Tom price - headteacher
MA in Missional Leadership
Tom is married to Suzanne and has seven children. He is a great fan of John Bunyan and enjoys supporting Wales in rugby via his armchair!
Tom was converted to Christ as a teenager in a small chapel in West Wales. He moved to Swindon in 1990 when he left University to work for the MoD. In 1997 he became a training consultant for Activ Training specialising in the development and delivery of computer based testing and training. He worked full-time as a minister from 2006 through to 2020, planting churches in Swindon. He gained a Master’s degree in Missional Leadership from Bangor University in 2010.
He started Good News for Swindon in partnership with other church leaders in 2012 which is an organisation dedicated to building great relationships among Gospel-believing churches in the Swindon area. He has been the Headteacher of Maranatha Christian School since July 2020.
Mandy gilchrist - Deputy headteacher
BSc Natural and Environmental Sciences with Endorsement Biochemistry and Psychology; BA Honours Psychology; PGCSE (cum laude)
mandy.gilchrist@maranathaschool.org
Mandy is the Deputy Headteacher at MCS. Her main focus is curriculum oversight, she is the examinations officer and teaches IGCSE and A level maths and sciences. Mandy lives in Swindon with her husband Scott and two young children who both attend MCS. Mandy attended a Christian school herself and her desire for her children to have the same education resulted in her family relocating to Swindon in 2018 for her children to attend MCS. Being instrumental in assisting children reach their God-given potential is her passion and MCS provides the perfect platform for this with its unique approach to individualised education.
Justine Gardner - school Business Manager
BA (Hons) Learning and Teaching, University of Northampton
justine.gardner@maranathaschool.org
Justine and her family moved to Swindon in 2019 when the RAF posted her husband to the Defence Academy Shrivenham. They have four children and the youngest was a pupil at Maranatha Christian School.
Justine has been in Education for over 20 years. She believes the experience she has gained from working in several different roles and in a variety of schools, has helped equip her for the position she now holds as the School Business Manager.
Justine is passionate about Christian Education, having seen first-hand the difference it can make to a young person’s character, spiritual and emotional development.
Heather Buss - designated safeguarding lead
CACHE LEVEL 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education
heather.buss@maranathaschool.org
Heather teaches the Reception Class – part of our Early Years Unit at Maranatha. She has over 20 years experience working in school and Early Years settings, and has been part of the team at Maranatha since 2018.
She lives in Swindon with her husband and two children who both attend MCS. Heather values the blessing of working in a school where we talk openly about the truths in the Bible during lessons and conversations with the children. She is committed to working to maintain a safe and nurturing environment within the school, where each child’s voice is heard.
Sue tylee - head of primary
BA Ed (Art) 2:2
susan.tylee@maranathaschool.org
Sue is the Head of Primary at MCS and teaches KS1. Since graduating as a Primary teacher specializing in art, she has gained a vast experience of teaching throughout the two key stages. Sue believes in quality teaching and learning and every child making progress. She loves teaching here in MCS where she can have the freedom to worship with the children, watch them grow in their faith and be a part of their journey. Sue believes that nurturing children is an important quality of educating and loves that with the small classes, teachers can get alongside each child building relationships which allows them to be understood and valued. She has also trained as a Level 3 counsellor and has grief training for children.