The Staff

Here are the people you will meet at the English Language Centre

Hugh MacDermot

Founder

Hugh has worked as a University Administrator at Leeds University in the UK and as an Educational Adviser in Brunei, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Oman. His work has given him a valuable insight into the needs of students from many different parts of the world.

 


Judy MacDermot

Founder

Judy's career as a teacher and a teacher trainer has taken her to schools, colleges and universities in the UK, Brunei and Oman. She is a dedicated teacher with over 25 years' experience in the field of English Language teaching which she brings to her role at the ELC. She was elected Vice Chair of EAQUALS in May 2010.


Tony Watt

Principal

Tony joined the English Language Centre in October 2010. He has worked in English language teaching since 1998. After 6 years teaching English in Japan, where he specialised in business English training, he returned to the UK to complete the Cambridge DELTA. He is currently working towards an MA in English Language Teaching. His interests include quality management, professional development, academic English, and educational technologies.  


Helen Cherry

Academic Manager

A Cambridge University graduate, Helen has been working in English language teaching for over ten years.  Attending a French school in Iraq was her first introduction to other cultures, encouraging a love of travel; she has been to over thirty countries and worked in seven.  Having gained her CELTA at the ELC, she taught in Slovenia, Italy and Japan before returning to the ELC in 2005 where she gained her DELTA, becoming Director of the Junior Programme in 2008.  Helen has worked as a Teacher Trainer in Thailand and here at the ELC.  She has also worked as an administrator, organising courses in the UK and Italy.  Helen speaks French, German and Italian. 


Chris Haworth

Teacher

Chris joined the ELC in June 2009.  Chris studied law at university before qualifying as an English Language teacher in 2003.  He has taught at various schools throughout the UK and has travelled extensively through North America, Africa, Asia and Europe.


Fiona Heubeck

Teacher and Independent Learning Plan Coordinator 

Fiona started teaching at the ELC in 2008 after a varied career.  She has taught English in Germany and the UK and has worked in secondary schools teaching Modern Languages.  Fiona has experience in working with students of all ages and also loves being a student herself!  She is currently a beginner in Italian.


Graham Appleton

Teacher Trainer and CELTA Tutor

Graham has taught at the ELC since early 1999 and is currently a tutor for the school's teacher training programmes such as the Cambridge CELTA.  He has many years of teaching experience, including 3 years in Turkey and Sicily.  He also has a PhD in Archaeology and a vast knowledge of York's history.  All of this experience, combined with his cartoon skills, means that our trainees have training they will never forget!


Helen Greenaway

Teacher and Teacher Trainer

Helen has worked in English Language teaching since 1996.  She has extensive experience in Europe and the UK as a teacher and as a Director of Studies and is particularly interested in IELTS and academic English.  Helen also works as a freelance Reviewer for Cambridge University Press and is studying for an MA in Applied Linguistics.   


Ian Paul

Teacher and Resources Manager

Ian started working at the ELC in February 2009 after teaching English for 10 years in Thailand for Inlingua and the British Council.  While he was in Thailand he was also an examiner for a variety of Cambridge University English Exams including IELTS. He is a big fan of e-learning and has completed an online course from Oxford University on 'Effective Online Tutoring' and, most recently, an online course from Sheffield College on the 'Moodle' virtual learning environment. Ian maintains the ELC website and will be your contact for e-learning advice and troubleshooting.  


Joy Caley

Teacher and Academic Counselling Coordinator

Joy started teaching at the ELC in 2008. She grew up in the Ivory Coast in West Africa. Joy is fluent in French and qualified as an English Language teacher in 2003.  She taught in schools both in the UK and the USA before moving to York. 


Nigel Sale

Teacher and Social Programme Coordinator

Nigel has been teaching English Language since 1985, when he worked at a school in Greece.  Since then he has taught in Italy, Portugal and Slovenia - and in the UK.  He has worked at the ELC since September 2005, when he returned to the UK after 5 years working for the British Council in Rome as a teacher and course co-ordinator.


Pete Woods 

Teacher

Pete joined the ELC in April 2009.  Previously, he was a primary school teacher and has taught in schools in Oxfordshire and Yorkshire.  Pete enjoys playing the harmonica in his spare time and has played in several bands.


Bryony Tallack

International Marketing Officer

Bryony joined the ELC in September 2009.  She deals with all enquiries, including prospective students and agents.  Bryony completed her English Language degree at Cardiff University before returning to live and work in York.  She loves languages and is currently learning Spanish.


Carla Vital

Operations Administrator

Carla joined the ELC in September 2006.  She provides administrative support to the Directors and the management team.  She has 8 years' experience at a language school in Brazil and speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish and French.  


Heather Brothwell

Marketing Manager

Heather joined the ELC in May 2010.  She was born and grew up in Africa and lived in India as a child.  After graduating in Spanish, she taught English for 2 years in Venezuela and travelled extensively throughout South America.  She returned to the UK and studied for a Masters in Latin American Studies, before going to Ecuador and Peru to work as an archaeologist.  She then practised law for 12 years before training for the CELTA at the ELC in 2008.  She is very much looking forward to promoting the school around the world.

 


Kirsti Reynolds

Registrar

Kirsti joined the ELC in 2008 and is responsible for all student admissions including visa application and related finances.  She has six years' experience in senior management in other educational establishments.


Nigel Hildred

Bursar

Nigel has been looking after the internal accounts of the school since 2004.  In addition to being a practised management accountant, he is also an experienced database programmer, responsible for the creation and continuing development of the Centre's database management system. 


Sally Astbury

Student Support Manager

Sally looks after accommodation for our students (mainly homestays) and is also responsible for student welfare. She is happy to help with any problems that our students may have and she always does this in a friendly and professional manner. In 2007 Sally was awarded the Welfare Officers' Certificate, accredited by English UK.


  Mark Napier

Assistant Registrar

Mark started working at the English Language Centre in March 2011. He is responsible for registering students, and assisting the Registrar with invoicing students and collecting payments. He has many years' experience in the finance industry having previously worked at Natwest bank and Aviva insurance.