Pre Prep & Prep Staff

Our outstanding staff make sure that each girl feels valued and is nurtured to develop an inquisitive mind. We endeavour to instill the right mix of competitive spirit and caring for others.

Teacher emails can be found at the bottom of this page.

Mrs Heather Cavanagh

Position: Interim Head

Qualifications: BA (Hons), QTS

After careers with HM Custom and Excise and the Ministry of Defence Heather trained as a teacher at Christ Church University. She began her teaching career at Dover College and gained her first headship in her third year of teaching.

As Head of the Prep school, Heather led an ‘Excellent’ inspection grading and led on the development of the computing and robotics curriculum before being appointed Interim Head of the whole school in the summer of 2024.

Heather is passionate about the natural world and the positive effect it can have on a young person’s development. In addition to her role at the school, Heather is undertaking a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. She is an active outdoor education practitioner and Mountain Leader. She has led numerous expeditions around the world including in the Arctic Circle.

Mrs Sue Collins

Position: Assistant Head of Pre-Prep and Prep

Qualifications: BA (Hons) PGCE

Sue has been a core member of the Burgess Hill Girls Pre-Prep and Prep School ever since joining as a newly qualified teacher in 1997. She has progressed from class teacher, to subject coordinator, learning and assessment leader and since 2015, Assistant Head of Pre-Prep and Prep. She loves the creative arts and still teaches part-time to our Year 2 students. She is also responsible for mentoring student teachers and early career teachers.

Outside of school, Sue is a passionate roller skater, she has inspired many pupils in the Prep to give it a go!

Mrs S Allen

Position: Pre-Prep Teacher

Qualifications: BA (Hons), PGCE

Mrs R Branton

Position: Prep Teacher

Qualifications: BA, PGCE

Mrs S Durrant

Position: Prep Teacher

Qualifications: BA (Hons), QTS, EYPs

Mrs C Fowler

Position: Prep Teacher

Qualifications: BA (Hons), PGCE

Mrs D Harris

Position: Individual Educational Needs Support Teacher

Qualifications: BEd Dip (Lang and Lit), PG Cert (Dyslexia and Lit)

Mrs K Johnson

Position: Head of Prep PE

Qualifications: BA (Hons). QTS

Mrs N Hickey

Position: Subject Leader, Prep School Music

Qualifications: LRAM, ARCM

Mrs A Sayer

Position: Teacher

Qualifications: BSc (Hons) PGCE

Ms A Shillaker

Position: Prep Teacher

Qualifications: BEd (Hons) Primary Education

Ms L Warner

Position: Prep Teacher

Qualifications: BEd (Hons) Oxon