Mr William Manning
Headteacher
wmanning@st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk

Mrs Briony Bowers
Deputy Headteacher - Curriculum & Inclusion
bbowers@st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk

Briony Bowers is a graduate of Cambridge University; she began her teaching career at a mixed school in London before taking up a post as an English teacher at St Birinus School. Having worked at both St Birinus and Didcot Girls’ School for the past twenty years, Briony is now in her tenth year of senior leadership with the Ridgway Education Trust. Her previous roles have included Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion, Deputy Headteacher for Teaching and Learning at Didcot Girls’ School and Director of Teaching School. 

Briony is a Specialist Leader of Education for the Didcot Girls’ School Teaching School Alliance. She has particular expertise in improving teaching and learning, including managing change, systems for quality assurance, and professional development for teachers and middle leaders.

Briony has recently completed her first novel and she enjoys sailing on the south coast with her husband and dog.

Mr Graeme Irwin
Deputy Headteacher - Raising Standards Leader
girwin@st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk

Graeme Irwin graduated from Swansea University with a degree in Geography. After spending a year volunteering for a campus-based charity, Graeme returned to his studies in order to complete his PGCE in Geography Teaching. Starting his teaching career at Didcot Girls’ School, Graeme experienced a range of roles, including Head of Year & Assistant Headteacher, Head of Key Stage 3 before taking up a post in Hampshire as Deputy Headteacher of a rural Secondary School for three years.

Mr James Cross
Director of Sixth Form
jcross@didcotsixthform.co.uk

James Cross graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature and Language, before completing a PGCE at the University of Keele and teaching in the West Midlands. He returned to Oxfordshire in 2014 to work at Didcot Girls’ School, where has held a variety of roles, most recently as Head of English and Associate Senior Leader. He has also worked across a number of schools as a Specialist Leader of Education, supporting English departments with curriculum development and raising standards.

James is responsible for the Didcot Sixth Form, working across both St Birinus School and Didcot Girls' School. He lives in Didcot, though hails originally from the North, and enjoys anything that takes him to more mountainous terrain.

Ms Julia Hopkins
Assistant Headteacher - Teaching & Learning
Professional Tutor
RET Recruitment & Retention Lead
jhokins@st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk

Julia Hopkins graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with a degree in English Literature and Studies in Modern Writing in 2001. She then spent two years working as part of the occupational therapy team at a dual diagnosis unit for adults with learning difficulties and mental health illnesses at Oxfordshire NHS Learning Disability Trust. Following this Julia qualified as a teacher in 2004 and began teaching English at St Birinus in September of the same year. Prior to being appointed as Assistant Head Teacher, Julia held a range of posts across the school, including Head of English, Head of Year and Literacy Co-ordinator.

As Assistant Head Teacher Julia is responsible for ensuring consistently high quality teaching and learning at St Birinus and supporting its delivery through a programme of carefully designed CPD tailored to deliver the best for the students.

Mrs Marianna Tottman
Assistant Headteacher - Standards & Culture
Designated Safeguarding Lead
mtottman@st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk

Marianna Tottman graduated with a first class honours degree in Drama in 2004 and went on to complete a PGCE at Reading university. Having worked in several schools in Hampshire and Berkshire, Marianna spent seven years as Head of Performing Arts at a school in south Oxfordshire, before moving to St Birinus as Assistant Headteacher in 2016.

Miss Sally Thom
Assistant Headteacher - Learning and Culture
sthom@st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk

Mr Zein El-Salahi
Associate Senior Leader - Early Career Development
zel-salahi@st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk

Miss Stacey Nutley
Associate Senior Leader - ECV/ECA
snutley@st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk