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Our Team

Meet the expert Thomas’s College teachers and staff.

Will le Fleming

Master

Mekhla Barua

Undermaster and Head of Personal Development

Ash Vargas

Undermaster and Head of Community

James Ralphs

Head of Pastoral Care (DSL) and Director of Boarding

Laura Cottrell

Director of Admissions and Marketing

Connie Bennett

Director of Fourth Form and Transition

Andrew Norton

Director of Fifth Form and Options

Romain Pourre

Director of Sixth Form and Outcomes

Hayley Silvester

Head of Academics

Will le Fleming
Master
Will is passionate about educational innovation to focus what schools do on the joy of learning and to combine academic excellence and success with happiness, confidence, creativity and hope for the future. He has an impressive track record of success within the independent school sector, with a particular understanding of academically ambitious London day schools. Educated at Eton and Clare College, Cambridge, Will began his career as a journalist and author before moving into teaching at St Paul’s School, where he rose to become Undermaster. He went on to a Deputy Headship at St Paul’ Girls’ School. His interest in developing an innovative and pupil-focussed curriculum led first to the Executive Headship of Fulham School and then to The Abbey School in Reading, one of the country’s leading academic girls’ schools, which was awarded Independent Girls’ School of the Year in the final year of his tenure.
Mekhla Barua
Undermaster and Head of Personal Development
Mekhla has spent over fifteen years in senior positions at St Paul’s Girls School and Fulham Senior School. Having graduated from Warwick University with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Philosophy, Mekhla combined these skills with her more analytical and logical side, teaching mathematics from Year 7 to Year 13, as well as running university preparation and guidance. Her previous leadership experience includes Deputy Head Pastoral and Deputy Head of Sixth Form. As Head of Personal Development, Mekhla looks after learning, growth and opportunity for both students and staff, within an environment of nurture and safety, balanced with challenge and critical thinking.
Ash Vargas
Undermaster and Head of Community
Ash  joined Thomas’s College from Fulham School where he was Deputy Head Pastoral and Designated Safeguarding Lead. Prior to this, he spent ten years at St John’s School, Leatherhead, where he held several key roles including Head of Boarding, Boarding Housemaster and Head of Spanish. Ash teaches Spanish and French and also speaks Portuguese. He loves language learning and will often be found listening to podcasts in other languages and reading foreign literature outside of work.  Ash is passionate about the development of young people. He believes schools should offer pupils a world of opportunity in an environment that fosters individuality and collaboration enabling all to flourish. Ash is married with two children and loves to travel. He enjoys staying active, often sharing his enjoyment of exercise with his family through a variety of sports including tennis and climbing.
James Ralphs
Head of Pastoral Care (DSL) and Director of Boarding
James joined Thomas’s College as Director of Boarding and is currently covering Head of Pastoral Care (DSL). With 11 years’ experience of boarding schools, including serving as Director of Sixth Form at Bryanston School, James is passionate about the unique experiences boarding provides. He believes it allows pupils to enrich their education, build lifelong friendships and develop independence. He brings the same belief in a family environment to all students as Head of Pastoral Care: the College is a place where all pupils feel supported and empowered. A keen sportsman, James is dedicated to helping pupils make the most of their potential and strive for personal growth in all areas of their lives.
Laura Cottrell
Director of Admissions and Marketing
With over a decade of experience in admissions, marketing, communications and development in London schools including Latymer Upper and King’s College Wimbledon, Laura is passionate about delivering an excellent admissions process for the new Thomas’s College community. Educated at Alleyn’s, she holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Manchester Metropolitan University. Prior to working in the Education sector, Laura held senior roles in commercial marketing, business development and partnerships at Channel 4 and the Guardian.
Connie Bennett
Director of Fourth Form and Transition
Connie holds a BA from Cambridge and PGCE in secondary English. She was head of the Upper School at Godstowe Prep before joining Thomas’s Battersea, where she held the position of Head of Year 8 and subject leader. Connie has a passion for all things pastoral and has extensive experience in education and support for Years 7 and 8.
Andrew Norton
Director of Fifth Form and Options
A graduate of the University of Exeter, Andrew studied Sport and Exercise Science before completing a PGCE, setting the foundation for a career dedicated to both academic excellence and student wellbeing. With extensive experience in pastoral and academic leadership across both the private and state sectors, he is committed to ensuring that every student feels happy, supported and inspired when they come to school each day.
Romain Pourre
Director of Sixth Form and Outcomes
Romain joined Thomas’s in 2022, subsequently serving as Head of Ancient & Modern Foreign Languages at Thomas’s Senior School Battersea and Teaching and Learning Lead at Thomas’s Putney Vale. Most recently, he led and shaped Thomas’s inaugural Sixth Form provision for the 2025–26 academic year. In his role, Romain helps drive the school’s vision by combining exceptional pastoral care with outstanding academic outcomes, always keeping student wellbeing at the center of his work. He holds a degree in English Language, Literature and Civilisation, having studied in both Northern France and Canterbury. Romain is thrilled to see the Sixth Form expand next year as we welcome our inaugural Upper Sixth
Hayley Silvester
Head of Academics
Hayley studied English Literature and History BA (Hons) at Trevelyan College, Durham, relishing the interdisciplinary links of the subjects by examining the works of William Blake within the context of the French Revolution for her First Class dissertation. This was followed by a Masters in English Literature from 1850 to the Present Day from King’s College, London and a Secondary PGCE from the University of Buckingham. Hayley has over fifteen years experience of teaching English Language and English Literature up to A Level in boarding and day schools, including most recently spending eight years as Head of English and three years as Assistant Head (Professional Development and Teaching Standards) at Notting Hill and Ealing High School GDST.Hayley is passionate about education and encouraging excellence in provision within and outside the classroom with attention to fine details and getting to know every student. She believes that inspiring a love of a subject should be at the heart of what makes excellent teaching, and wants to enable every child to reach their full potential. She is excited to be joining Thomas’s College in January 2027.

You can read about the background and experience of all Thomas’s College staff in our Staff Biographies publication.

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