Staff, Governors & Trustees

Mrs Heidi Armstrong has been Deputy Head Pastoral and then Head of Senior School at Putney High since September 2015. Her main responsibility at Putney is leading the school’s pastoral team, all safeguarding matters and overseeing the day to day running of the school.

Mrs Armstrong began her teaching career in 2004 at another GDST school, Croydon High, having previously worked in finance. On joining Putney, she was promoted from being a teacher of German to be head of department, then head of house and exams officer. In 2010 she was appointed head of sixth form, when she also became part of the senior leadership team.

Mrs Armstrong believes that the school’s success in delivering excellent pastoral care is the result of the depth of experience coupled with intelligent application of the best research.

Mrs Phoebe Bradley joined Putney High School in September 2015 as Head of History & Politics. She joined the SLT in 2018 as Director of Pupil Progress & Academic Enrichment before taking on the role of Deputy Head Academic in 2020. She job shares the role with Pippa Gilbert.

Mrs Bradley obtained a degree in History from New College, Oxford, specialising in the history of the scientific revolution. Having returned to Oxford University to obtain her PGCE in 2012; she previously taught at Rochester Grammar School.

Together with Mrs Gilbert, Mrs Bradley is committed to promoting an ethos of modern scholarship – ensuring learning at Putney is an exciting, joyous journey of discovery. Throughout their time leading the Academic SLT, both have promoted a culture of research-led practice, most notably in their development of the school’s renowned Science of Learning curriculum – which ensures both staff and students understand the neuroscience behind how learning happens, thus enabling students to maximise their enormous cognitive potential.

Mrs Pippa Gilbert joined Putney High School in September 2015 as a Religious Studies teacher. She joined the SLT in 2018 as Director of Research, Learning & Outreach, having been the Gifted & Talented Coordinator, and became Deputy Head Teaching & Learning in 2020 before taking on the role of Deputy Head Academic in 2022. She job shares the roles with Phoebe Bradley.

Mrs Gilbert has earned national renown for the quality of her teaching, as a finalist and silver award winner at the Pearson National Teaching Awards in 2019. She championed the introduction, and now thriving culture, of action research within the school, and has presented at the Festival of Education as well as being an award-winner within the GDST for her research on Harkness tables.

Together with Mrs Bradley, Mrs Gilbert is committed to promoting an ethos of modern scholarship – ensuring learning at Putney is an exciting, joyous journey of discovery. Throughout their time leading the Academic SLT, both have promoted a culture of research-led practice, most notably in their development of the school’s renowned Science of Learning curriculum.

Dr Brandon ensures the delivery of a high-quality and vibrant co-curricular programme, encouraging pupils to discover their own path and develop their skills in an inclusive environment. Alongside this, she is passionate about offering pupils opportunities to take part in an outward-looking and collaborative volunteering and partnerships program, that develops independence, kindness and reflects and embodies the school’s ‘It Starts With Me’ pastoral ethos. 

Dr Brandon’s first degree is from King’s College London, where she studied Musicology. She continued her musical studies there, leading to the completion of her PhD in 2008. She went on to gain a PGCE in Secondary Music from the Institute of Education, while combining her studies with offering free music tuition as part of a community music project. She began her teaching career as head of Academic Music at St Mary’s Ascot, quickly progressing to the role of Assistant Head of Sixth Form. 

Mr James Mutton (MA Hons Geography (Edinburgh), MEd Cambridge) studied Geography at Edinburgh where he decided to become a teacher after spending much of his time volunteering with young people alongside studying. After a year as an Assistant House Master in the Junior School at Gordonstoun, he completed a PGCE at the Faculty of Education in Cambridge and moved to London where he has taught ever since. Ever keen to combine academic study with school life, he has recently earned a third Masters, this time in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Roehampton.

James has a wide-ranging portfolio of whole school responsibilities which include managing the Senior School timetable, developing a forward-looking curriculum and leading on digital innovation. Most recently this has included adopting Python as one of our language options in Year 9 to allow students to develop their coding skills, ready for their digital future. He is determined to ensure that Putney students leave with the skills, resilience and confidence they need to be trailblazers in their chosen paths.

Mrs Sophie Clegg (BSc Geography (University of Bristol) joined Putney High School in 2015 as a Geography teacher. Since then, she has held a number of positions including Head of Careers and Enterprise and Head of Year 11. She is currently leading the Sixth Form team as Acting Head of Sixth Form.

Mrs Clegg completed her PGCE at the Institute of Education, UCL and previously worked at Twyford CofE High School, Ealing as Head of Department. Prior to moving into teaching, she had a career in PR and Marketing.