Leadership Team

Miss. Katy O'Neill is an Assistant Head Teacher at Telscombe Cliffs Academy and has held this post since September 2021. Before joining Telscombe Cliffs Academy, Katy taught at South Malling CE Primary and Nursery School in Lewes for nine years. Alongside classroom responsibilities, Katy led on her passions of music and modern foreign languages, developing bespoke curricula for both subjects and ensuring all children had equal access to high-quality music education and experiences, such as performing at Glyndebourne and Brighton Dome. Convinced by the impact of dialogic approaches to learning, Katy was one of the first cohorts of leaders to train with Voice 21, the country's leading oracy education charity, on their National Oracy Leaders Programme. Katy became South Malling's inaugural Oracy Lead and spearheaded an oracy approach which impacted all areas of school life. This led to Katy providing coaching and training on oracy practice for teachers at local schools and presenting to groups of teachers at various Voice 21 webinars. Katy has had the privilege to live in Paris, where she taught piano at a bilingual music school, and in Madrid, where she taught a Year 2 class at King's College International School. Before becoming a teacher, Katy worked as a professional musician in London after graduating with a degree in Music (Jazz) from Middlesex University. A pianist since the age of seven, Katy enjoys having the opportunity to play the piano for assemblies now she has less time to dedicate to this since becoming a mum of a very active baby boy!