Staff

Key Members

John Endean, Director & DDSL- CTEFLA DELTM

John has dedicated his career to working with international students, beginning in the late 1980s at a successful English language school in Eastbourne. Since then, he has built extensive experience across the English language teaching sector and has held leadership roles at a number of prestigious independent schools throughout the UK.

In 2015, John founded his own language school, successfully developing it into a well-respected business. Although the school was forced to close during the Covid-19 pandemic, the experience strengthened his expertise in leadership, innovation, and educational management, which he now brings to Heathfield Summer School.

Holding both the CTEFLA (1996) and DELTM (2015) qualifications, John has nearly 30 years of experience in English language teaching, academic management, and the delivery of outstanding international student programmes. As Director of Heathfield Summer School, he is passionate about creating a welcoming, supportive environment where every student can develop their English, build confidence, and enjoy an unforgettable summer experience.

Since joining Heathfield, John has thoroughly enjoyed becoming part of the school community and is committed to building on its reputation for excellence, ensuring the summer school continues to grow and thrive for many years to come.
John lives in North Devon with his wife and three of their five children, who are now young adults. Away from work, he makes the most of the stunning North Devon coastline, enjoying long walks, days at the beach, and spending time on his stand-up paddleboard whenever he gets the chance.

Alex Healey, Deputy Director and DSL – MChem

Alex has been a valued member of the Heathfield Summer School team since 2015, when she first joined as part of the activities staff. Since then, she has taken on a variety of roles, including Summer Camp Manager and Airport Coordinator, before becoming Deputy Director. Her journey through the summer school has given her a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of what makes the Heathfield experience so special.

As Deputy Director, Alex plays a key role in the day-to-day running of the summer school, overseeing a wide range of operations, managing the exciting excursions programme, and coordinating all airport transfers to ensure students arrive and depart safely and smoothly.

One of Alex’s favourite parts of the role is spending time with the students. She particularly enjoys leading sports activities and accompanying girls on excursions, where she loves introducing them to some of the UK’s most famous landmarks, beautiful cities, and hidden gems. Seeing students grow in confidence, make new friends, and create lasting memories is one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.

Outside of Heathfield, Alex is a full-time Science teacher in Bristol and currently serves as Head of Years 7 and 8. Her passion for education, leadership, and supporting young people shines through in everything she does.

When she’s not teaching or at Heathfield, Alex enjoys riding her two horses, Biscuit and Margo, hiking, surfing, and spending time cheering on her favourite sports teams.

Eric Sneyd, Director of Studies – MA ELT

After a varied and rewarding career, I eventually found my way into the classroom. My professional journey has taken me from working as a lighting technician with Welsh National Opera to serving as a commissioned officer in the Royal Navy, where I specialised in training delivery and training management. Following my naval career, I worked with BP designing and developing risk management training programmes.

Education and professional development have always been important to me. Early in my career, I completed an MSc in Training (1997), followed by an MBA (2002). Having always been interested in teaching – and as a long-time, often frustrated learner of foreign languages myself – I decided to retrain as an EFL teacher in 2015. This led me to complete an MA in EFL Teaching at the University of Southampton in 2020, further strengthening my understanding of language learning and effective classroom practice.

Since qualifying, I have taught English primarily to adult professionals, specialising in Business English in both London and Paris. Working with learners from a wide range of cultural and professional backgrounds has reinforced my belief that the most effective language learning takes place in supportive, engaging and communicative environments. As Director of Studies at Heathfield Summer School, I am excited to help create an exceptional learning experience for our students – one that inspires curiosity, confidence and a genuine love of language learning. Equally important to me is fostering a stimulating, collaborative and rewarding environment for our teachers, enabling them to develop professionally and deliver their very best in the classroom.

I have a lifelong love of learning and am currently working on improving my French while also exploring the fascinating world of neural networks and artificial intelligence. Outside of work, I enjoy discovering new restaurants, experimenting with recipes at home, and spending as much time as possible in the mountains – whether skiing, hiking or mountaineering. I live in London with my ever-patient and supportive wife, Louise, who continues to encourage my love of adventure. Together, we share a passion for travel and have recently explored China, Colombia and Central America, with Japan next on our list.

I believe that language learning opens doors to new cultures, opportunities and friendships, and I am delighted to be part of the Heathfield Summer School experience.

Katy Smyth-Osbourne, Pastoral and Welfare manager (DDSL) – BSc (Hons) PGCE

Katy’s connection to Heathfield runs deep – as a past pupil, monitor, and housemother, she knows the school inside out! Having lived abroad and worked with international students, Katy is uniquely equipped to support our international community. Now, as Pastoral and Welfare Manager, Katy’s mission is to ensure both staff and students have a safe, fun and unforgettable summer. You will usually spot her running round the school keeping everyone smiling, stocking up the Tuck Shop or dashing to Tesco! During the rest of the Year, Katy teaches Year 1 in London, and loves recharging with dogs walks by the sea or in the countryside.