Boarding at Brentwood

Michelle has been part of Brentwood School for over 10 years, bringing a wealth of experience and care to her role as Houseparent. She combines her passion for pastoral care with a strong background in education, having previously served as a member of the Senior Leadership Team in the role of Director of Pupil Wellbeing.

Before joining Brentwood, Michelle worked in the state sector as both Head of Year and Head of House, where she developed her expertise in pastoral leadership and pupil support.

She holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Surrey and an MA from Roehampton University.

Alongside her boarding responsibilities, Michelle is also Head of Dance, where she inspires pupils to develop their creativity, discipline and confidence through performance.

Married to James, Michelle lives in the boarding house with their two young children.

Mrs Harding is delighted to be joining the girls’ boarding house in September.  As a Mother of a former student at the school, she brings a unique perspective of school life and an understanding as a parent and their expectations.

She has a passion for mental health and wellbeing. Being a qualified reflexologist and nutritionist, Mrs Harding understands how mental health and physical health can have a huge impact on our day-to-day capabilities. She is also one of our a Mental Health First Aiders.

Mrs Harding is also an Employment Specialist for the NHS, where she supports individuals with mental health challenges to obtain work. During this time she gained invaluable knowledge and experience in safeguarding and complex mental health conditions. As an IPS Ambassador, Mrs Harding is now involved in promoting the service in communities and connecting with other organisations throughout the country.

Mrs Harding is also an ex-cabin crew for British Airways, which demonstrates her commitment to health, safety and security along with a care-focused and nurturing approach.

Recently, Mrs Harding took up a voluntary role as a Thames Freeport Ambassador, representing her community and focusing on engaging with people in the community, the local council and members of political parties to feedback information on areas of concern, ways to improve, and strategies to bring investment and opportunities into the local area.

Mrs Matthews joined Mill Hill House in March 2025 as Assistant Boarding House Manager. New to boarding, she draws on her transferable skills from over 15 years as a fully qualified CIPD practitioner in Human Resources.

Her background in supporting people and building strong relationships has helped her quickly adapt to the pastoral side of the role. She is committed to creating a warm, supportive “home from home” environment where pupils feel happy and cared for.

Outside of school, Mrs Matthews enjoys family life with her two children.

Miss Dortel has been part of Brentwood School for the past three years, working within the Marketing Department. After gaining her BA (Hons) from Coventry University, she began her career at a marketing agency before joining Brentwood. Her role has evolved from working in graphic design to taking on wider responsibilities as a Commercial Brand Strategist, where she contributes to the strategic development of the School’s brand and commercial ventures.

Alongside this role, Miss Dortel has embraced opportunities within the boarding community. Over the past year, she has served as an Overnight Tutor, enjoying the pastoral and student-facing aspects of the position. Her enthusiasm and commitment to boarding life have since led to her appointment as Resident Tutor, a role she now fulfils while living full-time in the boarding house.

Miss Candir has been part of Brentwood School for nearly two years, teaching Biology and Chemistry. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology from the University of Auckland and began her teaching career at an all-girls secondary school in Auckland before moving to the UK.

This year, Miss Candir has joined the boarding team and is excited to be part of such a welcoming community. She looks forward to getting to know the students beyond the classroom and supporting them in their day-to-day lives.

With her background in marine biology, she brings a love of the outdoors, curiosity about the natural world, and enthusiasm for sharing new experiences with students. She is eager to contribute to creating a supportive, homely environment where boarders can feel happy, engaged and inspired to explore their own interests.

Miss Kwolek joined Brentwood School in 2018 after a career in the comprehensive sector. As a member of the English Department and the boarding community, she is passionate about both academic and pastoral duties.

As an IB educator, she teaches and examines the IB Diploma in English A, appreciating the challenge and holistic approach the qualification offers. Originally from Poland and educated abroad and in the UK, Miss Kwolek enjoys sharing her love of world literature with her students. She also champions oracy through running public speaking and debating competitions, and leads a weekly Public Speaking Society as part of the Enrichment Programme.

Alongside her responsibilities as a teacher of English, she oversees the Year 9 Global Perspectives curriculum, is a commissioned Army Officer as part of the Brentwood School CCF, and engages in various co-curricular activities, including Games. Becoming a Mill Hill tutor has been a rewarding experience, enabling her to apply her supportive and caring approach to boarding life.

Miss Kwolek holds an MA from Jagiellonian University of Krakow and a BA (Hons) from the Open University. A mother of an adult son, Oliver (OB), she has a wealth of experience and is wholeheartedly committed to the role of teacher, educator, and tutor. She encourages her students and tutees to seize opportunities, follow their passions, and embrace every moment of their Brentwood School journey.

After a long career in banking, Mrs Monro joined Brentwood School in 2012 as the Boarding House Mistress at Mill Hill, a role she held until 2019. She found this to be the most rewarding chapter of her professional life and brings a wealth of experience to boarding at Brentwood School.

As a mother of three and grandmother to six, she offers warmth, guidance and encouragement, helping the girls to grow in confidence, independence and social maturity.

Now a Visiting Overnight Tutor, she is delighted to continue supporting the girls and contributing to the life of the boarding community.

Miss Parsliffe joined Brentwood School in 2021 after graduating from Loughborough University, where she studied Sports and Exercise Science. Since then, she has completed her PGCE and developed her expertise through roles including Deputy Head of House and Acting Head of Netball.

During her time at Brentwood, she also spent three years at Mill Hill as an Overnight Tutor, where she demonstrated a strong commitment to pupil wellbeing and personal growth. She is particularly passionate about supporting young people in developing confidence, resilience, and the skills needed to thrive both in school and beyond.

Mr Johnson joined Hough House in September 2021. He holds degrees in Psychology and Therapeutic Radiography and is the proud father of two sons, both educated at Brentwood School.

Alongside his work in education, he is a third-generation owner of his family’s aerospace engineering business, which was honoured with a King’s Award for Promoting Opportunity in 2024.

When not at school, Mr Johnson spends time in Southwest France, where he enjoys surfing and cycling. A keen motorbike enthusiast, he rides a Ducati sports bike – though, judging by the lack of willing passengers, perhaps not as skillfully as he’d like!

Mr Smith is the Director of Pupil Wellbeing in the Senior School, Resident Tutor of Hough House and a member of the Physical Education Department.

He has a first-class degree in Sport Science. He began teaching in SEND in 2016, before qualifying at Campion School as a Teacher of PE and Games in 2017.

Mr Smith joined Brentwood in September 2018 and became Head of Boys’ Games in 2021. He then moved to Assistant Director of Pupil Wellbeing in 2023 and is now Director of Pupil Wellbeing.

He is an international rugby player for Wales, playing 7s at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, the Rugby World Cup 2022 in Cape Town and across all continents of the World 7s Series.

Miss Jones joined Brentwood School in 2024 as a Teacher of Physics.

She read Exploration Geology at Cardiff University, enjoying the engineering based modules of her degree so much she left the rocks behind to pursue a career in Physics.

Miss Jones previously worked at a boarding school in Surrey, and is looking forward to bringing the skills she developed during this time to boarding at Brentwood.

Miss MacDowell joined Brentwood School in September 2023 as a teacher of English and also contributes to the school’s games programme, where she enjoys sharing her passion for sport and encouraging students to get involved. She loves inspiring students in the classroom and helping them to discover their own voices through literature, while also supporting them to thrive beyond their academic studies.

Having studied English and Related Literature at the University of York, where she also played netball – a sport she has always loved – Miss MacDowell went on to spend a year working as a Resident Boarding Tutor. This experience deepened her passion for pastoral care and student wellbeing, which continue to be central to her approach at Brentwood.

She is excited to become more involved in the boarding community and looks forward to helping students feel supported, happy, and confident as they make the most of all that Brentwood has to offer.

Having graduated from University College London with a degree in Geography, Mr Rafiq joined Brentwood School in January 2023. Beyond his role as teacher of Geography, Mr Rafiq contributes to the school’s games, outdoor education and performing arts programmes, where he enjoys sharing his passion for sustainability and creativity, encouraging students to build confidence and a strong moral compass.

Mr Rafiq inspires students in the classroom through curious inquiry and a love of the world, which motivates his pupils. At the core of his approach is providing a safe container for pupils to discover their own autonomy and potential through academia, while also striving to be a role model for them.

With a background in Finance, Educational Hospitality and Special Educational Needs, Mr Rafiq brings wisdom and life experience to his work, shaping his passion for supporting and nurturing pupils in his care with intention and purpose. Recently qualified in the CELTA, Mr Rafiq also brings to the boarding house the ability to support students in developing their language skills.

He is excited to become more involved in the boarding community at Brentwood and looks forward to helping students feel safe, empowered and nurtured as they grow through their journey at Brentwood.