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
Shaun Willis
Mr Willis joined Plymouth High in 2016 from Notre Dame School. He has been a teacher for nearly 20 years having taught in a wide variety of secondary schools. As well as taking the lead on developing Thinking, Teaching and Learning across the school, Mr Willis is also responsible for Thinking School Status and is our Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
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 experience 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
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. Miss Roughton is responsible for all the information we send home to parents around academic progress, she manages both internal and external examinations and she also writes the school timetable.
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.
Heads Of Department

Mr Tom Varrall

Mrs Siobhan Blunden-Currie
Miss Georgina Freeman

Mrs Catherine Lewin

Mr Matthew Thackray

Miss Gemma Westaway

Mr Leon Graves

Mrs Heidi Walsh

Miss Tanya McAuliffe

Miss Claire Crouch

Mr Richard Mallard
Mrs Alison Pickles

Mr David Britz-Colwill
Heads of Year

Miss Shellie Joynes

Mr Duncan Law
Miss Tess Taylor

Miss Zoe Boyle

Mrs Fiona Banks
Full Staff List
Art Department
- Mr Tom Varrall (HOD)
- Miss Caron Roper
- Miss Elena Brake (technician)
Business Studies (6th Form)
- Mr Peter Goodchild
Computing
- Mr Pete Richards
Design & Technology
- Miss Gemma Westaway (HOD)
- Mrs Penny Brown
- Mr Darren Watson
- Mr Eamonn Keating (technician)
Drama
- Mrs Claire Crouch (HOD)
- Mrs Chantelle Lawrence-Felton
English
- Mrs Siobhan Blunden-Currie (HOD)
- Mr Shaun Willis (SLT)
- Mrs Ruth Readey
- Mr David Rutherford
- Miss Catherine Taylor
Geography
- Mr Leon Graves (HOD)
- Miss Zoe Boyle (HOY)
- Mrs Katherine Nutter
History
- Mr Richard Mallard (HOD)
- Miss Kate Tomalin
- Ashton Wright
- Ms Luci Findlay
Law (6th Form)
- Ms Luci Findlay
Mathematics
- Miss Georgina Freeman (HOD)
- 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 (HOD)
- Mrs Anna Carter
- Miss Elise Yarwood
- Miss Bracken Brown
- Mrs Jade Gilchrist
Music
- Mrs Kristy Marcer
Physical Education
- Mrs Alison Pickles (HOD)
- Mrs Lara Alford
- Mrs Chantelle Lawrence-Felton
- Mrs Emma Goolden
- Mr Gary Payne
PSHE
- Mrs Catherine Lewin (HOD)
- Mrs Sam Payne (SLT)
- Various staff are trained to deliver PSHE
Religious Studies
- Miss Tanya McAuliffe (HOD)
- Mrs Fiona Banks (HOY)
- Mrs Helen Brownbridge
Science
- Mr David Britz-Colwill (HOS) &(HOD-B)/(HOD-C)
- Miss Shellie Joynes (HOY)
- Mr Matthew Thackray (HOD-P)
- Dr Charlotte Doddrell
- Mr Matthew Davies
- Mrs Philippa Hatfield
- Dr Rob Van Es
- Miss Annette Cook
- Mrs Lynne Caddy (senior technician)
- Mrs Helen Staddon (technician)
Extended projects
- Mrs Sam Payne (SLT)
- Mrs Catherine Lewin
Cover Supervisors
- Mrs Rebecca Jagger-Rowden
- Ms Nikki Barnett
- Mr Jim Pearce
- Mrs Joanna Landsborough
- Mrs Rebecca Hoyte
- Mrs Tess Taylor
Catering Department
- Catering Manager: Mr Matt Comerford
- Catering staff: Mrs Kelli Cole, Mrs Amanda Holdsworth, Miss Mel Mason, Miss Sam Wonnacott, Miss Kayleigh Rice
- Mealtime Supervisor: Mrs Nicola Hunter, Mrs Janett Burdess
Careers
- Careers Leader and Advisor: Mrs Heather Longford
Data Management/Exams Team
- Exams Officer: Mrs Julie Hardwick
- Data Manager: Mrs Rachel Will
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
- DofE Manager: Mr Gary Payne
- DofE Assistant Manager: Miss Bracken Brown
Finance Team
- Finance Officer: Mrs Tammy Jackman
ICT Support
- IT Technician: Miss Sophie Chaffe
- IT Technician: Kieran Moore
Library
- Librarian: Miss Anna Harris (Tues- Thurs)
- Mrs Delia Heard (Mon & Fri)
SEND/Medical Inclusion Team and First Aid in A01
- Learning Mentor and First Aid: Mrs Trish Simister
- SEND and Medical Administrator: Mrs Helen Earnshaw
- Learning Mentor: Mrs Sophie Lee
Office Team
- Head’s PA: Miss Vicki Benwell
- Office Manager and Cover Manager: Mrs Julie Johns
- Assistant to Heads of Years 7-11: Mrs Jackie Straker
- Assistant to Head of Sixth Form: Ms Karen Mills
- Attendance Officer: Miss Barbara Osborne
- Administration: Mrs Tess Taylor (HOY)
- Resources & Admin Assistant: Mrs Liz Hore
- Receptionist: Miss Gemma Shattock
- Data Protection Officer: Mrs Kathryn Rogers
Site Support Team
- Facilities Manager: Mr Darren Berry
- Facilities Officer: Mrs Sarah Harris
- Facilities Assistant: Mr Gareth Davies