Christian Heinrich (Headmaster)
Christian was an academic scholar at 13+ to King’s, Worcester and thence gained a B.A. in American Studies (Literature) at The University of Kent, Canterbury and a PGCE from Westminster College, Oxford. He has taught within prep schools since 1984. Immediately prior to becoming Headmaster at Cumnor, he was Deputy Head at Summer Fields in Oxford and has 12 years of experience as a boarding Housemaster. He plays Real Tennis, holds an Advanced Diploma in Wine from WSET and is on Council for both IAPS and the BSA.
Matt Mockridge
Joined Cumnor in 1995. Has been a form teacher, Head of Maths, Director of Sport. Became Deputy Head in 1998. Coaches 1st XI Cricket. Married to Teresa, who works at the school; they have 3 daughters, two of whom are now Old Cumnorians at King’s Canterbury and one here.
CHRISTOPHER wALKER
Christopher joined Cumnor in 2011 as Director of Studies, having taught in Oxford, Berkshire, Norfolk and Sussex. He is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and an active member of the United Kingdom Mathmatics Trust. His favourite number is 256 and he is about to embark on his latest project - bee-keeping.
Harry Hastings
Harry has been at Cumnor for the last six years having been at Dragon School, Oxford and Peponi House, in Kenya previously. He is currently Assistant Headmaster following five years as director of Sport. He is also Head of History, coach of the 1st XV rugby and Head of Athletics. He enjoys directing plays in his spare moments and is also developing a History card for general sale to the public, called History Heroes. He is married to a doctor who is a consultant paediatrician at Brighton's Children's Hospital. They have two children aged 4 and 2.
Di Medhurst
Di began her teaching career at The Dragon School, Oxford, followed by two years at Harrow International School, Bangkok, where she also indulged her passion for travel. She has been teaching at Cumnor for eight years as a form taker for year 4 and French teacher up to Common Entrance. She also teaches sport and has accompanied three sports’ tours to South Africa. In her capacity as Senior Mistress she supervises the tutorial system in Years 6, 7 and 8 and is Head of pastoral care for girls.
Sarah Snell
Having grown up in a Sussex Prep school, Sarah went on to do a PGCE at the University of the West of England (Bristol.) She then went on to teach at Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep followed by Wetherby Pre-Prep, where she was Deputy Head for three years. After this she took a break from teaching to spend a year travelling the world before joining us at Cumnor in September 2007. She has taught in both the Pre-Prep and Prep and took over as Head of Pre-Prep in September 2010.
Belinda Heinrich (Headmaster’s wife)
Belinda was at Oakdene in Beaconsfield and thereafter read French with Italian at the University of Kent. Her PGCE was from Exeter University and she taught at Lady Eden’s and Kitebrook before joining Christian at Summer Fields. Married in 1985, they have 4 children now based in London, at Leeds University, at Radley and at Cranleigh.
Paula Talman
Paula Talman has been the School Nursing Sister and Child Protection Officer at Cumnor for the last six years. This year Paula joined the management team as Compliance Coordinator. She graduated from Surrey University on two occasions firstly with an RN dip Adult and secondly with RN dip Child. Following this she studied at London City University and was awarded an MSc with distinction (advanced paediatric nurse practitioner pathway). Paula has worked at the Royal Brompton and the Royal Marsden and specialised in paediatric A&E at an award winning Paediatric A&E Department. Paula and her husband have a daughter at Cumnor and live in Danehill.
Mark Dickens
Mark is father to three Old Cumnorian sons and an old Cumnorian himself. He took over as Bursar in 2001 after serving in the Royal Navy for 27 years in nuclear submarines and intelligence agencies. His wife Debbie is the school Registrar. They live at Lye Green.
Matty Thavenot
Cumnor is Matty’s first teaching post following time spent working in the City. He was educated by Christian Heinrich at Summer Fields in Oxford before going on to Eton. He then read Zoology at University College, London. Matty is involved in most areas of school life, particularly boarding, rugby and the Theatre. He is also a keen photographer and is the Artistic Editor of the school magazine. He is responsible for ongoing website redesign.