Teaching Staff

Miss Olivia Hancox-Hitchens

Reception class teacher

I graduated from University in 2020 with Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology. I was interested in becoming a teacher so I worked as a teaching assistant for a year before returning to University to complete my teacher training. My favourite thing about being a teacher is supporting children’s progression and confidence through learning. I enjoy teaching all subjects but my favourite subjects to teach are English, Phonics, Art and RE. In my spare time I like to read, walk my two dogs and cook delicious food.

Mrs Charlie Rushton

Year 1 Class Teacher/Music Lead

After graduating from Kingston University, I went to Mexico to travel and was lucky enough to teach an academic year in a bilingual school. The whole experience was challenging and amazing and I do believe I left a little bit of my heart in Mexico!
On my return, I taught in a lovely school in Wimbledon in KS1 for a few years. When I started my family, I moved back to my hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. Between babies, I was a supply teacher for schools in Warwickshire.

I had been a parent at the school a long time before I became a member of staff and all of my four children have been taught at Stratford Primary. The children have wonderful memories of their primary school and I feel privileged to be part of the team.

My four children and two cats keep me very busy but I manage to find time to do things I enjoy outside of school. I love to sing and am in a couple of choirs. I try to go and hear live music when I can. With any other spare time I have, I like to run and you may even see me at the occasional Park Run!

Miss Georgina White

Year 2 Class Teacher/SLT/Deputy DSL/Art & DT Lead

I started working as a teacher in a Year One class after graduating from Bath Spa University in 2015. After completing my NQT year I took time out to travel around the world and to teach in an orphanage in Cambodia. I enjoy experiencing new places and pushing myself to overcome my fears. This has led me to try skydiving, swimming on the edge of Victoria Falls and diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

I enjoy teaching all areas of the curriculum and strive to allow children to express their imaginations and creativity in all subjects. In my spare time I like to cycle to relax and enjoy baking cakes.

Mrs Anna Slater

Year 3 Class Teacher/English lead/SLT/Deputy DSL/RE Lead

After qualifying from the University of Warwick twenty years ago, I started my teaching career in South London, going on to teach in Birmingham and Stratford-Upon-Avon. More recently, I have been teaching in village schools and am relishing the prospect of returning to work in Stratford-Upon-Avon, with the wealth of culture and opportunities it affords for children to thrive. I have taught across the primary range and love to explore creative and practical ways to develop children’s knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of learning. Outdoor learning is a passion of mine and I am lucky enough to have qualified as a Forest School Leader, it is such a pleasure to watch children develop an appreciation of nature and the world around them, in all weathers. As Alfred Wainwright said, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!

In my spare time, I love nothing more than to spend quality time with my family – my husband, two children and two very lively cocker spaniels! We spend a lot of time climbing and the children compete in various competitions around the country. For our sins, we also support West Bromwich Albion football club and try to take in as many home games as possible – sadly, often ending in disappointment! I also love to read and will usually be involved in a box set or two to unwind in the evenings.

Mrs Lara Archer

Year 4 Teacher/PSHE & Computing Lead

I graduated from Kingston University in 2016 with a Graphic Design degree. During my time on this course, I began to tailor my design projects towards children and education and found a passion for working in schools. I then volunteered in a school as a reading tutor before working as a Learning Support Assistant for children with SEND in London. I enjoyed this job so much that I decided to return to university to train as a teacher. I graduated with a PGCE in Primary Education from St Mary's University in 2019 and began working in a junior school in South West London, my husband and I then moved to Warwickshire in 2021 where I worked at a small village school before joining Stratford-Upon-Avon Primary School two years later. I enjoy teaching all subjects in the curriculum but I have a particular passion for Art and Design.
In my spare time I enjoy baking, going on long walks, revamping the rooms in my house and taking photographs. I also love being creative - I like to crochet, sew, paint with watercolours and needle felt. I enjoy spending quality time with my husband, friends and family and enjoy travelling to new places. I like to unwind in the evenings with a mug of hot chocolate, and a new book or TV series.

Miss Claire Postlethwaite

Year 5 Class Teacher/PE & Humanities Lead

I graduated from Gloucestershire University in 2018. Since then I have been working as a Year 1 teacher in a school in Banbury. I was the PE lead for KS1 and thoroughly enjoyed oragnising and attending a range of sporting events within the school and with other primary schools in our cluster. I enjoy teaching all parts of the curriculum and am passionate about helping children develop a positive growth mind set. I always encourage children to believe in themselves, try new things and celebrate their own and each other successes however big or small they may seem.

In my spare time I like to be active and enjoy going on walks, bike rides, dancing and doing exercise classes. I enjoy spending quality time with my friends and family, travelling to see or try new things and going on adventures. I also love to relax with a good book and a cup of tea at the end of the day or by watching a film or new series on TV.

Mrs Sarah McCormack

Year 6 Class Teacher/Maths lead/SLT

Since graduating from Manchester University, with a degree in History, and completing a PGCE at Swansea University, in 1993, I have taught in schools in London and Worcestershire, before joining Stratford Primary School in September 2015.

Although relatively new to Stratford Primary as a teacher, I have been a parent of the school since 2006, when the first of my three children started in reception. My third child, who I was lucky enough to teach in Year 6, left in July 2017. I feel privileged to be part of the team in such a wonderful school, which has provided all three of my children with a fantastic start in their educational life, ensuring they are happy, enthusiastic and successful learners, well-equipped for the next steps in their education. This sums up my philosophy as a teacher as I, in turn, strive to provide the same for all the children I teach, ensuring that they have fun whilst learning.

I enjoy teaching all subjects, but I especially love Maths and History. Over the years, I have been involved in many Year 5 and 6 productions and I’m very much looking forward to our summer extravaganza at The Arts House! I lead on mathematics in the school.

With my 3 children, 2 rabbits, 3 guinea pigs (not forgetting my wonderful husband!) and busy working life, I have little spare time but do enjoy travelling, walking, camping and being by the sea. I also love reading; enjoy cooking new vegetarian and vegan recipes with my children; and have to admit to being both a massive Star Wars and West Ham fan!