Roehampton Hospital School offers a highly dedicated, passionate and experienced team of qualified teachers, teaching assistants and support staff. Our staff have extensive experience in teaching young people with mental health in hospital school, and in mainstream schools.
All our staff understand that young people who are enrolled at our school are at different places in their lives, and our role is to enable them to return to the community, prepared to re-embark with their lives.
Meet our team
Russell Cooper, Head Teacher, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Maths Teacher
Russell has over 20 years' leadership and teaching experience in mainstream schools. He has extensive experience working at CAMHS schools and he has worked at Roehampton Hospital School for nine years, where he has been appointed Head Teacher since 2018.
Russell obtains a PGCE Maths Secondary and MSc degree in Mathematical Statistics and Operational Computer Science. He is also accredited with the National Professional Qualification for Headship.
He is fond of animals and motorbikes, enjoying touring around England.
Paul Daniel, Senior Teacher, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and English and Humanities Teacher
Paul is the Senior Teacher at Roehampton Hospital School. He has been working with young people for over 25 years, teaching English and History, six of which have been at Roehampton Hospital School. Paul has a BA Hons English and History and PGCE English Secondary.
Other than teaching English and History, Paul also has a passion for music, providing music sessions with our young people at Roehampton Hospital School who thoroughly enjoy it.
Outside of school, Paul is a great tennis player, enjoys walking his dog, Button, and loves spending time with his grandchildren.
Charlotte Smith, SENCo and Science Teacher
Charlotte is one of our prestigious teachers here at Roehampton Hospital School. She has over 12 years' experience teaching science in mainstream education settings, and has been working at Roehampton Hospital School for the past eight years. Charlotte carries four degrees: BSc in Science and Biology, MSc Anthropology, PGCE in Secondary Science and PG Cert SENDCO. Charlotte has also trained for Mental Health First Aid and is currently working toward the Postgraduate Award of Proficiency in Assessment for Access Arrangements (PAPAA).
Charlotte enjoys running, loves horses and is well-read.
Alicia Wurm, LGBTQ+ Ambassador and Textiles Teacher
Alicia has worked with young people with special educational needs and discbilities (SEND) for over five years. She is our guru of everything textiles and our ambassador of LGBTQ+ which is of utmost importance here at Roehampton Hospital School. Alicia provides a calm and welcoming atmosphere for the young people which allows them to learn new skills such as crocheting, which has been one of our bespoke assets at Roehampton Hospital School.
Alicia has studied Japanese and spent a several years living in Japan as an exchange student. Alicia has an MSc in Psychology and is currently completing a degree in Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons) at the The University of East London.
Outside of school, Alicia likes to swim and manages to schedule it in before coming into work.
Phil Harris, PE and Psychology Teacher
Phil has been a member of staff at Roehampton Hospital School since January 2023. He has a wide range of experience teaching PE in mainstream and alternative provisions for the past 15 years. Phil has acquired a Level 3 Degree in Person-Centred Therapy and is also trained in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and has a Certification in Mindfulness, which comes as a life tool for the young people at Roehampton Hospital School. He also has an MSc in Psychology and is currently training to be a Psychotherapist at The University of East London.
Phil is our internal Careers Lead and works closely with our independent Careers Adviser, working with our young people to provide relevant and helpful career advice to look towards a promising future.
Lucy Pook, Art Teacher
Lucy is a highly experienced Art teacher, working in both mainstream and specialist schools. Lucy has ran her own art exhibitions and her favourite area of art is wall murals.
Yerim Esther Kim, Learning Mentor and Administrator
Yerim became a member of staff at Roehampton Hospital School in 2022. She has worked as an EAL and Learning Support Teacher for six years before joining our team at Roehampton Hospital School. Yerim has a BA in Education and Early Childhood Studies, PG Cert in Psychology and is currently studying Psychotherapy for Children, Young Adolescents and Family at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.
Zeinab Hayek, Teaching Assistant
Zeinab is our newest member of staff. Zeinab is currently an undergraduate completing a Psychology degree at The University of Roehampton.
Wellbeing
Roehampton Hospital School values the wellbeing of its pupils. In order to achieve this, it is important that we support our staff’s wellbeing too. School staff have access to external independent supervision twice a month, and half-termly internal supervision.