Our Team | British Council School

A team committed to education and well-being

Every day almost 2000 students stream in through our doors and are taught by around 200 British and Spanish teachers. Students are also supported by librarians, nurses, playground supervisors, security, technical, admin and customer service staff.

All of our staff are recruited using rigorous British School selection policy and procedures, and our Senior Leadership Team ensure we excel in every area.

Our School Leadership Team

We have a British style educational management team structure. The management team of each section (Early Years, Primary and Secondary) supervise a team of middle managers, including Family Leaders who are responsible for the wellbeing of the pupils in their family group.

Mercedes Hernández Estrada

Head of School

Ms. Mercedes Hernández Estrada joined the school for the 18/19 academic year. Her previous role was CEO of Pioneer Educational Trust in Windsor and Slough and executive principal. She has worked in UK schools since the late 80s after completing her Philology degree and CAP at Oviedo University. She has been a Lead Practitioner for Curriculum Design and Leadership and recently, as National Leader in Education, she has supported schools, the Spanish and UK ministries and the Comunidad de Madrid.

Pamela O´Brien

Deputy Head Pastoral

Ms O’Brien joined our school in 2005 and became Head of Secondary in 2010.

Brian Lynch

Deputy Head Academic

Brian joined The British School as Deputy Head with responsibility for Academic aspects in September 2020. He is excited to work as part of a great team of staff at an institution with such a rich history of success. His experience has been in UK schools, being part of several successful Senior Leadership Teams for the past 10 years. He looks forward to learning from the traditions and standards of our school and sharing his own knowledge and skills from his time in UK education.

Joanne Brindle

Head of Primary

Joanne Brindle Head of Primary since 2016. With over 30 years in Education, Excellent Practitioner accreditation from Roehampton University and a Master’s in Leadership for Learning, Joanne maintains her passion for learning. She frequently shares her experiences in Education Conferences, and leads Teacher training sessions committed to developing child centred education and professional fulfilment.

Sharon Conlisk

Head of Secondary

Ms Conlisk has worked in The British School since 2006, first as an English Language teacher at the Somosaguas Teaching Centre before moving to the School in 2009 to teach English and History. After 4 years as Key Stage 3 Leader, she was appointed Head of Secondary in September 2020. Ms Conlisk is passionate about working with and listening to young people, and ensuring that they are given the opportunities to achieve their goals.

Our Teachers

Our skilled and creative teachers enjoy working and living in Spain and welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively in this bilingual and bicultural context.

The English national curriculum is taught by teachers with proven experience teaching the curriculum. Spanish Language and Spanish Social Studies are taught by teachers with ample experience in the Spanish national curriculum.

All of our teachers have:

An undergraduate degree
A Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), Masters Degree in Education, or equivalent graduate or postgraduate Teaching Qualification
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) (UK teachers only)
English and Spanish speakers, or with language competencies comparable to first language English/ Spanish communicators
Undergone extensive background checks as part of their onboarding process, including UK Government Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance, UK Department for Education Barring Lists, as well three work experience references, and Spanish Certificado de Antecedentes Penales and Certificado de Delitos de Naturaleza Sexual (equivalent of British Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks)
Child Protection Self Declaration.

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Meet the Team