Principal

Mrs Garbutt

Since graduating from Durham University with a BA in Education twenty years ago, Mrs Garbutt has taught across Primary and Pre-School. She was awarded the National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership. She began her career in Northamptonshire teaching in a number of different schools. Latterly she was Academic Tutor for PGCE students at St John’s, Marlborough, working in conjunction with Bath Spa University training new teachers. Mrs Garbutt was appointed as Principal of Burbage Primary and Pre-School in September 2019. She believes she has the best job in the world- igniting a passion for life-long learning whilst encouraging every child to be the very best they can be both academically and personally.

When not in school, Mrs Garbutt loves to spend time with her husband, their three children and Monty the spaniel. She is a keen gardener, enjoys exercise and anything creative.

Teaching Staff

Mrs Miles – Wrens (Reception)

As well as a passion for teaching and supporting children’s learning and wellbeing, I try to make time in my own life for creative art, especially drawing and painting and to learn new skills. I love to spend my time-off on mini-adventures with my family and friends, getting into the outdoors as much as possible. You might spot me paddle-boarding on the canal! I read every day and dance as often as I can. However, with a little one, much of my free-time is currently spent playing Lego and pretending to be a character in his stories!

Mr Dixon – Robins (Year 1)

Mr Dixon attended Burbage Primary School as a child and is delighted to have returned as a teacher. After leaving school, he came back as a Teaching Assistant, where he discovered his passion for education and was inspired to pursue a career in teaching. He went on to train at the University of Gloucestershire before returning to continue his journey at the school.

Mr Dixon is passionate about creating a positive and engaging learning environment where children feel confident, supported and motivated to achieve their best.

Outside of school, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking his dog and watching Liverpool FC.

Mrs C Baker – Sparrows (Year 1)

Mrs Baker has taught across the primary phase since 1998, in Birmingham for 8 years then Swindon before joining Burbage in 2021. Mrs Baker loves creating a multisensory and varied curriculum where children learn through play, investigation and real life experiences. She believes the classroom should be a positive and caring environment giving children the confidence to learn independently and most importantly, have fun! Mrs Baker’s real passion is for books and she will always find time to read a story.

Outside of school, Mrs Baker loves the great outdoors and can often be found gardening and enjoying the countryside with her husband and two sons. She also loves cooking and of course spends every spare minute reading!

Mrs Wilkins – Sparrows (Year 2)

Mrs Wilkins joined Burbage Primary School in September 2021. She loves teaching Maths, writing and PE and enjoys being able to use all the wonderful outside space at the school to enhance learning. When not at school she is kept very busy looking after her two young boys. To relax Mrs Wilkins enjoys running, especially along the canals near home.

Mrs Merritt – Sparrows (Year 2)

After qualifying in London, Mrs Merritt has taught for over twenty years in a variety of primary schools. She especially enjoys planning trips and hands on learning for her class.

At home, she is a mum to three children and a very bouncy dog. She is learning how to kickbox and loves spending time at the sea-side.

Mr Evans – Chaffinches (Year 3)

Mr Evans returned to the teaching profession a few years ago having spent several successful years as a police officer. He has lived and worked in many countries including America, Germany and most recently Dubai. Mr Evans is passionate about delivering lessons that are engaging, promote independent thinking and develops a child’s resilience. Mr Evans is always looking for more travel experiences from his ‘bucket list’.

Mr Thomas – Woodpeckers (Year 4)

Mr Thomas wanted to be a teacher ever since he was in primary school and it really is his passion. He loves to see children learn with a smile on their face and the best times are those ‘light bulb’ moments.

In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife and young children, as well as seeing friends. He is an avid football fan, which he enjoys playing as well as watching.

Miss Lopez – Kestrels (Year 5)

Teaching is Miss Lopez’s passion, she enjoys seeing the children grow and flourish in life. After finishing her teaching degree in Spain, her home country, Miss Lopez decided to come to England to develop her career and second language. She loves teaching her native language and teaches Spanish across the school.    

In her free time, Miss Lopez loves to travel, she says, “travelling is the only way that spending money makes you richer as a person by knowing different cultures and traditions”. With a large, close knit family in Spain and missing them daily, Miss Lopez always tries to find time to visit them. Her favourite sport is football and she loves animals. 

Miss Scoot – Kites (Year 6)

Miss Scoot studied Sport and Exercise Science at London South Bank University. Following her studies she went on to conduct scientific research exploring the effect of environmental stress on the athletic performance of athletes. Alongside her research, Miss Scoot fostered a passion for teaching through lecturing and mentoring undergraduate students. As a result, Miss Scoot has a keen interest in science and brings this into her lessons by helping children to explore their own hypothesis through practical experiments and critical thinking.

When not in school you can find Miss Scoot outside enjoying a range of sports. She is a keen runner and loves to explore with her two spaniels. She took up Tae Kwon Do in 2019 and has worked to gain her 6th kup belt with the aim to persevere and gain her black belt. If she’s not doing these things you can probably find her engrossed in a book!

Mrs Marsh – Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo)

Mrs Marsh loves working with different classes across the school. She particularly loves teaching science and art and enjoys outdoor learning wherever possible. She mainly works with Kites, Woodpeckers and Wrens and Robin’s classes.

Mrs Marsh started teaching in Wiltshire before moving to Aberdeen where she taught for several years. She has lived in Holland and Wales and moved back to Wiltshire after having her family. She returned to teaching in 2011. When she isn’t teaching she loves gardening, walking her dog, practising yoga and driving her Morris 1000 called Maud… but not all at the same time!

Teaching Support Staff

Mrs Rowland

Mrs Rowland has always had a fascination in how children develop and learn. She has a Masters in Developmental Psychology from the Institute of Education in London and has previously worked as the Head Counsellor at the International Gymnastics Camp in the USA. She’s a big kid at heart who is passionate about sharing her love of reading and singing with the kids and never misses an opportunity to talk about her homeland Australia.

Mrs S Baker

Mrs Baker is a qualified Teaching Assistant with several years’ experience of working as a TA and Learning Support for children and teenagers with SEND. She has supported children in primary and secondary education. Mrs Baker enjoys country walks, reading, cooking and spending quality time with her extended family.

Mrs Kington

Mrs Kington works across the age groups, she has a wealth of phonics knowledge and supports interventions. When not at school, Mrs Kington is usually found cheering on her favourite football team!

Mrs Bull

Mrs Bull is a newly qualified Teaching Assistant with a passion for working with young children, before this she was a stay at home mum for 8 years.

When not at school, she loves spending time with her husband and two boys. They enjoy paddle boarding (when the weather’s good) and spend their weekends at the beach or exploring in their campervan.

Her favourite hobby is roller skating, she started in 2021 and skates a few times a week.

Mrs Freeman

Born and raised in South Africa Mrs Freeman has a great love of the outdoors and, if not out walking with her dogs, she is often found relaxing in the sun, reading a good book. Mrs Freeman started her time at Burbage Primary working within Owls’ Nest and has since moved into the classroom supporting pupils in her role as a Teaching Assistant. She enjoys supervising lunchtime play as it gives her the opportunity to get to know all the wonderful children at Burbage Primary.

Mrs Dobbs

Mrs. Dobbs has always loved teaching and making lessons fun for her children. She taught a variety of ages and subjects in America for ten years before packing her bags and moving across the pond. After getting married in Gibraltar, she and her husband spent over a year traveling through Europe in their self-built campervan. But life on the road couldn’t last forever so they settled in Wiltshire near her husband’s hometown to raise their two boys. Mrs. Dobbs enjoys traveling, hiking, gardening, reading and watching Bluey with her boys. She was also born on Leap Year Day!

Mrs Whitehead

Mrs Whitehead has been involved with education and mental health services in various roles for over 20 years. She has worked with a wide range of academy trusts as well as the Department for Education and has spent time working within a special needs unit in Swindon supporting young people with additional needs. Being positive and solution focused Mrs Whitehead is passionate about all through learning and loves working alongside school leaders and teaching teams to help children flourish while enjoying learning and so get the best from their education. As a Teaching Assistant at Burbage Primary School, Mrs Whitehead is looking forward to sharing her love of animals – from the tallest giraffes to the smallest frogs and the liveliest of dogs. In her spare time you will find Mrs Whitehead spending time with her grown up family and dogs, trying to improve her fitness at the gym, and watching or reading a good detective series.

Miss Burgess

Miss Burgess began her working life as a carer/support worker working with the elderly moving onto working with adults with additional needs. A change in career led her to work at Royal Mail as a Post woman for 18 years.

Miss Burgess always wanted to work with children, so she enrolled on a teaching assistant course and worked as an exam invigilator in senior schools to gain experience. This led to her gaining employment in a primary school before joining Burbage School.

Miss Burgess passion is sport, having played football for the Ladies Swindon Town Spitfires and rugby for Devizes Ladies. She also has a love of animals and at present has a rescue dog and cat.

In her spare time Miss Burgess is kept busy with her 8-year-old twins and teenage daughter. She enjoys running, walking, music and riding her motorbike.

Miss Morcumb

Miss Morcumb began her teaching career in Physical Education and Dance, but has always had a passion for supporting children with SEND needs. Miss Morcumb’s passion for dance started when she was just 2 years old and has trained in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, Street dance, Hip-hop, Musical theatre and Irish dancing! When Miss Morcumb isn’t busy at work or dancing, she likes to spend time with her family and boyfriend Ellis, who is a secret Irish dancer.

Wrap Around Care

Mrs Yeates – Owls’ Nest

Coming from an art and fashion background Mrs Yeates spent 15 years in America studying, travelling and working. When not working she enjoys going to art exhibitions, visiting gardens, drawing, painting, reading, gardening and cooking.

Mrs Yeates loves to use her experience, talents and interests to create a fun environment for children staying in Owls’ Nest.

Miss Collins – Owls’ Nest

Miss Collins has always been interested in working with and supporting children. She is excited about working in the wrap around care team and supporting in Reception Class. She has recently passed her driving test is looking forward to exploring Wiltshire in her new car. She enjoyed sport in school and is looking forward to bringing this knowledge from her clubs into the school.

Support Staff

Mrs Williams – School Business Manager

Following many happy years living in the Middle East, Mrs Williams and her family returned to the UK 8 years ago. She enjoys her role as School Business Manager and being able to support Mrs Garbutt in the smooth running of the school and implementing plans to improve the learning and working environment of the children and staff at Burbage Primary School.

When not in Burbage she enjoys supporting her children in all their pursuits and walking her dogs the British countryside.

Mrs Lockwood – Administrative Officer

There is never a quiet moment in our busy school office! Mrs Lockwood is able to help with most things that are not teaching related.

She runs admissions, attendance, music lessons, payments, trips, consents and is the best contact to book appointments. If you have a question that our website can’t answer, pop into the office and Mrs Lockwood will help!