Staff

Ms Elaine Purves took on Headship at Queen Anne’s School in January 2022. Her extensive experience, modern outlook and huge enthusiasm for outstanding education promises to lead Queen Anne’s in its next chapter and a bright future. "In these unsettling times, it is a privilege to lead such a strong, spirited and dynamic school. Our young people deserve the very best and we strive to meet this even in the most challenging of times. As educators, it is incumbent on us to ensure that every individual thrives and discovers their passions - and has a lot of fun along the way!" Elaine joins the school following Headship at St. John’s International School in Belgium where the school has gone from strength to strength in providing outstanding pastoral care and a forward-thinking education. Elaine has also previously been Head of Rossall School and Head of Ipswich High School, as well as five years as Deputy Head at the Royal High School, Bath, GDST. In addition, Elaine is an experienced ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) Team Inspector and has recently become a CIS (Council of International Schools) Evaluator. She cares deeply about mental health and is a board member of CHS, a charity providing support and mental health services to the Brussels English-speaking community. Fluent in German, Elaine is a linguist and began her career as a teacher of Modern Languages. She graduated from the University of Hull with a joint honours degree in English and German before completing a PGCE at the University of Durham.

Andy joined Queen Anne’s School as Deputy Head - Pastoral from his previous role as Director of Boarding and Head of Co-curricular at Reddam House School in Berkshire. He has a wide range of experience, currently overseeing all Inspection compliance, whilst being an active ISI Inspector, and he has responsibility for the Trips and Visits, along with the Day Houses. Andy originally trained as a PE Teacher gaining his Honours Degree from Chichester, and more recently completed his Masters’ in Educational Leadership from Buckingham University. Queen Anne’s will be his fourth day and boarding school, having previously held the positions of Director of Sport, House Master and Head of Boarding. He has also worked with the Boarding Schools’ Association, contributing to publications and staff training courses. Andy will take up post in August 2023 and will live in school with his wife, Lyndsey and their two children. Away from school, Andy also enjoyed semi-professional careers in football and cricket in his younger years, and now enjoys cycling, golf and has a real passion for photography.

BSc (Warwick), MSc (Loughborough), GTP Ben read Psychology at Warwick University before completing a Masters in Sport Psychology at Loughborough. From there, he set up his own consultancy business specialising in reflective practice, team cohesion and anxiety management. He found that there were many overlaps between optimal sporting and academic performances and started working with students whose behaviour was impacting their learning before transitioning into teaching psychology. Alongside being Deputy Head Academic at Queen Anne's School, Ben is also a sessional lecturer at the University of Reading.

Andy holds an MSc in Leadership, Management and Business from Portsmouth Business School and brings extensive leadership and operational experience from both the military and education sectors. He began his career as an officer in the Royal Marines, serving on operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as undertaking specialist cold weather training and deployments within the Arctic Circle. Following his military career, Andy moved into educational leadership, serving as Business Manager at St Christopher's School in Bahrain, one of the largest schools in the Middle East. He has also worked in international schools in Kuwait and Oman before returning to the UK independent sector, most recently at The King's School, Gloucester. Outside of school, Andy has a longstanding passion for sport. He represented Great Britain in Modern Pentathlon during the 1990s and later , following a challenge from his teenage children, returned to competition as a Masters athlete, winning a bronze medal at the 2012 World Championships. He remains actively involved in coaching a variety of sports, including triathlon, and is also a PADI Staff Instructor in scuba diving.