Our Staff Team
We are delighted to introduce our skilled and experienced staff team -
Miss Hazlewood: Headteacher and DSL
Miss Hazlewood joined St James in September 2023 after relocating back to Devon from London. She is passionate about providing the children of St James with the strong foundations they need to Ignite, Explore, Believe... Together!
Miss Pickett Jones : SENDCo, DDSL
Mrs Pengelly - Administrator and DDSL
Mrs Pengelly joined St James in September 2021 as our full-time School Administrator. She brings enthusiasm, positivity, and a strong commitment to supporting both staff and pupils across our school community. Mrs Pengelly is often the first point of contact for families and is always happy to help with any queries or questions.
Mrs Scott - Foundation Stage Lead Practitioner
Mrs Scott joined St James in September 2022, she has a wealth of experience and a heart for early years education. Mrs Scott works with our youngest learners in our school nursery, Caterpillars class.
Mrs Hooper: Butterflies Class Teacher
Mrs Hooper joined St James in September 2024 and is the full time teacher of our reception class. Mrs Hooper has a wealth of experience in teaching and will support all children as they begin their journey into school life.
Miss Tucknott: Hedgehogs Class Teacher (Y1)
Miss Tucknott has joined us from a local primary school and is passionate about creating a happy, welcoming classroom where every child feels valued, supported and excited to learn. She loves seeing children develop a genuine passion for learning and watching their confidence, independence and skills grow throughout the year!
Miss Powell: Foxes Class Teacher (Y2)
We are delighted to welcome Miss Powell to our St James community as our new Foxes class teacher. Miss Powell is committed to creating a learning environment where every child can thrive.
Miss Genduso: Class Teacher (Maternity leave)
Miss Genduso is excited to bring her experience and passion for learning into the classroom following the birth of her son, Enzo. We are excited to see her back with us soon!
Miss Scambler: Foxes Class Teacher (Y3)
Miss Allen: Owls Class Teacher (Y4)
Miss Allen is our wonderful Year 4 teacher. She first joined St James as a Year 6 teacher before moving to Year 4 last year. Miss Allen brings a wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm and experience to the classroom, and her positive energy is infectious. She is passionate about helping every child reach their full potential and creates a nurturing, engaging environment where children feel confident to learn, explore and grow.
Miss Rae: Buzzards Class Teacher (Y5)
Miss Rae joined St James in September 2026. She began her career in education as a Teaching Assistant before completing her teacher training and progressing into a teaching role. Since then, she has taught across a range of primary year groups, most recently at a primary school in North Devon.
Miss Rae is passionate about creating a happy, inclusive, and nurturing classroom environment where every child feels valued, supported, and encouraged to achieve their very best. She is committed to helping children develop confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Ms Brennan: Deer Class Teacher (Y6)
We’re delighted to share that Ms Brennan has continued with her wonderful class from last year, and they are now embarking on their final year at primary school – Year 6! Miss Brennan is looking forward to seeing the class grow in confidence and independence.
Mrs Redding: Teaching Assistant
Mrs Redding joined St James in March 2021 as a Teaching Assistant. Mrs Redding joins us with a degree in Primary education and a range of experience leading extended school provision.
Miss Simmons: Level 3 Foundation Stage Practitioner
Miss Simmons joined St James in March 2021 and works full-time in our EYFS provision in Butterflies Class. Prior to this, she worked in our Caterpillars Nursery Class. Miss Simmons joined us from another Devon primary school and brings with her many years of experience as an outstanding local childminder. She provides excellent support for our youngest children, helping them to settle confidently and positively at the very start of their school journey.
Mrs Norris - Teaching Assistant
Mrs Norris joined St. James in June 2022 and works in KS1. She is a trained Forest School Leader and currently offers forest school for each year group.
Mrs Hubber - Teaching Assistant
Mrs Hubber joined St James in June 2022 and works full-time in our Nursery, Caterpillars Class. She plays a key role in supporting our youngest children each day, helping them to feel safe, happy, and confident as they begin their learning journey. Mrs Hubber's caring and nurturing approach ensures that every child receives the support they need to thrive and develop during these important early years.
Mr Daniel - Teaching Assistant
Mr Daniel joined St James in September 2022, having previously been a Teaching Assistant in another local school and then spending some time working in the Premises team at St James. Mr Daniel works full time across our KS1 & KS2 classes, supporting children's learning across the week.
Ms Webber - Teaching Assistant
We are incredibly fortunate to have Ms Webber as part of our school community. Her wealth of knowledge, dedication, and support make a remarkable difference in the lives of our students and staff every single day.
Mrs Middleton-Agnew - Teaching Assistant
Mrs Middleton-Agnew joined St James in December 2022, bringing with her valuable experience from her previous role as a Teaching Assistant at another local school. She works four days a week and provides support across the school, helping children to develop confidence, achieve their potential, and thrive in their learning. Her friendly and encouraging approach makes her a valued member of the St James team.
Miss Dodd : Teaching Assistant
Miss Dodd joined St James in March 2023 and works full-time in our Caterpillars Class (Nursery), supporting our youngest learners as they begin their educational journey. With her calm, kind, and nurturing nature, she helps create a welcoming environment where children feel safe, valued, and confident to explore, learn, and grow. Miss Dodd is a valued member of our Early Years team and plays an important role in helping every child thrive.
Ms May: Teaching Assistant
Ms May joined St James in September 2023, bringing with her valuable experience from another local primary school. She works across the school, providing support to children of all ages and helping them to achieve their best.
Mrs Perrott - Teaching Assistant
Mrs Perrott joined St James in January 2023 as a Mealtime Assistant (MTA) and has since progressed into a Teaching Assistant role. She now works full-time, supporting children across a range of year groups and helping them to flourish both academically and personally
Miss Porter: Teaching Assistant
Miss Porter joined the St James team in January 2024, bringing with her valuable experience from another local school within the trust. She works four days a week across a range of year groups, supporting children in their learning and helping them to build confidence and achieve their full potential.
Mrs Hensberg - Kitchen Manager
We are delighted to welcome Mrs Hensberg as our Kitchen Manager here at St James. With a passion for providing nutritious, high-quality meals and a commitment to creating a warm and welcoming dining experience, Mrs Hensberg plays an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our school community. She is dedicated to ensuring that every child enjoys tasty, balanced meals in a positive and friendly environment.
Mrs Stacey - Kitchen Assistant
Mrs Stacey joined St James in September 2019 as a Midday Teaching Assistant (MTA) and became a Kitchen Assistant in September 2021. She plays an important role in preparing and serving nutritious meals for our children each day, always greeting them with a warm smile and a friendly welcome.
Mrs Chamberlain - Kitchen Assistant
Mrs Chamberlain joined the St James team in April 2024 as one of our valued Kitchen Assistants. She plays an important role in preparing and serving nutritious meals for our children each day and also helps to transport the meals cooked on-site at St James to other local schools.
Ms Berry - Kitchen Assistant
We are delighted to welcome Ms Berry to the St James team as our newest Kitchen Assistant. Joining us from another local school, Ms Berry brings valuable experience and a passion for supporting children during their school day. She plays an important role in helping to provide nutritious meals and creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere at lunchtime.
Mrs Espin - Mealtime Assistant (MTA) and OPAL play lead
Mrs Espin joined St James in November 2023 as a Mealtime Assistant, supporting our children during lunchtimes and playtimes. In addition to her role, she has become our OPAL Play Lead and is leading the transformation of our playground, helping to create exciting, engaging and inclusive play opportunities for all children. Her enthusiasm and dedication are making a real difference to our outdoor environment and the children's play experiences.
Ms Stephens - Mealtime Assistant (MTA)
Ms Stephens joined St James in April 2024 as a Midday Teaching Assistant (MTA), supporting children across the school during lunchtime and helping to ensure that this important part of the day is safe, happy, and enjoyable for everyone.
Miss Hart - Mealtime Assistant (MTA)
We are delighted to welcome Miss Hart, who joined our team in September 2026 as a Mealtime Assistant, supporting our children during lunchtime and helping to create a positive and enjoyable dining experience.
Miss Tkachenko - Mealtime Assistant (MTA)
We are pleased to introduce Miss Tkachenko, who joined our team in September 2026 as a Mealtime Assistant. In this role, they provide support and encouragement to our children during lunch times, helping to ensure a safe, happy, and enjoyable environment for all.
Mrs Luscombe: Foxes Class Teacher
We’re thrilled to welcome back Mrs Luscombe following her maternity leave. She will be working in Year 2 alongside Miss Powell one day a week. It’s wonderful to have her back with us at St James.
Ms Devine: Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
Ms Devine joined St James in September 2019 and has extensive experience throughout the whole school. We’re pleased to share that Miss Devine will now be working across all classes throughout the school. Her support will be invaluable in enhancing learning experiences and providing consistent assistance across year groups.
Mrs Hardwick: Cover Teacher
We are delighted to introduce Mrs Hardwick, who has been a valued member of the St James team for over a year. Mrs Hardwick joined us from another local primary school and currently teaches part-time across all classes. Her experience, dedication and warm approach have made a positive impact across the school, and we are grateful for the support she provides to both pupils and staff.
Mr Morgan - Premises Manager
Mr Morgan is the Premises Manager for St James and is based on site two days a week. He oversees the maintenance, safety and upkeep of our school buildings and grounds, helping to ensure that our learning environment remains safe, well-maintained and welcoming for all members of the school community. We are grateful for the important role he plays in keeping St James running smoothly.