Our exceptional team of staff

Mr McCafferty joined Newton Prep as Head in September 2025, from Rosemead Preparatory School, Dulwich, where he was formally promoted to Head in January 2023, having been the Deputy Head Academic since 2019 and playing a pivotal leadership role since late 2021.

Mr McCafferty began his teaching career with a Bachelor of Education from the University of  West of Scotland. He completed his teacher training and initial NQT year in Glasgow. He then spent five years abroad teaching in Dubai as ICT Coordinator, Head of Years 4 and 5, and a member of the Senior Management Team. In 2013, he moved to the British International School of Shanghai as the Lead Practitioner for Teaching and Learning. He then returned to London to join Dulwich Prep as Director of Studies and Assistant Head of Lower School until 2019.

Dr Graham joined Newton Prep in September 2025. At her previous school, she led on Learning Innovation and pupil progress, alongside heading the Classics department. She holds a BA and MA in Classics and was recently awarded a Doctorate of Education from the University of Reading. Passionate about evidence-led teaching, Dr Graham is particularly focused on metacognition and helping pupils become motivated, self-regulated learners. She has a strong interest in how digital tools can enhance traditional teaching, and is committed to empowering both staff and pupils to thrive.

Ms Hales has been a central part of Newton Prep for over 25 years. Joining originally as a Year 3 teacher, she has since taken on a number of key leadership roles, including Head of English, Head of Year 6, Examinations Officer, Assistant Head of the Upper School and Deputy Head Years 6-8. With a BAEd in English from Durham University, she continues to teach English in the upper years. Ms Hales has also guided Newton families through the process of transfer for senior schools for over a decade. She is deeply committed to the academic and personal development of pupils in Years 6–8, fostering ambition, confidence, and independence. Under her leadership, children are prepared not only to succeed academically but also to flourish as well-rounded, resilient young people in their future schools and beyond.

With a degree in Psychology from Exeter and a PGCE from Cambridge, Mr Archdale brings a deep interest in educational psychology and emotional wellbeing to his leadership at Newton Prep. He has held a variety of pastoral and academic roles since joining the school in 2017, including Head of Year 3, Head of Year 5, and Head of House. Now Deputy Head for Years 3 to 5, Mr Archdale oversees the day-to-day running and pastoral care of the Middle School, and also serves as the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead and Attendance Champion. He currently teaches Year 8 Geography and is a strong advocate for outdoor learning and proactive, positive pastoral care.

Mrs Clothier joined Newton Prep in 2004, bringing with her a combined Bachelor of Education and Diploma of Teaching from the University of Otago and early teaching experience in New Zealand. Her career began as a one-to-one teaching assistant for a child with special educational needs, an experience that continues to shape her inclusive and nurturing approach. Since then, she has taught across Nursery to Year 2, with a deep passion for these formative years of education. Over her time at Newton, Mrs Clothier has held a variety of leadership roles including Assistant Head of Lower School, maternity cover as Lower School Lead and, from September 2025, Deputy Head of Lower School.

Mr Broxham joined Newton Prep in 2022, bringing with him a wealth of leadership experience across the education and finance sectors. A Cambridge engineering graduate, Mr Broxham has managed school operations, and lectured in financial markets at the Florence School of Banking & Finance. At Newton Prep, Simon oversees all non-academic operations, including finance, estates, HR, IT and compliance, ensuring the school runs smoothly and sustainably for pupils, staff and families alike.

Mrs Stark leads on all aspects of external relations, including branding, advertising, digital strategy, and marcomms. She has a PGCE from UCL’s Institute of Education and a background in teaching English, both in the UK and abroad, before she moved into school admissions. Mrs Stark has led on admissions, marketing and communications in the independent sector for several years and specialises in aligning marketing and communications with a school’s values and strategic goals.

Dr Farouk Walji is the Founder and Chairman of Newton Prep and a long-standing member of its community. Educated in Nairobi and London, he holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from King’s College London and previously served as Superintendent Pharmacist for the Pestle & Mortar group.

Dr Walji has spent more than forty years contributing to education and community leadership, including serving on HH The Aga Khan’s Shia Imami Ismaili National Council for the UK. He established Newton Prep in 1991 with 70 pupils; today, it has grown to one of the largest prep school’s in the UK. He is married to Dr Shahenaz Walji, and their children, Farhaan and Naheema, are now also Directors of the School.

Naheema has been a Director at Newton Prep since 2012 and serves on the School’s executive committee. She has pledged her career to our children and staff, believing education serves two purposes: to explore the vastness of creation, natural and man-made, and to use that knowledge to uplift communities and improve the world for future generations. This year, she brings this philosophy to the School’s Discovery Society, which promotes higher-order thinking, questioning skills, and enquiry.

Naheema holds an M.Ed in Private School Leadership and is passionate about the neuroscience behind learning. She also works as in-house counsel and serves other schools on panels. She has been vice chair of governors and chair of the education committee for another school, and welcomes opportunities that support childhood education. She has helped bring world-class education to individual refugees and has experience team-teaching nursery-aged children and young adults.

Farhaan serves as a Director at Newton Prep, bringing over a decade of experience in business leadership and governance. Previously, he trained as a solicitor at Squire Patton Boggs, working across multiple legal sectors including litigation, real estate, and financial services. He holds an LLB and LLM from UCL.

With over 30 years in leadership roles across schools, two Prep School Headships in London and Kent, time as an ISI inspector, and many years of governance work in the charitable and school sectors, Jill brings experience, knowledge and understanding of all aspects of school life and is adamant about the central importance of being ambitious for every child. As a linguist she is fascinated by all that can be learnt about others and this translates into a strong focus on how the curriculum prepares children to understand the interdependence of nations, the urgent need for a worldwide commitment to sustainable living, the importance of building connections between people at all levels and their future role as global citizens.

As a former member of staff at the school and former parent, Jill has watched with pride the growth and success of the school in its first thirty years and is delighted to be making a further contribution to the school in her role on the council.

Richard has worked as a teacher and school leader since 2002. He spent his first decade in the state sector at Richard Hale School teaching English and as Head of Year. He then moved to the independent sector, with nine years at Haberdashers’, where he was Assistant Head of English, Head of House, Head of Sixth Form and finally Deputy Head. More recently, he has been Deputy Head and DSL at King’s College School, Wimbledon, since 2021. Richard is passionate about the transformative impact of education on improving the life chances of young people.

Kobbina is a practising doctor at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and a proud former pupil of Newton Prep. With a commitment to compassionate, evidence-based care, he brings expertise across clinical practice and patient support while maintaining close ties to the school community that helped shape his early academic journey.

Nick Black has extensive experience in educational leadership and historical scholarship. Since September 1991, Nick has held multiple roles at Dulwich College, including Director of Admissions, Head of Middle School, Head of History, Head of Liberal Studies, and History Teacher. In addition to educational roles, Nick has served as a historian for the British Commission for Military History since 2000. Academic credentials include a PhD in Naval History, an MA in Military History, and a BA in History, all obtained from UCL between 1987 and 2005.

Houtan brings extensive experience in education innovation and evidence-informed practice. As Programme Director at UCL EdTech Labs, he leads international accelerator programmes that support founders developing technologies to enhance teaching and learning, building global networks of educators, researchers and entrepreneurs.

He is also a Director at Startup Labs Global and previously worked on the UCL EDUCATE Programme, a major partnership focused on improving the quality and impact of EdTech through research collaboration.

Dr Ince is a Senior Lecturer in Education at King’s College London, where he leads on Teaching and Learning across the institution. Prior to this he led a Secondary PGCE Initial Teacher Education Programme, lectured in science education, and worked for a decade as a school leader and science teacher at secondary schools in Sheffield, specialising in physics.

Alice has been a teacher of Religion and Philosophy in secondary education for 20 years. She has a keen interest in safeguarding and pastoral care and is Deputy Head (Pastoral) at City of London School.

Karine is the current Co-Chair of the PTA and has two children in the school. Karine became involved with the PTA as soon as her eldest child joined, initially helping with fairs and raffles. She is passionate about building a strong and supportive school community, creating connections between families, and working closely with local businesses. Karine values supporting the businesses that support the school and is always looking for new opportunities and initiatives that will benefit both parents and children.

Sam is a House Master at Wellington College where he has a passion for helping develop young people into compassionate leaders, and has led the house for nearly a decade. Before this he was Head of Spanish. Following a Spanish and Portuguese degree at Oxford – where he was a scholar – he went on to set up gap years for British students in Mexico and the Gambia, and has been involved in programmes for street children in Mexico, Chile and Paraguay. Sam has also established bilingual immersion trips for Wellington language students in France and Spain.

Educated at Royal Holloway, University of London, and the Institute of Education, Ben Turner has worked in London independent schools for the past sixteen years and is currently Senior Deputy Head at Wimbledon High School, GDST. He is an experienced senior leader and Designated Safeguarding Lead, with wide-ranging expertise in whole-school strategy, academic development, and pastoral care. An advocate for young people and for education as a force for change, Ben has contributed to national and international conferences, speaking on themes from civil discourse to playful approaches to scholarship.

Alongside his executive role, Ben is active in educational governance, serving as Chair of the Education Committee at St Helen’s School, Northwood, and more recently joining the Council of Newton Prep as Chair of its Education Committee.