Senior Leadership
Richard Settle
Prior to becoming Principal at Sancton Wood School in 2009, Richard gained 15 years of experience in the state sector, working in Manchester, Cambridge, and Luton as an English teacher, Head of Department and Advanced Skills Teacher. Under his leadership, Sancton Wood has expanded significantly and now has 360 students aged 1-16 across three separate sites. A great believer in the importance of kindness and pastoral support, Richard’s mission statement is a simple one: to make each and every pupil aware of his or her innate qualities and skills, and to develop these to full capacity.
He’s also a lifelong Manchester City supporter, marathon runner, and proud father of two.
Hannah Settle
Hannah is a pastoral specialist who has responsibility for the well being and support of the students at Sancton Wood. She is ideally suited to this role as she has the dual qualifications of a PGCE and a Systemic Family Therapy qualification. She has more than 20 years of teaching experience and prior to starting at Sancton Wood, she was Head of Pastoral Care at Cambridge International School and before that an RE teacher in two state schools in Manchester.
Julia Cottam
Having qualified from ARU Cambridge with a BSC (Hons) in Env Biology in 1996, I went onto work in conservation and then the veterinary world. Educating young people in the importance of protecting our planet led to an interest in primary education and I competed a PGCE in education at Homerton Cambridge. I spent 15 years teaching in the state sector followed by a move to Sancton Wood school where I have taught in every year group from Y1-11! I am committed in my role as Assistant Principal Academic to ensure that every child at SW reaches their academic potential through a relevant, challenging and enriched curriculum from the moment they step through the front door of the school receiving the support and encouragement they need to achieve the top results they deserve.
Ed Batty
Kylie Hodges
Kylie is from New Zealand where she did her teacher training and received a Bachelor of education (Primary) from Auckland College of Education. She taught in New Zealand for 5 years before making the move to live in Cambridge. Kylie joined Sancton Wood in January 2011 after working in our sister school. Kylie has taught across the school in Years 2 to 7. In 2019 she became the Head of the Prep school.
Clara Furmaniak
Ellie Bullman
ellie.bullman@dukeseducation.com
Ellie brings a wealth of financial expertise and a collaborative, thoughtful approach to her role as Financial Controller, where she is responsible for the financial management, including budgeting, fee administration and overseeing financial strategy.
Before joining Sancton Wood in 2024, Ellie gained extensive experience in the educational and independent finance sector. She has previously served as Assistant Bursar and Finance Manager at Wisbech Grammar School, and now delivers senior financial leadership for Dukes Education. This breadth of experience gives her a deep understanding of both the practical and strategic aspects of school finance.
Ellie is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), a professional qualification that reflects her commitment to excellence, professional integrity and lifelong learning — qualities she brings to every aspect of her work.
At Sancton Wood, Ellie plays a vital role in ensuring the school’s financial health and sustainability, enabling investment in teaching, facilities, pastoral support and enrichment opportunities that help every child flourish. Her collaborative style, clear communication and attention to detail make her a trusted member of the leadership team, working in partnership with colleagues, parents and the wider school community.
Outside of work, Ellie enjoys staying engaged with current developments in education and finance, and is passionate about supporting organisations that combine strong ethical purpose with operational excellence.
