Leadership and strategy

As Head of Finance and Resources at The Abbey School, Mrs Nadine Doble is responsible for overseeing key operational areas including Finance, Human Resources, IT, and Estates. She began her career as an accountant in the commercial sector before transitioning into the education sector, where she has held leadership roles within state schools. Since joining The Abbey in 2015, Nadine has brought a wealth of experience and strategic insight to the school’s operations. She is also a proud parent of two Abbey Alumnae.

Mr George Morton arrived at The Abbey School in 2022 having taught English and held leadership roles in a range of schools, both in the UK and overseas. Most recently, he has sat on Senior Leadership Teams in a local academy chain and spent six years as Director of Sixth Form at a nearby Independent School.

George’s love of Twentieth Century American Literature and Performance Poetry infuses his teaching, and you are just as likely to see him with his sleeves rolled up, enjoying the many clubs and societies around the school, as you are working with colleagues to ensure that our pastoral care is as thorough and relevant as possible.

The grounding from his MSc in Educational Leadership, specialising in change management, has helped him to develop the wellbeing and pastoral provision at The Abbey Senior School and he’s proud of his collaborative work with the Junior School, ensuring a continuity of excellent care through a whole Abbey School journey. Our aim to ensure that every individual is valued underpins much of his work with staff and students, and his teams are given both the space and guidance to ensure that each girl in our care is afforded the bespoke support that she needs and deserves.

As Deputy Head and Senior School Designated Safeguarding Lead, George ‘s priority is to ensure that every student is both cared for and celebrated within the school. The grounding from his MSc in Educational Leadership, specialising in change management, has helped him to develop the pastoral provision at every stage of the Senior School, and he’s also proud of his collaborative work with the Junior School, ensuring a continuity of excellent care through a whole Abbey School journey. Our aim for every individual to both be and feel valued underpins much of his work with staff and students, and his teams are given both the space and guidance to afford each girl in our care the bespoke support that she needs and deserves.

A proud father of two daughters himself, George loves travelling with his family, unmasking new foods and experiences for them to share together.

Dr Colin Pearson joined The Abbey as Deputy Head, Academic in September 2025. An experienced Biology teacher, Dr Pearson has been Head of Sixth Form at Magdalen College School, Oxford since 2015. Previously, he has been a Head of Department and Housemaster and brings with him a wealth of pastoral and academic experience.

Having completed his doctorate in clinical medicine at the University of Oxford, Dr Pearson is not only passionate about his subject (his particular interests ranging from genetics, through human physiology and behaviour to plant sciences), but he is an exponent for the transformative and enabling power of education. His own school experience was marked by the input of inspirational teachers and he believes strongly in the value of curiosity, endeavour and fun in the context of teaching and learning.

Dr Pearson’s priorities at the Abbey will be to support every single pupil on their academic journey through the school and beyond. As a long-standing Head of Sixth Form he has knowledge and experience of the Higher Education sector and understands what it takes for pupils to attain places on the most competitive courses at the most highly ranked universities. He is looking forward to working with Heads of Department and others to ensure the continuing development of a dynamic curriculum which prepares pupils for the challenges of the future. Aside from academic achievements, Dr Pearson places huge value on the importance of emotional intelligence, grit/adaptability and creativity and will champion these qualities through his work at the Abbey.

Outside of school, Dr Pearson enjoys cooking, construction, drawing and spending time outdoors with his family exploring the countryside.

Ms Anna Brunskill has been an educator for over 20 years and a senior leader for the past eleven, and finds working in education to be both deeply rewarding and immensely enjoyable.

She began her career in the English state system and worked for eight years in Bristol, before moving to teach overseas. Ms Brunskill worked in two international schools, in Jerusalem and in Havana. On her return to the UK, she took a year out to complete a Masters in Education Leadership and Policy, and then joined the Abbey in May 2021.

Ms Brunskill loved learning at school and at university, and remains thrilled to be part of a community which has that love of learning at its heart. She describes her role as Assistant Headteacher in charge of Operations and Partnerships as wonderfully varied, and gives her the opportunity to engage with different people across our school community and further afield in Reading’s schools and education settings.

Outside of school, Ms Brunskill clears her mind and relaxes by running, reading and baking cakes.

Mrs Charlotte Hart is Assistant Head and leads the Sixth Form at The Abbey, overseeing the academic progress, personal development, and university preparation of all students. With a strong background in English and post-16 education, she is passionate about helping young people discover their interests, develop confidence, and achieve their ambitions beyond school. Having lead Sixth Forms in the Independent Sector for over a decade, Mrs Hart plays a central role in guiding students through the UCAS process, exploring higher education opportunities, and considering future careers. She is particularly committed to ensuring that every Sixth Former is known as an individual and supported holistically during these pivotal years.

Mrs Hart holds a BA (Hons) in English and Drama from the University of Birmingham and a PGCE from the University of Bath. Before joining The Abbey, she taught English and led academic enrichment and pastoral initiatives in other local independent schools. Her leadership approach combines high academic expectations with empathy, creativity, and a genuine belief in the potential of every student. She particularly enjoys teaching the works of Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters, celebrating the contributions of women in literature, and championing girls’ education.

Outside school, Mrs Hart enjoys theatre (particularly musicals), luxury travelling on a budget, and has a great enthusiasm for gardening and DIY projects.

Mrs Nathalie Williams joined The Abbey in 2022, bringing with her over a decade of pastoral leadership experience and a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities students face during the GCSE years. Prior to working in education, she studied Engineering in France and at King’s College London, and held senior engineering management roles in major telecommunications companies.

As a pastoral leader, she is passionate about promoting students’ personal growth and empowering them to become confident, resilient, and kind individuals.

At The Abbey, Mrs Wiliams is proud to contribute to a supportive and aspirational environment where students are known and nurtured. She values the strong partnerships built with families and focuses on each student’s wellbeing and development.

As Upper School Director, she oversees the academic progress, personal development, and wellbeing of students in Fifth Form. She is committed to helping all students make informed choices about their futures. As a mother of two teenage daughters, she understands both the joys and challenges of parenting through adolescence.

Outside school, Mrs Williams enjoys travelling, spending time with family, friends and her Westie.

Mr Michael Dalton joined The Abbey School in 2013 as an English teacher. He is committed to creative and rigorous education which builds students’ skills. He previously worked at Queen Anne’s, Caversham, and Wycombe Abbey as Head of English and Second in Department respectively. His roles included cross-curricular projects, research and building extra-curricular opportunities.

As Director of Enrichment, he is passionate about promoting opportunities for students to go beyond the curriculum. He works closely with staff across the school and enjoys helping students to recognise their talents and achieve their goals.

He loves the positivity and determination at The Abbey. Watching the students work together for the Key Stage 3 cross-curricular projects was one of the highlights of his career, but he enjoys all the many and varied interactions involved in his role. He aims to ensure that everyone at The Abbey has exciting opportunities to develop their skills and interests.

Outside of school, he has three children who keep him busy. Two currently attend The Abbey. He is also a keen runner and a part-time doctoral student at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Dr Gannon joined The Abbey in 2017 as Teacher in Charge of Global Politics. His career in education began while completing his PhD at Durham University’s School of Government and International Affairs, where he taught first-year undergraduates. Although he enjoyed the rigours of research, it was education that truly enthused him, and led to him taking up a teaching role at Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge. With this experience of teaching in strong academic environments, the decision to join The Abbey was a natural one.

With a social sciences background, Dr Gannon enjoys understanding how humans work. Whether that’s exploring complex political ideas with students in the classroom or innovative new ways of teaching with colleagues, Dr Gannon is always fascinated by how people learn, communicate, and connect ideas. His passion lies in creating classroom experiences that are both intellectually stimulating and personally meaningful.

Dr Gannon takes particular pride in working closely with individual students to help them raise their potential, achieve ambitious goals, and find happiness in their studies.

Some of Dr Gannon’s key responsibilities in the Senior School include Digital Learning, Project-Based Learning, and overseeing the Senior School’s approach to Teaching and Learning. These varied responsibilities give him the chance to work with subject specialists across the Senior School, colleagues in the Junior School, and closely with the IT department. He enjoys this opportunity to collaborate with so many talented colleagues and see the whole school working together.

Dr Gannon likes to be outdoors as much as possible. Whether out on Silver Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, cycling in the Wye Valley, or camping with his family, he finds that time spent in nature helps him recharge and reflect.