Meet the Team
Our team is a community of wonderful individuals who live the Yipiyap values every day. We’ve all been inspired by special teachers and educators in our own lives - here are our favourites…
Abbie Stewart
Head of Colleague Support & Progression
“My favourite teacher was Phillip Haunch - He was my maths teacher through most of my high school years. He made maths fun and pushed us to reach our full potential. He also ran the annual hostelling holidays in the Lake District which were always great fun. He was always so full of energy and enthusiasm.”
Anne Morris
Founder and CEO
“My standout teacher was Chris Pilkington (Y5) - he ran the school football team, made up amazing stories, did massive art projects that everyone wanted to get involved in and wrote the school plays. Total inspiration!”
Catherine Birkett
Co-Founder and COO
“My standout teacher was Bryn James, my Year 6 teacher and our primary school Headmaster. He was a huge character who made every pupil feel special and cared for and really went that extra step. I will never forget him bringing a tennis court net to our primary school field and setting it up one lunchtime so I could show him my serve. I worked ten times harder in every lesson after that and I have never forgotten him!”
Conor Farrelly
Senior Project Coordinator
“My standout teacher was Sheena Kar, my Year 7 Head of Year and my History teacher all the way to my A-Levels in Year 13. I was already passionate about studying History but being within in her learning environment helped my passion; fun, interactive lessons related to course material which I still hold close to me to this day. Her drive for perfectionism is what got me to today - a tough love relationship that drove me on to achieve my A-Level grades.”
Dom Holding
Project Coordinator
“My favourite teacher at school was my Computer Science teacher, Mr Edey, who made sure you got the most out of every lesson while also learning to laugh along the way. His style of teaching was definitely unique and something I took myself into my role as a tutor”
Elly Baker
Head of Project Development
“The teacher that made the biggest impact on me was Frau Schäfer, who taught me German from Y7-13. Her lessons were my first introduction to learning a foreign language, and I was hooked from day one. Frau Schäfer recognised linguistic ability in me far younger than I ever did in myself. She pushed me out of my comfort zone and would always use her unabashed German directness to tell it straight when she felt I was resting on my laurels and missing an opportunity to learn more.”
Jennifer Haynes
Regional Director
“A teacher that I will always remember has to be Debbie Millington. Debbie was my English teacher for 4 years of my high school life and her ‘tough-love’ approach always left me pushing for more and striving for excellence within the subject. I struggled at times to focus during school, but her lessons always had me hooked and I’ll never forget them.”
Jessica Shepherd
Operations Director
“The teacher who inspired me most at school was Cheryl Miller, my A Level Philosophy and Ethics teacher. She made me realise that you don’t have to be ‘book smart’ to be clever and taught me that an open mind is a powerful tool.”
Luke Brierley
"Senior IT, Data and Compliance Manager"
“My favourite teacher at school was Alex Masters. Alex wasn’t one of my subject tutors, but my form tutor, who acted as my tutor for the last four years of secondary school. Alex empowered me to avoid my tendency towards perfectionism which could have really held me back and we’re still in touch today.”
Matthew Dagnall
Head of IT and Innovation
“My Year 5 teacher Mr Pownall would have the class in stitches with his warnings against reckless behaviour, which always, inevitably, reached their grisly conclusion with a loud clap and the immortal words we’d eagerly await: “SPLAT – strawberry jam!” A group of 9-year-olds has never been so enthralled by a lecture on personal safety, but Mr Pownall taught us how powerful a teaching tool a little humour can be.”
Meg Parry
Regional Director
“Many of my teachers inspired me on a daily basis but one, in particular, was my A Level History teacher, Mr Roberts. He was somewhat old fashioned in his methods but always comical and it was a joy to be in his sessions. He made what were arguably fairly unexciting topics interesting with his evident passion for them, and provided so much insight into both the subject itself and how to approach it practically as a student. During year 13 and his last teaching year before his retirement, one of his closest family members sadly passed away and he still came in to teach his last A Level group with the same optimism he had maintained throughout the year. It was honestly astounding and I can’t credit him enough for being such a support when he himself was going through a very difficult personal period.”
Richard Edge
Franchisee and Regional Director
“The best teacher by a mile at my school was Colin Fisher. As well as teaching music, he gave up his time every lunchtime and afterschool to run the senior band, junior band, orchestra, sectional practices, boys choir plus be the accompanist for 2 girls choirs. This was rewarded with frequent trips to London in finals of national competitions. An absolute legend!”
Snezana Rosic
Regional Director
“My favourite teacher at school was Lara Napier. Lara always believed in me, and her kindness and generosity forever inspired me. She made sure her students were heard! Last year I worked alongside Lara as a tutor, helping her Year 7 class and it was a pleasure to see she continues to inspire young people.”