Walk into South Manor and you’ll find more than teachers at the front of a classroom.
There’s the teacher who has seen it all, the one who still believes every student can surprise them, the perfectionist, the idealist, the disciplinarian and the one who sometimes wonders whether anyone is actually listening. They bring different personalities, experiences and perspectives to the college — and they don’t always agree.
Because supporting young people isn’t simply about teaching a subject. It’s about understanding the world they are growing up in, recognising when something isn't quite right, knowing when to challenge, when to listen and when to ask for help.
Meet the staff of South Manor. Different people. Different perspectives. One shared responsibility: helping young people navigate the world around them.
Erica Brooks — Head of College
Erica Brooks is the kind of Head who knows what is happening across South Manor — or at least likes to think she does. Organised, direct and quietly formidable, she expects high standards from both staff and students, but is rarely too busy to listen when something really matters. She has spent years working in education and understands that a successful college is about more than results and routines. Behind her no-nonsense approach is a strong belief that young people deserve to be heard, supported and given the opportunity to succeed. But running South Manor means balancing competing priorities, difficult decisions and the very human realities of the people who walk through its doors.
Bethany Starling — Deputy Head
Mrs Starling is polished, perceptive and rarely without her pink notebook. She has an eye for detail, a talent for organisation and an impressive ability to notice when something isn't quite right — often before anyone else does. She takes standards and safeguarding seriously, but beneath her composed exterior is a genuine concern for the students in her care. Mrs Starling believes that small things matter: a conversation in the corridor, a change in someone's behaviour or a student who suddenly stops joining in. As Deputy Head, she often finds herself balancing rules and expectations with the individual circumstances behind them.
Dean West — English Teacher
Dean West brings a very different perspective to the classroom. With a background in the military, he is calm under pressure, straightforward and not easily intimidated — but he has learned that young people don't always respond well to being told what to do. Dean has a dry sense of humour and a talent for turning difficult conversations into something students can engage with. He believes English is about more than books and essays; it's about understanding people, questioning ideas and finding your own voice. His experience means he has plenty of stories to draw on, although he's usually selective about which ones make it into the classroom.
Professor Matej Procházka — Historian
Professor Procházka is South Manor’s resident historian — thoughtful, scholarly and capable of finding a historical connection to almost anything. Born and raised in Eastern Europe, his early life was shaped by the experience of living through a difficult period of conflict and upheaval. Those experiences gave him a very personal understanding of how quickly societies can change, how easily people can be influenced by fear and division, and why history matters. Now a historian and teacher, Matej encourages students to question sources, challenge assumptions and look beyond the simple version of a story.
Sarah Morgan — Director of Sport & Head Football Coach
Sarah Morgan is calm, competitive and fiercely committed to her students. A former semi-professional footballer with twenty years’ experience teaching PE, she brings a quiet authority to South Manor — the kind that rarely needs raising her voice. Sarah believes effort matters more than natural ability, teamwork matters more than individual glory, and setbacks are opportunities to learn rather than reasons to give up.
On the pitch, she expects students to push themselves, but she also knows when encouragement matters more than correction. Away from football, Sarah is an excellent judge of character and often notices when something is troubling a student before anyone else does.
Katy Lea — Science Teacher
Katy Lea is enthusiastic, practical and genuinely excited by science — sometimes more excited than her students are. She believes that science should be something students experience, not simply read about, and her lessons often involve experiments, demonstrations and the occasional unexpected result.
Katy has a natural ability to connect with students and doesn't pretend to have all the answers. She is happy to admit when something hasn't worked and start again — a quality that makes her an unexpected role model for resilience. But being a young teacher comes with its own challenges, particularly when trying to establish authority and earn the respect of students who are only a few years younger than she is.
Leo Brooks - Construction Tutor
Leo brings practical experience, technical knowledge and a strong commitment to helping young people develop confidence and practical life skills. With a background in engineering and workshop-based learning, Leo makes learning hands-on, relevant and engaging—helping students understand how the skills they develop can be applied in the real world.
Sophie Vance - Learning Support Coordinator
Sophie brings warmth, enthusiasm and a practical approach to learning. She is passionate about helping young people develop confidence, communication skills and a positive sense of themselves. Sophie creates an approachable learning environment where students feel encouraged to participate, ask questions and develop skills they can use beyond the classroom.