Colin Sowter
Colin has 38 years' teaching experience. Earlier in his career he was responsible for devising CAT tests, the BSTS (British Spelling Test Series) as well as developing the real 11+ tests for the organisation now known as GL Assessment. In more recent years at SDE he has focused on delivering the Year 5 11+ Course. Colin is also a published 11+ author.
Kate Kightley
Kate has over 27 years' teaching experience. She taught for several years in a 'super selective' grammar school in London and in more recent years in two independent schools, including a local girls' prep school. As well as tutoring for SDE, Kate also holds the office-based position of SDE Teaching Resource Developer.
Anna Simms
MSt Hist. (Dist.), PGCE, QTS and BSc Psych.
Anna has over 15 years of experience in the primary education setting. As well as achieving a PGCE in Primary Education she has also completed a Masters in History . She has undertaken the roles of Head of Maths and Head of History and also has experience with SEN students.
Avril Burrows
Avril has over 40 years' primary teaching experience with additional exposure working with SEN students. She has many years experience teaching students who are preparing for the 11+ exams and has in the past operated her own successful Maths and English tutoring franchise. In addition to SDE, she continues to teach part-time in a local school.
Vina Sondh
Vina Sondh has 22 years of experience teaching having spent time teaching Years 1 to 6. In more recent years she has focusing exclusively on teaching Key Stage 2. As well as achieving her PGCE, Vina holds a BA in Psychosocial Studies. In school she has held the roles of Assistant Headteacher and Teaching and Learning Curriculum Design Coordinator. She teaches the SDE Year 4 11+ Foundation Course.
Romina Sharrocks
Romina has nearly 20 years’ experience in primary teaching and is a specialist Maths subject teacher. She has been preparing SDE 11+ candidates for the GL Assessment 11+ tests in Bucks since 2019 and is now devoted exclusively to teaching the Year 5 Course.