Matt studied a BSc Hons degree in Sports Studies at the University of Worcester before moving to Exeter University to study a PGCE in Physical Education. He began his teaching career in Northamptonshire, where he became Head of Boys’ Sport and played rugby for Wellingborough OG RFC as well as representing the East Midlands.

After four years in Northamptonshire, Matt made the move to King Edward VI School Five Ways, Birmingham, as Head of Department. He led a skilled team of staff that strengthened a strong sporting programme, including national achievements for teams and individuals, along with becoming a GCSE assessment centre and introducing A Level Physical Education. He also created a player pathway programme with Worcester RFC and a Sports Coaching partnership with Newman College of Further Education.

Matt Joined Bethany School as Director of Sport in 2007 with an aim to inspire every pupil to play sports and create a competitive sporting programme. Matt has also worked as a Housemaster at Bethany School and continues to develop a busy and successful sporting programme that inspires pupils and offers maximum opportunity for sporting success.

Sam is the Head of Girls’ Sport at Bethany School and firmly believes that there is a sport for everyone. She acheived her BA Hons degree in Physical Education with a QTS from St Mary’s University, Twickenham before joining Bethany School in 2004.

During her time at Bethany, Sam has led and co-led numerous Sports and True Adventure school trips to New Zealand, Barbados, USA, South Africa, Costa Rica, India, France, Austria and Italy to name but a few.

Sam has played netball at senior international level for England in the 2013 Tri-Nations Indoor Netball tournament in South Africa and currently plays regional netball in the London and South East League.

Away from sport, Sam danced for England for six years, and won the open and closed British Championship in Blackpool as part of the South of England Latin Team. Her other notable achievements are completing the London Marathon and sky diving and bungee jumping in New Zealand. Sam is also a qualified advanced scuba diver.

Tom is a PE teacher at Bethany School and is also the Assistant Housemaster in The Mount, a boys boarding house at Bethany. He attended Canterbury Christ Church University and completed his PGCE at the University of Buckingham.

Tom enjoys playing all sports, however his favourite two are cricket and hockey. He has been a member of Marden Russets Hockey Club for over 15 years and is currently the vice captain for the Men’s 1st XI. Tom has also previously coached junior teams as well as the Women’s 1st and 2nd teams during his time at Marden. He has been a member of Staplehurst Cricket and Tennis Club for 20 years where he is vice captain for the Men’s 1st team, having previously played for The Mote in the Kent Premier League for three years.

Away from cricket and hockey, Tom is a single figure handicap golfer and a member of Dale Hill Golf Club and also plays tennis and football at a social level as well as skiing.

Outside of Bethany and the world of sport, Tom enjoys travelling and spends most of his half terms and holidays abroad in various countries.

As a keen all round sportsman, Jamie ran for Crawley Athletics Club in his younger years and specialised in the 100m and 110m hurdles events, before representing his school in cross county. More recently, Jamie was part of Rye Town Running Club.

Away from athletics, Jamie also played football for Crawley Town FC as a junior, before moving on to Peasmarsh, Rye and Wittersham through the years and still plays now at veteran level with Ringmer FC. In his 30’s, Jamie took up boxing and represented Rye Town at various boxing shows and competitions.

Jamie joined Bethany in 2016 as the Swimming Pool Manager, and has since completed a 2-year diploma in personal training. More recently, he also qualified as a Royal Life Saving Society Trainer Assessor. Jamie’s role since joining Bethany has evolved and he now runs fitness classes for both staff and pupils, assisting Sports teachers in lessons, whilst also taking some lessons himself. Jamie is now currently studying for a degree in Sports with the Open University so he can teach Sports as a qualified teacher.

Miguel has been involved in the industry of professional football for over thirty years, having enjoyed working with players across various age groups, and helping them improve to reach their full individual potential.

Miguel played for Yeovil Town and Dagenham & Redbridge in the National Conference before signing his first professional contract with Charlton Athletic aged 19. His professional playing career then continued with spells at Bristol City, Birmingham City, Wycombe Wanderers and Peterborough United.

Responsibilities since finishing his playing career have included time in professional academies, with roles including Under 16 Lead coach, Academy Manager and Academy Recruitment Manager at Leyton Orient, Charlton Athletic and Fulham. Miguel also currently oversees the recruitment of players in Kent for Crystal Palace.

Invited by the FA to assist in the development and implementation of a new Talent Identification in Recruitment, he has successfully recruited and coached current Premier League and English Football League players.

Miguel holds the ‘A’ licence management in recruitment, the ‘B’ licence in coaching as well as the FA Advanced Youth Modules.

Lisa began her swimming career at age 10, when she raced for Sussex County. By age 12, she was swimming in national competitions and had her first international swimming competition at 13. She was then selected to swim for Great Britain and she did so from the age of 13 to 20 years old.

Lisa’s first GB event was in Russia for the World Youth Games, she was then part of Team GB for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games where she competed in the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay and finished 6th in the final. During her swimming career Lisa held the junior and senior British record for the 100m individual medley and the senior British record for the 50m fly.

Lisa has since completed her level 1, 2 and 3 coaching qualification and now currently coaches at Hastings Seagull Swimming Club, as well as being Head Coach of the Sussex Development Pathway for age group swimmers in 2023.

Lisa still swims now, and races within Masters Swimming, currently competing at Sussex County level.

Having completed a PG Dip in Sports Management, Alasdair has over 20 years of coaching knowledge, understanding and experience in both school and grass roots level sport.

A passionate coach, who holds qualifications in cricket, hockey, and football, Alasdair most enjoys teaching pupils all the positive outcomes that sport can bring. He continues to play cricket, hockey and golf and enjoys watching rugby and singing too.

He gained representative cricket honours at minor county level in North Wales and his claim to fame is taking the wicket of West Indian cricket legend, Gordon Greenidge.

Kathryn is a Netball Coach at Bethany School. She fell in love with the sport immediately after first stepping on the court at age 9 and has had a lifelong involvement with it since, playing across school, club and university teams.

It was at university whilst studying Chemistry that she also found a love for coaching, being captain of the university first team, coaching of the lower teams and officiating in London’s social leagues.

Now, Kathryn currently plays for Peregrine Falcons Netball Club across Maidstone, Canterbury and the County Leagues.

In her spare time, and apart from all things netball, Kathryn loves gardening and travelling.

Tracey has played netball since the age of 9, has umpired since the age of 17 and has represented Kent County at Under 21 level.

She has belonged to and helped run the same club, Wealden, throughout her entire career. Having belonged to Wealden, based in Kent, since 1988, Tracey has played her part in helping them achieve National Clubs Division 1 status, as well as garnering a wealth of knowledge and experience assisting the coaching of their 100+ junior members.

Tracey currently still plays, and is part of the Wealden Senior Social team.

Phoebe has played at Marden Russets since she was a junior and is now the Captain of the Ladies’ 2nd XI. She has completed her sessional coaching course through the club and currently coaches across the board from U12 girls and boys teams to the Ladies’ 3’s and 4’s teams.

Phoebe is currently studying BSc Human Biology and Sport with the Open University, and alongside this, she has completed Level 3 Personal Training and is in the process of completing her Level 4 Strength and Conditioning.

At Bethany, Phoebe acts as a hockey specialist and coaches girls and boys of all ages, taking them to matches and running training sessions.