Staff
Mr NW Gough
Nick joined the RGS back in 2008 fresh out from finishing his MSC in International Relations and Economics. As an economics teacher who trained at RGS and Guildford County School, he has held a variety of different roles at the RGS including: Head of International Partnerships, Head of Economics and Head of Upper School before starting his current role leading safeguarding and pastoral care in 2023. Nick enjoys leading a busy pastoral team that is always looking to help students develop as individuals within the kind and diverse community that is the RGS.
Away from work, Nick’s passions include sport, travel and development education. This has led him to own a rusty tuk tuk, currently stationed in his back garden that once travelled with him and a former RGS teacher through 38 countries!
Mrs J Petersen
Jo has taught across all year groups from Nursery to Year 6 in a variety of roles. Initially teaching drama in an all-girls school in London, she then moved to Australia and taught in a mixed Catholic school in Sydney. Her return to England began her passion for teaching in EYFS where she taught reception and was then deputy head at Peaslake School for nine years.
Jo joined RGS in 2013 and has worked in both Nursery and Shell. She is passionate about creating an exciting and varied early years curriculum and helping the youngest learners foster a love of learning right from the start.
Out of school, Jo is a keen film and theatregoer. She also enjoys boards games and escape rooms with her three children and hasn’t been locked in yet!
Mrs RJ Self
Rebecca began her teaching career in London and brings over 20 years of experience working with children across a wide age range in both co-educational mainstream, specialist and independent settings. She has held leadership roles, including Head of Department and SENDCo, and is dedicated to fostering strong relationships with families and professionals. Rebecca supports staff in developing effective strategies to meet individual needs and ensures that every decision keeps the child at the centre.
She has extensive experience collaborating with external agencies, managing large teams of teaching assistants and delivering training on neurodiversity, emotional literacy and wellbeing. Passionate about promoting positive mental health, Rebecca helps pupils build the skills children need to thrive both in and beyond the classroom.
Outside school, she enjoys family time, exploring the countryside and coast, sailing in warm weather and taking on house-building projects.
Mrs KEJ Reynolds
Kate has taught at RGS Prep for 14 years and before that for 23 years in the co-educational state sector. She has previously been Head of English, Mathematics, Geography, History and Design and Technology. One of her favourite roles at RGS Prep has been Head of York as she loves seeing the pupils join as a community and tackle a range of challenges together. Her passion is that pupils are at a school that enables them to be the best version of themselves that they can be.
As a maths teacher, Mrs Reynolds loves number puzzles and plays every night. She reads children’s books avidly and loves to receive recommendations from pupils. Walking is a hobby and Mrs Reynolds has recently completed the Thames Path (180 miles) after many years! She is looking for her next walking challenge following this and the Macmillan Half Marathon last summer.
Mr AE Moore
Adam has been teaching in prep school education since 1996. He has taught in both boys’ and co-educational schools and has held a variety of roles, including Head of French, Assistant Deputy Head Academic, and Head of House. He is passionate about providing students with a well-rounded education, preparing them for their transition to senior school, and helping them develop the skills they need to make a difference.
In his spare time, Adam enjoys cycling, going to the cinema and playing padel, pickleball and tennis in Southwest London, where he lives with his wife and two children.
Mrs A McAuliffe BA, PGCE
Having completed her degree in German and Russian at Queen Mary and Westfield College, London and a PGCE at the Institute of Education, Astrid started her teaching career at Dartford Grammar School for Boys before moving to Colfe’s School where in the course of 12 years, she became Head of German and later Head of Modern Languages and finally Academic Co-ordinator. From 2010 until retiring in 2023, Astrid worked as Deputy Head Academic at Alleyn’s School. She also served as a Team Inspector at ISI for 7 years.
Miss G Fenton
When did you join RGS Prep? September 2025
What’s the best thing about RGS Prep? Quick and easy answer here: the people! The boys and staff are wonderful.
What excites you most about coming into work each day? Those lightbulb moments.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? An endless supply of different ice-cold drinks.
What’s your favourite film and why? The Holiday. I am a big Christmas movie fan!
If you could be any cartoon character who would you be? Minnie Mouse because she is kind and caring, but also stylish and confident.
What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? It’s better to try and fail, than to not try at all.
Mrs C Pembrey
What excites you most about coming into work each day? Seeing the boys and discovering new things together through our lessons. There’s always new learning and the boys get very excited about it – it’s wonderful!
If you could change your name to anything, what would it be? Sassy – it’s what my niece calls me as she couldn’t pronounce Cathy…it’s sort of stuck with my whole family!
If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? A chef – I LOVE cooking, but sometimes I just can’t face it and wish I had someone to make all my favourite meals for me.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? My Kindle (with loads of books downloaded) – I read so much and don’t know what I’d do without books!
What animal most reflects your personality? A cat – sassy and aloof at times but loving and friendly/cuddly at other times.
What’s your favourite film and why? Practical Magic – I’ve loved it since it first came out back in 1998. I admire Sandra Bullock, love the sisterly storyline and how they deal with loss, grief, separation and finding yourself. The soundtrack is great as well!
What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? Every day is a new day – it helps to reflect but then wake up each morning and really treat it like a fresh start.
Mr MJ Royds
Mike works with our international schools to develop living partnerships across the family of schools, following experience in high-performance schools both in the UK and overseas. Alongside experience leading in A Level and International Baccalaureate curricula, Mike has enjoyed positions of academic, pastoral and house leadership. His experience overseas includes early planning for a school transitioning into a co-educational environment; more recently in the UK, he was Head of Upper School in the RGS.
Along with a love of working with people and making connections, Mike is at his happiest outdoors. Fortunately, his family share his enthusiasm for the outdoors and even put up with his attempts at various musical instruments.
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