Staff
Mrs March – Head of Department – Teacher of KS3/4/5 geography. CCCU trainee teacher mentor.
Mrs Alison March B.Ed (Hons) started at Chatham House in 2009 following her successful transition from primary teaching (12 years) in Surrey and Thanet. She is now teaching Geography, Travel & Tourism and EPQ at CCGS as an established and experienced teacher. Mrs March is former head girl and student of both Clarendon and Chatham House. Moving on to Kingston University after A-levels she also studied in the Netherlands as part of her degree course. Currently, she teaches across the key stages up to Year 13. She enjoys all aspects of the geography curriculum, especially fieldwork. Mrs March has been a parent of two students at the school until very recently when both have successfully moved on to university and chosen careers.
Mr Mayo – Teacher of KS3/4 geography. Duke of Edinburgh supervisor and assessor. Head of Mann-Somerville House.
Mr Mayo, an ex-pupil of Chatham House, joined the department in 2014 and teaches Geography across all key stages. A teacher of over 25 years' experience, he taught in a private school in Essex, and in Sandwich Technology School before coming to CCGS. Mr Mayo is primarily a physical geographer but enjoys teaching all aspects of the syllabus. Mr Mayo is Head of Mann-Somerville house and is also co-coordinator and a supervisor/assessor for the Duke of Edinburgh Award at CCGS and plays an integral part is providing the training that participants require. Mr Mayo is also a parent to three students in the school.
Mr. Dudley – Teacher of KS3/4/5 geography. Duke of Edinburgh supervisor.
Mr Jon Dudley B.A (Hons) PGCE started at Chatham and Clarendon in 2018. After graduating from the University of Plymouth in 2013 he went to work in retail for several years as both a store manager and area manager for two different supermarkets before training to teach at Canterbury Christ Church University. It was during his teacher training studies that he first came to CCGS for a very successful teaching placement, and he was offered a role in the department. Currently he teaches across all three key stages. Mr Dudley leads Travel and Tourism at KS5. Mr Dudley is also the verifier for the Duke of Edinburgh award.
Mr. Topping – Teacher of KS3/5 geography.
Mr Topping, B.Sc (Hons), started at Chatham & Clarendon in 2017 after studying Environmental Earth Sciences at the University of East Anglia for 3 years, and then his PGCE there. He is a physical geographer by nature and particularly enjoys teaching both the Coastal Landscapes and the Hazards aspects of the syllabus, but does like teaching all areas of Geography in both Key Stages 3 and 5. Fieldwork is also a particular favourite of Mr Topping’s, as he leads trips to Stratford in London for Year 12. Mr Topping is also the Manager of the Duke of Edinburgh Award at the school and has led numerous successful expeditions over the years for students in Years 9 to 12, at both Bronze & Silver levels.
Mr. Chidwick- Assistant Headteacher and teacher of Geography.
Mr Chidwick has been teaching for over 20 year and joined the school in 2024, following successful senior leadership positions in a number of Kent schools. He completed a BSc (Hons) at Coventry university and has enjoyed using the knowledge he gained whilst exploring the mountainous areas of Britain and Europe. Mr Chidwick is enthusiastic about all aspects of human and physical geography but has a particular interest in glaciation and upland landscapes. An element of geography that Mr Chidwick particularly enjoys is fieldwork, giving students the opportunity to experience the wonders of our planet first hand.
Miss Jade West – Teacher of Geography and History
Miss Jade West, an ex-pupil of Clarendon House, joined the Geography Department at CCGS in 2025. She teaches Geography across all key stages and delivers History at Key Stage 3. Before retraining as a teacher, Miss West built a strong career in public services. Her teacher training and placement at Herne Bay High led to a permanent teaching role there prior to joining CCGS.
A specialist in human geography, Miss West has a particular interest in environmental geography and brings her passion for global issues into the classroom. She is an enthusiastic traveller and enjoys sharing her experiences to enrich students’ understanding of the world.
From time to time the Geography Department also welcomes training teachers from Christ Church University College, Canterbury involved in their PGCE course.