DR. KAREN MCNERNEY BSc (Hons), PGCE, MSc, EdD

Head 
Karen grew up and was educated in Wimbledon. She graduated from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne with an Honours degree in Biochemistry. However, she knew that she always wanted to teach and moved to Swansea to complete a P.G.C.E in Primary Teaching. She has taught both boys and girls in prep. schools in North London and Hertfordshire before joining Northwood Prep in 2001. Karen completed her Doctorate of Education in 2012 and is working towards applying the findings of her research into practice at MTP. Karen started as Head of Merchant Taylors' Prep from September 2015.

MR. TONY MCCONNELL MA (Hons), PGCE, FHA

Deputy Head of School
Tony grew up in London. He was a pupil at St Paul’s School before reading History at Cambridge. He then studied for his PGCE before entering teaching, spending 11 years in a variety of roles at a large North London comprehensive. He has published extensively about History and History education, with particular interests in American political culture and different scales of curriculum planning. He is one of the editors of Teaching History and is a Fellow of the Historical Association. He joined the then Northwood Prep in 2014 as Head of History, becoming operational Deputy Head of Merchant Taylors’ Prep in September 2018.
 

MR. ANDREW CROOK BA (Hons), PGCE 

Deputy Head
Andrew was educated locally at Harrow County Grammar School and with teachers as parents, vowed never to enter the teaching profession. He duly graduated from Lancaster University with an Honours degree in French, obtained his postgraduate teaching qualification in Modern Languages at King's College, London and taught in France for two years at the Université de Perpignan and a Lycée in the Alps before returning to teach at two London independent schools. In 1991 he joined Northwood Prep to teach French and introduce German and Spanish to the oldest pupils and impart his passion for languages, travel and sport through his games coaching and a variety of trips and activities. He is Deputy Head (Pastoral) and is The Prep School's Designated Safeguarding Lead and Chair of the Pastoral Committee, the House system and the Common Room.
 

MR RICHARD WADDINGTON BA (Hons), PGCE

Director of Studies, Head of RS, L2 Tutor
Richard was educated at Eastbourne College, where he won the Duke of Devonshire Classics Prize. He read English Literature and Classical Studies at Reading University, where he became an Army Bursar. Richard opted for teaching, gaining his PGCE (Classics) at St. Mary’s University College, London. Working in preparatory schools since the 1990s, Richard has successfully taught English, Greek, History, Latin and Religious Studies to 13+. He was Head of Classics at Northwood Prep between 1999 and 2021, during which period he has also been, at different times, Head of History and Head of Religious Studies. Richard has written several textbooks for the School, and is an ISEB 13+ Examination Setter. As Director of Studies he  leads the Heads of Subject as they teach the broad and wonderfully rich preparatory school syllabus, and he is responsible for managing assessment data in the School. 
 

MRS SALLY FUNNELL BEd

Head of Pre Prep School and Early Years
Sally grew up and was educated locally, in Rickmansworth. After graduating with a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of London she returned to work in primary schools in the area. Her degree specialised in the development of primary age children and children with individual needs, and these interests have always been at the heart of her teaching career. During this career Sally has enjoyed a variety of responsibilities, including twelve years as part of a Senior Leadership Team (SENCo Lead, Assistant or Deputy Head roles) and fifteen years leading a Nursery and Early Years team. She joined Northwood Prep School as Head of Nursery in 2012 and moved to become Head of Junior School in September 2015.
 

MRS COLLEEN PHILLIPS BA (Hons)

School Business Manager
Colleen joined in 2018, supporting our Administration and Site Team. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in English in 2008. Throughout her career, she has worked in various business roles including: retail management, operations management and customer service. In her capacity as SBM, she now leads HR, procurement and all site operations functioning at the school. In 2019 she completed a diploma in HR and completed the diploma in School Business Manager (via ISBL) in 2021.