Senior Primary

	John Huggett Deputy Headmaster & Head of Academics and Student Affairs John was educated at St. Stithians where he was a member of the 1st XI hockey team and the head of the “Dukes”. He completed his National Service in the S. A. Navy, and spent a year studying Mechanical Engineering at Wits Technikon before moving on to the University of Port Elizabeth where he completed a Ba(Ed)Hms degree. It was during his time at UPE that John really began to enjoy the outdoors. Having qualified as an openwater SCUBA diver, competing in triathlon, mountain biking, hiking and climbing were the order of the day. He continued to play hockey at club level until recently. John commenced his teaching career with a spell at Dale College after which he spent time teaching in the United Kingdom. On his return to South Africa he took up a post at Wynberg Boys’ High School before joining the staff at St. Peter’s School in 2006. During his career he has spent many years as a Boarding Housemaster and more recently has played the role of the Head of a dayboy house. He has also held the positions of a Grade 7 Coordinator, served on the Executive Committee and has been the Head of Design and Technology. John is married to Su and they have two daughters, Megan and Joselyn who are both at The Wykeham Collegiate. John believes that children should learn to take responsibility for their actions as early as possible and this is reflected in his approach in the classroom. He is a great believer in the experiential learning which takes place in the natural environment, and the opportunities which it offers for the growth of self and self-esteem as young people find success in performing various tasks and challenges. Whilst at St Peter’s he has introduced the Hurt Free Schools programme, founded the Keys Explorers and is known for the importance he places on pastoral care.
	Alex Hall Head of Boarding Grade 7 Alex was educated at Dale College in the Eastern Cape and furthered his education at the University of Port Elizabeth (now NMMU) where he obtained his Bachelor of Primary Education Degree. Alex has taught at Dale Junior School, St Georges’ Preparatory and Woodridge Preparatory Schools, all situated in the Eastern Cape. At varied points in his career Alex has taught most learning areas and has gained experience in Grade 5,6 and 7 classrooms.Having been a former Director of Sport, he thoroughly enjoys his time outside of the classroom and has coached Hockey at 1st XI level both at College and Prep School and has been involved in provincial selection in the Eastern Cape for many years. He has involved himself both within school structures and provincially as a coach/manager and selector of cricket in the summer seasons. Having been extensively involved in outdoor pursuits, he has a clear understanding of the benefits derived from such activities, particularly for boys. He is very eager to continue these pursuits with our boys and to develop characteristics within them that are achieved through the challenges the outdoor classroom can provide. Leadership, integrity, trust, co-operative skills, environmental awareness and lateral thinking all being characteristics young boys can achieve with great success when faced with the challenges of the outdoors. Alex is married to Rosemary and father of two sons, James and Jonathan who are at Cordwalles. Coming from a family of four boys, being the father of two sons and an all boys school education is perhaps what has brought him here to Cordwalles. He loves living in Africa and enjoys the wonderful environment in which we have been blessed. Travelling, camping, fishing, cycling, paddling or simply being outdoors with his boys and Rosemary, and ending the day around a fire are his greatest pleasures.
	Michael Campbell Head of Afrikaans and Assistant House Master Grade 7 Michael was born in Port Elizabeth and his family moved to KZN for work related purposes when he was a toddler. He attended Alston Primary and Haythorne High schools in Pietermaritzburg and obtained his teaching diploma at Bechet Teachers Training College in Durban. His qualifications are: Diploma in Education, Advanced Certificate in Education –Educational Leadership and a B.E.D. Honours in Educational Management. Michael has taught at Woodlands Primary School for the past 14 years. Subjects and grades he has taught include Grade 6 and Grade 7, Afrikaans, Life Orientation, Social Science, History and Geography. His specialist subject is Afrikaans. He is married to Rochelle and they have 2 sons: Landon is in Grade 9 at Maritzburg College and Jared, who attends Cordwalles. Michael’s interests, passions and achievements include Ballroom where he and his partner were placed 4th in the 1976 SA championships. He has also represented Natal in Table Tennis. He is a keen road runner and has completed many races but now enjoys cycling and has competed in most of the major cycle races countrywide. He enjoys a challenge and has attempted most sports, including karate!
	Leigh-Ann Moffatt Head of Science Grade 6 Leigh-Ann was brought up in Pretoria and attended Pretoria Girls High School. She then studied teaching at the Pretoria College of Education and Unisa, obtaining a B. Prim Ed. She taught at many schools in Johannesburg and Pretoria area, specializing in Maths and Science. Leigh-Ann completed a training programme for study skills, as well as becoming a practioner for Neurological Educational Assessments and therapy. Leigh-Ann recently completed her Honours in Special Needs Education and is currently working on her masters through Unisa. In 2007 Leigh-Ann opened up three centres within the group of schools known as Centurus Colleges, namely Southdowns College, Pecanwood College and Tyger Valley College, these centers specialized in Academic Enrichment for all.In 2009 her family decided to move to the lovely town of Pietermaritzburg, her husband Lloyd Moffatt(who grew up in Pietermaritzburg) opened a Build It in Richmond and Leigh-Ann began teaching at Cordwalles. They have three children, Brandon and Chase at Maritzburg College and Ashleigh who has recently finished school. It has been such a happy move and they are thoroughly enjoying spending more time with the family and all the outdoor activities.
	Brendon Bailey Head of Mathematics Grade 6 Brendan was born in Pietermaritzburg in 1966 and completed his schooling at Maritzburg College in 1984. He was involved in cricket, rugby and athletics at high school and also played club soccer and hockey. Brendan then attended the University of Natal and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Higher Diploma in Education. After completing his National Service Brendan taught at Carter School and then moved to Cordwalles in 1997.After leaving Cordwalles at the end of 2000, Brendan taught in the UK for a year and has also worked in recruitment, managed a tertiary education institution, lectured for both the Durban University of Technology and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and completed a Diploma in Business Management and Administration.Brendan has been married to Janet, a teacher at The Wykeham Collegiate, for 20 years and they have two daughters (the eldest of whom is studying to be a teacher).
	Lin Bassett Head of English Grade 6 Lin is Head of English and a Grade 6 class teacher at Cordwalles. She attended school in Cape Town at Westerford High School and then studied dramatic art at the Maas Phillip's School before moving to the Cape Town Training College where she majored in drama, geography, music and art. Lin has a Teachers Diploma from the Cape Town Teachers Training College. She then taught at many schools in Cape Town before she and her husband moved to Pietermaritzburg in 1986. Lin started teaching at Bisley and then moved to Epworth for 7 years. In 1995 she moved to Northern Park where she taught Grade 5 and Grade 7 before coming to Cordwalles. Lin has co-authored a series of textbooks on technology. She has presented workshops and spoken at conferences on Design and Technology. She has taught study skills to matric students and teachers in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng. Her passions are English Literature, art and drama. She is married and has a 32-year-old daughter.
	Derek Nell Grade 5 Derek grew up in Colenso in a real “Huckleberry Fynn” lifestyle on the banks of the Tugela River and the farms in the area. After matriculating at Estcourt High School and playing representative sport in cricket and rugby, he did his military service and completed his HDE at Natal Training College in Pietermartizburg. He began his teaching career in Stanger in 1979. He moved back to the big city in 1985 to teach at Merchiston and has since been HOD at Pelham Senior Primary, taught at St Charles College and is currently teaching Grade 5 boys at Cordwalles. Derek has had the privilege of teaching children from Grade 4 to Grade 10. His passion has always been sport and he has been involved in the coaching and organizing of numerous sport teams and events. Derek is married to Lynne, a financial Business Manager at Key. They have one daughter who has completed her studies in Makeup artistry and Beauty Technology and who is currently an assistant Dental Technician at Denecker & Partners.
	Luke Hounsom Grade 5 Luke was born in Empangeni on the 21st October 1982 and started his primary school years at Kwambonambi Primary School. He matriculated from Durban High School in 2000. Luke played 1st team cricket for two years and while he was there was in the 2nd XV rugby team and the school athletics team. His family lived in Zululand for 18 years before moving to Pietermaritzburg where Luke went to University and graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science degree in Marketing and Psychology. He played cricket for the Varsity 1st XI from 2001-2008 and was club captain for five of those years. Luke taught at Pelham Senior Primary School for four years (2003-2007) before moving away from education and joining Sanlam as a financial advisor for the past two and a half years. It took him two and a half years to realise that teaching is in fact what he really wants to do and so it is with great excitement that he finds himself teaching at Cordwalles. Luke is married to Magdel.
	Denise Dedekind Grade 4 Denise was born in ‘Sleepy Hollow’ in 1963. Tragically her father was killed in a car accident when she was just three years old. Her mother, Wendy, then married Eric Eaglestone, who had lost his wife to cancer – the big family was born! Wendy contributed three blonde girls, while Eric contributed his three children and when Bruce was born it completed the adage of ‘yours, mine and ours’. Denise vividly remembers her formative years watching cricket. It was where her love for sport in general was born. Teamwork both on and off the field became one of her strong points. It is something which she holds dear and which has been important in keeping the dynamics of a large family in check. She attended school in Ixopo where her outstanding leadership potential was recognised and she became head girl. Her love of people ultimately decided her career choice. Denise completed her diploma in teaching at Edgewood and accepted her first post at Port Shepstone Senior Primary School. The sport field would also determine Denise’s future, as it was on the hockey field that she met Kurt. She was HOD of four Grade 5 classes and later was the HOD of sport at the school. She taught at Port Shepstone for 13 years. Denise has two sons, Brian who is studying at UCT and Michael who is at Hilton College. She is passionate about their sport and tries to watch their matches over the weekends when she is not coaching at Cordwalles. Denise has taught at Cordwalles for a decade and has now been appointed Head of Pastoral Care, which involves running of the chapel, outreach and Cordies Families.
	Phillipa Lowe Grade 4 Phillipa is teaching grade 4 this year as a locum whilst Mrs. Kingsley is on maternity leave, She taught at Cordwalles and was the HOD of the junior section four and a half years ago, so is well known to the Cordwalles community. Phillipa matriculated at Girls High School in Pietermaritzburg. She studied at Edgewood Teachers' Training College and Natal College of Education. She has a Diploma in Education, a Higher Diploma in Education and a Further Diploma in Education. Phillipa previously taught at Epworth Primary School and prior to that, at various other schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal. She has also recently had experience in teaching in the Middle East. She was the co-ordinator of the Early Years section of an international school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and a class teacher in a private Emirate school in Dubai. Phillipa is passionate about education and in particular in special needs teaching and in integration of students into mainstream classes and schools.
	Bongani Khumalo Head of Senior Primary Zulu Bongani was born in Pietermaritzburg and attended a high school in Durban. He recieved his teaching Diploma at Esikhawini College of Education. He then obtained his Advanced Certificate in Education- Life Orientation, through UNISA. He is currently studying towards hias B.ed Honours in Life Orientation. Bongani has taught at the Grange Primary School for 12 years, before moving to Cordwalles in July 2010. Bongani's interests include Squash coaching and managing for KZN Schools squash, as well being a keen runner, with two Comrades Marathon Medals. Hiking and camping also also amongst his favourites. Cordwalles has been the best experience for him in all his teaching career.

Senior Primary

Cordwalles Staff