies
- Miss Tanya McAuliffe (CL)
- Mrs Helen Brownbridge
Science
- Mr Adrian Waite (CL) &(CL-B)
- Mr Matthew Thackray (CL-P)
- Mr Matthew Davies (CL-C)
- Mr David Britz-Colwill (SLT)
- Miss Shellie Joynes (HOY)
- Dr Charlotte Doddrell (AHOS)
- Mrs Philippa Hatfield (HOY)
- Mrs Catherine Lewin
- Mrs Lynne Caddy (senior technician)
- Laura Tills (technician)
Sociology (6th Form)
- Miss Sophie Lee
Extended projects
- Mrs Sam Payne (SLT)
- Mrs Catherine Lewin
Catering Department
- Catering Manager: Mrs Sue Arkroyd
- Catering staff: Mrs Kelli Cole, Mrs Amanda Holdsworth, Miss Mel Mason, Miss Sam Wonnacott, Miss Kayleigh Rice
- Mealtime Supervisor: Mrs Janett Burdess
Careers
- Careers Leader and Advisor: TBC
- Careers Administrators: Mrs Karen Mills and Mrs Jen Catchpole
Cover Supervisors
- Mrs Rebecca Jagger-Rowden
- Miss Nikki Barnett
Data Management / Exams Team
- Exams Officer: Mrs Karen James
- Data Manager: Mrs Rachel Will
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
- DofE Manager: Ms Nikki Barnett
- DofE Assistant: TBC
ICT Support,
- SW Service Delivery Manager: Mr Chris Box
- IT Technician: Mr Kieran Moore
- IT Technician: Mr Paul Blight
Library
- Mrs Delia Heard (Tuesday - Thursday)
SEND/Medical Inclusion Team and First Aid in A01
- Learning Mentor and First Aid: Mrs Trish Simister
- Learning Mentor: Miss Gemma Shattock
- SEN Administrator: Mrs Liz Hore
Site Support Team
- Facilities Manager: Mr Justin Kidd
- Facilities Assistant: Mr Tiago Moriera
- Facilities Assistant: Miss Emily Pinnock
Office Team
- Head’s PA: Miss Vicki Benwell
- Office Manager and Cover Manager: Miss Joanne Noble
- Attendance Officer: Mrs Pippa Moody
- Assistant to Head of Sixth Form: Ms Karen Mills
- Sixth Form Centre & Attendance Co-ordinator: Mrs Jen Catchpole
- Assistant to Heads of Years 7-11: Mrs Nicky Gill
- Receptionist: Miss Jen Adams
- Resources & Admin Assistant: Mrs Liz Hore
- Data Protection Officer / Clerk to Governors: Mrs Kathryn Rogers