Leap into Summer

Mrs T L Evans

Tracey Evans is the Chief People Officer (CPO) at Berkhamsted Schools Group. With a wealth of experience in Industry Tracey joined Berkhamsted School in 2007. She spent 16 years in Banking, where she studied and attained her CIPD qualification during her role as an HR Specialist and Management trainer. Before leaving the bank Tracey held the position of Bank Manager for two years. Spending the next five years in an engineering company Tracey developed their HR portfolio before diversifying once more into the world of Education. With 580 staff, a Group of Schools which includes a Day Nursery, and an annual turnover of £28m, the challenges of managing the HR and Payroll for the Group are varied and require her to be up to date with the ever changing employment law and best practice. In this role Tracey offers professional advice to other smaller independent schools who have benefited from Berkhamsted’s pioneering initiatives. Tracey has two daughters who are Old Berkhamstedians. She enjoys travel, horse-riding, getting out and about in the countryside and spending time with her family.

Mr M Walker

Martin Walker joined Berkhamsted as the Headteacher of Berkhamsted Sixth in September 2017. He was educated at Barnard Castle School where he was Head of School. He studied French and German at Nottingham University and enjoyed gap years in France, Germany and Austria where he taught English, skied and played rugby. He completed a PGCE at Cambridge University before taking up his first teaching post at the Perse School where he became Deputy Head of the Lower School. He then moved to Harrow School where he spent seven years as Head of Department and four years as the House Master of West Acre House. He has coached rugby, hockey and cricket and led Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. He has volunteered for charities to help underprivileged children. He is married to Liz with whom he has two daughters who go to Berkhamsted School. Martin enjoys all sports, mindfulness, psychology and reading.

Ms E Watson

Emma Watson is Headteacher of Berkhamsted Girls. She came to Berkhamsted in 2018 as Deputy Head Wellbeing and moved to the Sixth two years later, before taking up her current role in September 2022. Earlier in Ms Watson’s career, she spent six years in the Army Air Corps as a Pilot and Flight Commander, and has taught at Stowe, Harrow and Wycombe Abbey, where she was a boarding housemistress. Originally from County Down, Ms Watson read Aerospace Engineering at the University of Manchester, holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Buckingham University, and completed her MBA at Salford University in 2022. She is also trained in Graydin coaching and restorative approaches. Ms Watson is married with two children; her interests include long distance running and netball.

Mr T Hadcroft

Tom Hadcroft has joined Berkhamsted Boys School as Headteacher from DLD College London, where he was Senior Deputy Head, overseeing on the Pastoral and Boarding sides of the school for five years. During this time DLD College London were recognised with six national awards, including Boarding School of the year and innovation awards in Mental Health, Wellbeing and Student voice. Previously, he had school leadership roles at Collège Alpin Beau Soleil in Switzerland and St John’s School Leatherhead. Before his teaching career he worked in the finance sector and has recently completed a Masters in Educational Leadership, with a focus on coaching in education.

Mrs K O’Connor

Karen O’Connor is the Headteacher of Berkhamsted Prep, Pre-Prep and Berkhamsted Day Nursery

She attended Saint Michael’s Grammar school in North London, completed a degree in English and History at the University of Southampton, followed by a PGCE, and in recent years attained a Masters in Leadership at University College London.

Karen has been a senior leader for over 20 years, leading across a range of maintained primary schools. This has included holding a number of Deputy Head and Acting Headship posts, working in both the London Borough of Barnet and in the Inner London borough of Camden, prior to coming to take up her post at Berkhamsted. She is committed to ensuring that every child has the best possible start to their educational journey and in addition is a Governor of a maintained all through school in Barnet.

Karen and her husband Richard have a daughter who attends Berkhamsted. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, playing tennis, swimming, travel and joining her daughter on horse riding hacks.

Mrs N Nicoll

Nicola Nicoll joined Berkhamsted Schools Group as the Headteacher of Heatherton in September 2020. Nicola has worked in Independent Primary or Prep Schools for over 20 years. She started as a science teacher at Thomas’ Preparatory School in Clapham, after completing her BSc in Biomedical Sciences and Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from Liverpool University. Nicola then became Head of Science and Head of Middle School at Westminster Under School in London and more recently as the Deputy Head at Badminton Junior School in Bristol. Nicola recently attained her Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Buckingham. She is married to George and together they both enjoy travelling whenever possible to continually learn and have fun exploring. Nicola also enjoys reading, art and sculpture, and taking part in outdoor activities with family and friends.