Italo Gallina
Executive Director

I joined SSE in 1974. Over the last 30 years I have seen the language industry change dramatically and we are constantly trying to improve our facilities, service, efficiency and most of all our teaching methods to keep up with modern technology. We have welcomed thousands of students over the last 40 years and I hope we will be able to welcome thousands more. I hope you will be one of them and I look forward to meeting you soon.

Paul Gallina
Managing Director

I have worked at SSE full time since 1995 and before that time I spent many weekends and holidays helping my Father establish the school for what it is today. The school was started in 1966 by my late grandfather, Peter Jennings, and it’s one of the oldest and well known schools in Bournemouth. I spend a lot of my working time researching new markets, travelling abroad and attending workshops and student fairs, trying to recruit new students and agents to welcome to SSE. I am very proud of our school and I hope to be able to welcome you to SSE in the near future.

Kathryn Newman
Academic Principal
BA (Hons) Education
Trinity Licentiate Diploma

I joined SSE in June 2004 and I love working here. I’m sure that the reason for this is that I work with a fabulous staff of motivated teachers with high professional standards and an organised and helpful administrative team. It’s very satisfying seeing our students become more confident and capable in using English and it’s always interesting to meet people from abroad, students and agents. I am an examiner for UCLES.

In my freetime I enjoy cooking and travelling. If you are coming to SSE soon, I look forward to welcoming you to the school and I am sure that you will not only learn a great deal but really enjoy your stay here.

Sally Kanan
Administration Director

It is almost 33 years since I started working at SSE. Many ‘ex-students’ will remember the social evenings etc. which we held at the school. These evenings are still held and are still enjoyed by our students. It still gives me pleasure to see the different nationalities mixing together, learning about other cultures etc.

I have welcomed sons and daughters of many ex-students, and I am sure it won’t be long until I am welcoming their children.

Fiona Broom
Teacher and Assistant Director of Studies
BA Combined Studies
RSA TEFL Diploma
LCCIEB Business Teaching Certificate

I have been working for the school since 1993, and as assistant Director of Studies since 2000. I am an examiner for Cambridge University (KET, PET, BEC, CAE and ILEC examinations). I enjoy teaching Business English and enjoy the challenge of English for specific purposes. As ADOS I assist the Academic Principal in running the academic department and supporting the teaching staff.

As an active member of a dedicated team, I enjoy meeting students from all around the world and learning about their cultures.

Carole Kilshawe
Accommodation and Welfare Officer

I've been working as Accommodation and Student Welfare Officer at Southbourne School of English since 1999. Although I came to the school from a secretarial background I had actually been a host family with the school for a number of years so I had a good insight of student’s requirements. My main priority is to find suitable host families, so it helps me if students include on their enrolment form, any allergies or special requests they would like me to take into consideration. I also help students with any health or personal problems they may have during their time with us.

If I’m needed out of school hours, I can always be contacted on my mobile phone. My number is always given to both students and host families. I enjoy meeting people and find that nothing is more rewarding than knowing that I have made both student and host family happy with the placement.

Shaun Durkin
BSc Hons Degree in Sports Science, Coaching and Admin
CELTA

I have worked at SSE since 2004. For the past four summers I have been the Centre Manager at Beechwood Sacred Heart summer school. I have recently taken over the position of Marketing Assistant and Summer School Manager. During the winter, as well as assisting with marketing I am also responsible for the running of the Social Programme and weekend excursions.

Jackie O'Grady
Administration, Marketing and Examination secretary

Although I have only been at SSE for a short time, I have previously worked at other Language Schools, and was a host family for many years.

I deal with exam administration, and various office duties including reception, and helping students with their enquires.

Susan Atkinson
Teacher
RSA Diploma

I have been a teacher at the SSE for about ten years. Over the past few years I have been able to enjoy extra responsibilities in the summer months when I help Kathryn in my role as Assistant Director of studies.

David Pountney
Teacher with responsibility for Library and Language Laboratory
Cert Ed
RSA CELTA

I joined the school in 1997 after teaching for many years in state schools. I am responsible for the School Library and encourage students to improve their English by reading. I am also responsible for the Language Laboratory, where students can do extra listening practice. At weekends I often accompany students on excursions to places of interest.

I like gardening, playing tennis and nordic skiing.

Gerard Sheehan
Teacher
BA Literary Studies
MA Applied Linguistics
RSA DTEFLA

I started work at SSE in 1982. After a period in Udine and Friuli in Italy at the end of the 1980’s, I returned to England to complete my Master’s degree. I have taught in Nefteugansk, Siberia and have been with SSE full time for the last ten years.

I feel very much at home here and the school is getting better every day. I’m lucky to work with such interesting and generous people such as Susan and Mike.

In my free time I play the piano and go to the theatre.

Michael Litchfield
Teacher
BA (Hons) Modern Languages
RSA Diploma

I’m half Austrian, so I travel to Austria every now and again. I’ve taught in Portugal and Italy, but I’ve spent most of my teaching career in England. In fact, I’ve been teaching at the school for over ten years. I studied Modern Languages at university and try to use them whenever the opportunity arises. I enjoy my job and love meeting people from all over the world.

Michaela Guinan
Trinity TESOL cert.
LCCIB Foundation in Teaching Business English (Distinction)

I was born in the Midlands, but have lived in this area for most of my life, so I know it really well. Like some of the other teachers I went to St Peter’s school. I joined SSE in the summer of 2005 and the time seems to have flown by – time flies when you’re having fun and working at SSE in such a friendly atmosphere is great. I love teaching all levels and ages – from business students to juniors. I am currently taking the RSA Diploma course which is hard work but being able to put into practice what I am learning is very rewarding. Reading fantasy fiction is one of my favourite past times and when I have time I like to do yoga and meditation.

Mike Murphy
Teacher
BA Art History /Anthropology
Diploma trained

I enjoy working at SSE because it is a family run business, and as such, it has a nice, friendly atmosphere. I have been teaching for 25 years, including 6 years in Saudi Arabia with ARAMCO and 2 years in Sudan, and because of this I feel I understand the problems Arab speakers have learning English.

I like travelling, visiting museums, art galleries and the cinema.

Alex West
Teacher

I was born in Dorset although I spent most of my childhood in the UAE and developed there a passion for foreign culture and travel. It was whilst travelling in Asia that I first discovered the joys of teaching English, which I did on a voluntary basis at a school for Tibetan refugees.

It was during that year teaching there that I decided upon a career change and I haven’t looked back. I started working at SSE in the summer of 2007 and I really enjoy both my job and living in the area, where I have a wide and varied social life ranging from DJing in the local nightclubs to beach volleyball.

Molly Challis
Teacher
B A Honours – English & History
Further Adult Education Teaching Cert.
Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL)

I have been here for almost ten years and I thoroughly enjoy my job.

It is very satisfying to be of help to such a variety of students and to observe their progress. This school has a very happy environment and it is a pleasure to work with such fantastic colleagues.

Trish Wedgwood
Teacher
BA Eng & Fr (Hons)
PGCE

I came to SSE five years ago from a post in a Secondary School where I taught English to mixed ability students from year 7 to Advanced Level. I also taught drama. I thoroughly enjoy working with students from a wide diversity of backgrounds – I often learn a lot from them!

Since last year I’ve been living in a village in the New Forest, a beautiful National Park. Consequently I take every opportunity to go walking and cycling, but nothing too strenuous.

Whenever possible, I like to go to the theatre. Excellent productions are to be found in Poole, Salisbury and Chichester and many high quality touring companies visit local theatre venues.

Don’t forget to watch our DVD on the website. I hid from the camera – but the voice you hear is mine.

Martin Brackstone
Teacher with responsibility for Social Programme
RSA CELTA

Teaching is my second career. I came to it in 2003, looking for a change from the advertising business, where I had worked for over twenty-six years. It has proved to be a lot of fun and I really enjoy playing a part in helping students develop their language skills. Outside of school, I am a regular at my local gym and tennis club. That is, when I’m not sitting in front of my computer working on my soon-to-be-finished novel.