Founders and Directors of Dallington School

Paola and María Recio Zapata

They have joint their experiences as psychologists and teachers with their passion about education, to make their dream possible: to start a school in a unique learning environment, where their pupils grow in a caring and secure environment with confidence, and receive a high quality education by a staff team characterized by their professionalism and values.

James Shallcross

James Shallcross has worked for over 40 years in education as a teacher, inspector, Headteacher and General Director of school groups. He has co- founded 5 schools in Spain and also co-wrote the national system of inspection for British schools in Spain. For 19 years, he was a member of national committees of the National Association of British Schools in Spain. In 2000, he was awarded the MBE by H.M Queen Elizabeth Il for services to education.

Academic coordination

Head of Primary and Secondary

Peter Hay

As a passionate educator, he aspires to see every child fulfil their potential in a safe and happy learning environment. He is committed to overseeing the teaching and learning across the school to ensure it is always of the highest quality. He encourages the Dallington team to be creative and innovative within the British curriculum and continuously try different approaches to engage the pupils.

Senior School Manager and Head of Spanish Studies

Paloma Valderrábano

Paloma Valderrábano González, is the Senior School Manager and Head of the Spanish Department. She has worked as a teacher both in EYFS and Primary. She has studied and worked both in Spain and England thus giving her a sensitivity and greater understanding of both educational systems. Miss Paloma is a dedicated teacher who is passionate about learning and discovering how different children can learn in many different ways, which has led her to investigate the different methodologies different schools apply weather in Spain or in England. As the head of the Spanish department and working closely with the British department her goal and calling is to create a hunger for learning in the children as well as developing each child’s skills and abilities for them to achieve their full potential.

Head of Early Years

Melissa Field

Trained in the British system, she has more than 15 years of teaching experience. In addition to leading our Infant School, and ensuring that the British Early Years curriculum is developed consistently and rigorously, she is a Nursery teacher passionate about education. She prides herself on teaching and leading to the highest standards whilst at the same time creating play-based, child led learning activities that motivate the children to achieve to the best of their abilities. She strongly believes that to reach a childs’ potential, they have to first develop a love for learning. She does so by motivating the Early Years team to foster inquisitive minds and to cater to individual styles.

Peter Hay is the Head of Primary and Secondary. As a passionate educator, he aspires to see every child fulfil their potential in a safe and happy learning environment. He is committed to overseeing the teaching and learning across the school to ensure it is always of the highest quality. He encourages the Dallington team to be creative and innovative within the British curriculum and continuously try different approaches to engage the pupils.

Paloma Valderrábano González, is the Senior School Manager and Head of the Spanish Department. She has worked as a teacher in EYFS and Primary teacher. She has studied and worked both in Spain and England thus giving her a sensitivity and greater understanding of both educational systems. Miss Paloma is a dedicated teacher who is passionate about learning and discovering how different children can learn in many different ways, which has led her to investigate the different methodologies different schools apply weather in Spain or in England. As the head of the Spanish department and working closely with the British department her goal and calling is to create a hunger for learning in the children as well as developing each child’s skills and abilities for them to achieve their full potential.

Formada en el sistema británico, tiene más de 15 años de experiencia enseñando. Además de liderar nuestra sede de infantil y asegurarse que de manera consistente y rigurosa se desarrolle el currículo británico de “Early Years”, es una profesora de Nursery apasionada de la educación.

Mientras desarrolla actividades creativas y apasionantes para sus alumnos, se asegura de alcanzar los más altos estándares educativos y sacar lo mejor de cada niño. Cree firmemente que para alcanzar el potencial de un alumno, primero se debe desarrollar un amor y entusiasmo por aprender.