Senior Leadership Team

Helen joined Eltham College in 2020 as Bursar and Clerk to the Board at Blackheath Prep, becoming Chief Operating Officer of the Eltham College Family of Schools following the merger in 2023. Prior to joining the education sector, she held senior executive roles across the hospitality industry, including Regional Director at BaxterStorey, where she was responsible for a £60m business and a team of around 1,000 staff.

As COO, Helen oversees estates, facilities, IT, transport, security, health and safety, and operational strategy across the Family of Schools. She played a central role in the integration of Blackheath Prep and Eltham College and has led several significant capital and transformation projects.

Helen is a keen musician, having studied singing and piano at Trinity College of Music in London. Married with two daughters, much of her spare time is spent on the sidelines of a hockey pitch.

Sami Michael is the Deputy Head Pastoral at Eltham College, responsible for the overall pastoral care for all students and staff.

Born, raised and educated in South London, he later read English Literature at the University of York before training in secondary education. He has over fifteen years’ experience in senior pastoral roles in the independent sector, including responsibilities as Head of Year, Head of Section, and Head of Admissions. Sami joins Eltham College in 2025 from the senior leadership team at Whitgift School, Croydon.

At Eltham, he leads a team comprising the Designated Safeguarding Lead, School Chaplain, Head of Wellbeing & EDI, Medical Team, School Counsellor and the Heads of Section to ensure outstanding standards of care at the Senior School, as well as fostering collaborative pastoral links across the Eltham Family of Schools. He is one of our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads.

Married with two children, he is passionate about music, theatre and world cuisine, and has a particular interest in American culture, sports and literature.

Kathryn Nutbeem is the Deputy Head Academic at Eltham College and is responsible for overseeing the academic performance and achievement of students within the Senior School.

After graduating from Queen Mary University of London, she did postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music and worked in the heritage industry before retraining as a teacher and spending seven years teaching in the Harris Federation and a further seven years at the British International School, Cairo, where she was Deputy Head.

Kathryn’s responsibilities as part of the Senior Leadership Team include setting academic standards and policies, monitoring student progress and performance, and working with teachers and other staff members to ensure that students are receiving a high-quality education. She is responsible for overseeing curriculum development, assessment, and data analysis, as well as working with other school leaders to develop and implement strategies to improve student achievement and academic outcomes.

Married with a young daughter, Kathryn is passionate about history and the arts, in particular theatre. She is also an ambassador for the Army Benevolent Fund and the armed forces charity SSAFA.

Corisande Scott -Blount is the Assistant Head (Head of Sixth Form) at Eltham College, responsible for the overall pastoral care of all students in the Sixth Form and for supporting each one with their UCAS applications.

Born, raised and educated in South London, she read Geography at the University of Exeter before training in secondary education and later completing an MA in Educational Leadership. She has over 10 years’ experience working in leadership roles and in Sixth Form pastoral teams.  She joined Eltham College in 2023 from Alleyn’s School, where she was Acting Head of Sixth Form.

At Eltham, she leads the Sixth Form team and the Head of EPQ, alongside working very closely with other colleagues to ensure that students are supported through their A-Levels with excellent pastoral care, and when making decisions regarding their next steps beyond school. She is also one of our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads.

She is married and loves to travel and read, with a particular interest in exploring Asia.

James Willatt is the Deputy Head Co-Curriculum, Outreach and Public Benefit at Eltham College, and is responsible for promoting student development beyond the classroom. He was educated at St. Olave’s Grammar School, Orpington, followed by Nottingham University and University College London. James joined Eltham College in 2009 as a Teacher of Geography and has held Head of Year and Assistant Head positions before becoming Deputy Head in 2022. He is married with a young daughter.

In his role as part of the Senior Leadership Team, James supports staff in delivering the school’s co-curricular and partnership undertakings, aligning activity with the school’s mission and aims.

Joanna Dudley is Deputy Head at Eltham College Junior School and is responsible for overseeing the academic performance and achievement of students within the Junior School.

After graduating from the University of London with a degree in Ancient History, she gained her postgraduate degree in Education from the University of Canterbury. Alongside her first teaching position, she trained as a classical singer at Morley College, London. She taught at Belmont Preparatory School in Surrey prior to joining Blackheath High Junior School, initially as Head of Key Stage Two and Assessment, before taking up her role as Deputy Head. In 2013, she moved to California and spent five years as Director of an Academy of Performing Arts. Upon her return home, she joined Eltham College in 2020 as Head of Learning Support before becoming Deputy Head in 2023.

Joanna’s responsibilities as part of the Senior Leadership Team include monitoring the academic progress of all children in the Junior school, ensuring every child maximises their academic potential. She is also responsible for all aspects of the curriculum, timetabling and analysis of children’s data, working alongside other school leaders to best equip our young people with the skills and interpersonal qualities they will need to succeed in later life.