The Bilingual Primary School

Hola! I have been involved with the Bilingual School since 2012 when my eldest son started in reception, he has two younger brothers still in the school and I am a regular at the school gates. I have a BA in Communications and Spanish and have just completed my MSc in Psychology having written a thesis on bilingual education. I have been teaching swimming since 2010 and have a varied background in TEFL, events, marketing and communications. I have a strong passion for languages having lived and worked in several countries around the world and am passionate about the advantages of bilingual education.

Dr Janet Enever is a former primary teacher and retired professor of primary foreign languages education, having worked in universities in London, Poland, Hungary and Sweden and conducted research and consultancy in Latin America, Europe and Asia. In retirement she co-edits a research journal on language teaching for young learners.

Marina Gutierrez has been involved in Education and Education Governance for the last 15 years, specialising in bilingualism and biculturalism. Marina has also worked as a Spanish teacher for children and adults. As one of the founders of the Bilingual Primary school her passion and drive led to the creation of the school we know today.

Dr Lizbeth Navas-Aleman is an experienced consultant in International Development issues. She works with a variety of international organisations on a wide range of social (bilingualism, xenophobia, disability rights) and economic issues (industrial upgrading, private sector development), with special emphasis on Latin America and Latin American communities abroad.

Christina Curtis is a communications and events management specialist with 20 years experience as a senior editor in broadcast news. Now working in the humanitarian sector she has two children at the Bilingual school and is committed to the vision of bilingual education for all.

I am a Senior Lecturer at the University of Brighton, with a passion for languages! I got a BA in Hispano-American Literature and Culture at the University of Naples, a MA in Communication at the University of Bologna and I then got a PhD at Lancaster University. These experiences were all linked to my passion for languages, which I now examine through the lens of gender and sexuality. I teach how language operates in social, cultural and political contexts. I speak Italian, Spanish and English, and I have also studied Portuguese and Arabic.

I joined the Bilingual Primary School in 2013 as a Reception class teacher and Early Years Lead and am delighted to be returning as a governor. I have over 16 years’ experience in education, having taught across all primary phases and held leadership roles including Assistant Headteacher and Early Years Lead. I have also worked internationally in British schools in Spain and now serve as Strategic Early Years Lead for a large multi-academy trust, providing oversight and direction for 30 primary schools across seven local authorities and driving excellence in EY outcomes, curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy.

Hello to everyone! I’m looking forward very much to getting to know you and the BPS community. I have taught all ages, from Nursery to Adult Further Education, but my passion and expertise has been in Primary education. I have led three Primary schools in East and West Sussex whilst also leading inspections for Ofsted across the South East of England.

I hold qualifications in Counselling and recently worked for a charity supporting pupils in Primary schools in Hastings and Eastbourne who were bereaved or who suffered from anxiety, low self-esteem or school phobia.

I am a total convert to the early acquisition of a second language having watched in awe as my 3 year old grandson slips between Spanish/English thanks to his exposure to both languages from birth. I am hoping to progress from my Spanish repertoire of ‘What’s the matter?’ ‘What are you doing?’ and, occasionally, ‘Because I say so!’ when looking after him!

Lynn Ramsson is a BACP-accredited psychotherapist and clinical supervisor in private practice. Before moving to the UK in 2015, she taught English literature, writing and Spanish at the secondary level and worked as deputy head of an upper school in the United States, where she is from. She has two children at the Bilingual Primary School and joined as a governor in the spring of 2024.