Staff

Senior Leadership Team

• Richard Tillett

  Principal

  Richard was educated at Highgate School and Jesus College, Cambridge, where he studied Modern Languages and History. Before going into teaching he worked as a manager in the National Health Service, running a health centre in Peckham and writing mental health strategies. Tired of red tape and bureaucracy, he decided he could make more of a difference in teaching, and completed his PGCE at the University of Sussex in 2000.  His teaching career took his first to Chelmsford, where he taught History and Politics and was Head of Year 12 at King Edward VI Grammar School. He moved into the independent sector in 2004, working at The Leys in Cambridge as a History teacher and Housemaster until 2010. Following the birth of his daughter, the family moved to North Yorkshire, and Richard became Head of Sixth Form at Harrogate Ladies’ College, later progressing to become Deputy Head Academic and Senior Deputy. He became Principal of Queen’s College in 2017, and feels very honoured to lead a school with such a rich history and extraordinary community atmosphere.   Away from work, Richard enjoys cricket, football and walking - both locally in Yorkshire, and very slowly from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in stages during school holidays. He began just after he finished his PGCE and has just made it over the border into Scotland.

• Susannah Abbott

  Senior Deputy Head - Pastoral

• Stephen Bailey

  Deputy Head - Academic

  Stephen initially read Law at Downing College, University of Cambridge and combined his studies with playing football for the University Blues. Upon graduating he combined studying for an MA in Theology with youth work in both residential and state school settings.  Stephen studied for a PGCE in Religious Studies at Brasenose College, University of Oxford, where he remained affiliated for two further years to complete an MSc in Learning and Teaching with a particular interest in Character Education. He taught for one year in a large state comprehensive school in the east of Oxford before moving to Westminster School where he remained for nine years, as a Resident Tutor, Head of Sixth Form Options and latterly as Head of Theology and Philosophy.  Stephen tries to balance the joys of two young girls, with keeping alive interests in current affairs, international law and the theory around the educational development of young people. When time allows Stephen likes to keep alive a love of outdoor swimming, cycling and dabbling in an occasional duathlon and triathlon. He has also served as a Foundation Governor and vice-chair of an Ealing Borough Primary School.

• Eric Wilkins

  Acting Senior Deputy Head - Operations & Co-curricular

  Eric completed an honours degree at the University of Oxford in Modern History and graduated with a 2:1. Following a brief foray into accountancy, he  completed a Masters in the Crusades at Cardiff University, before returning to Oxford for a PGCE in History. After completing two placements at schools in Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire, Eric joined Queen’s as a History teacher. He has held a number of roles at the College, including Year Tutor and Director of the Senior College. As well as having an overview of the Co-curricular programme at the College, Eric runs the school’s Parliament, where pupil contribute ideas about how Queen’s should be run. Eric is also a Governor of a local Primary School and has recently become a Mentor for the Longford Trust, which works with serving and ex-prisoners who are undertaking higher education. Eric has a wide range of interests outside of work including literature, theatre, Art, running, swimming and travelling. He is also a bit obsessed with Politics and loves teaching it at A-level alongside History!   

• India D'Arcy

  Acting Deputy Head - Pastoral

  India D’Arcy has been a teacher of Music at Queen’s College London since 2017. Prior to this India graduated from Kings College London and the Royal Academy of Music with a BMus (Hons) in 2016. She then completed her PGCE teacher training at Watford Grammar School for Boys, graduating with Distinction in 2017.  Since October 2023, she has been appointed Acting Deputy Head Pastoral and she is thoroughly enjoying her new pastoral role at the College.   India is an accomplished musician who has played at prestigious venues across the UK and Internationally, including Royal Albert Hall, the O2 Centre, and South Bank Centre.   Outside of school India used to co-conduct the Harrow Youth Brass Band as well as conduct one of four wind bands at the BEAT Hendon Music Centre. Last year she was a founding member of the London Youth Concert Band in 2022, which is a 60 people strong concert band catering for pupils grade 6 and above. She continues to perform as Principal Trombone and Co-Conductor with Grimsdyke Brass Band in Harrow, who was recently placed 12th in the London and Southern Counties National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. Aside from music India has trained in Taekwondo since the age of 4, achieving her 3rd Dan Black Belt by the age of 17. She competed regularly at national and international level since 2008 and holds two gold medal World Championship titles. She is commencing training for her 4th Dan black belt and hoping to gain her Masters rank in 2025. 

• Paul Davies

  Assistant Head - Teaching & Learning

  Paul studied Zoology as an undergraduate before completing a PhD in evolutionary biology, with a focus on the evolution of elephants in Europe. Having completed his NQT year, Paul worked for eight years in Bancroft’s School in Woodford as both Head of Junior Science and Head of Biology. At the same time, he completed an MA in Science Education which eventually led to him leaving teaching in schools to work at UCL Institute of Education. Here Paul led the Science PGCE and MA in Science Education before eventually becoming the Director of Initial Teacher Education. Alongside this Paul carried out research in biology education, with a particular focus on learning science in informal environments and the use of technology in learning science. After six years, Paul decided to return to the classroom when he moved to Queen’s as Head of Science, and soon took on the role of Director of Teaching and Learning before becoming Assistant Head Teaching and Learning in 2021. He remains an associate of UCL and continues to carry out research and write. Away from education Paul enjoys natural history and is also a fan of rock music, spending much of his spare time attending concerts. 

• Elizabeth Donnelly

  Director of Development & Communications

  Elizabeth graduated with a Bachelor of Science International Affairs from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA, her hometown. She went on to earn a Master of Education from Clemson University in South Carolina, USA. After working at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in Alumni Relations & Development she moved to London with her family in 2015. She joined the London School of Economics major gifts team focusing on donors in Asia then the King’s College London fundraising team. Transitioning from a career in higher education development, she joined Queen’s College, London in 2023 as Head of Development and became Director of Development & Communications in 2024. In Elizabeth’s spare time she volunteers for various charities and non-profits to help reach their fundraising and engagement goals, including the Board of Trustees for the Georgia Tech Alumni Association. 

• Rebecca Richards

  Bursar

  Rebecca graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in History and Politics and embarked on a career in Executive Recruitment and Human Resources in financial services, telcos and the retail sectors.  Coming from a family of teachers, she was always interested in Education and from being a parent governor, she became a school business manager in a state primary school, and undertook a diploma in school business management. She went on to work in an academy trust and then joined GDST Kensington Prep as Director of Finance and Operations.   Outside of work, Rebecca travelled the world (pre-kids) getting to some fairly remote places such as Everest, Patagonia and Ningaloo reef in Western Australia. She now has three teenage boys and a dog, which means most of her time outside of School is spent on a football or rugby pitch, banning the various gaming consoles or walking the dog!