Leadership & Management Staff
South Devon Steiner School has no Headteacher.
Members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and College of Management (College) are detailed below.
Members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and College of Management (College) are detailed below.
Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
- Jeff van Zyl BA, PG Dip Ind Admin
Education Manager - Marcus Link BA, Dip RS, Cert Hum
Business Manager, SLT Chair - Elizabeth Elsholtz BA (Hons)
Chair of College of Management - Kaycee Fordham
Senior Leadership Assistant
Jeff van Zyl BA, PG Dip Ind Admin
Education Manager
I was born in Cape Town and spent my childhood and school going years in a variety of South African towns, cities and settings. A lasting memory is asking my parents to please send me to the Constantia Waldorf School, where a friend of mine was a student, and being told that our family couldn’t afford it. I 'survived' school, and entered the world full of idealism and passion, but not really knowing anything at all.
My working life began in commercial organisations. During this 'chapter' I learned and practiced organisational and operational skills, as well as business administration. I became outwardly successful and operated at an executive management level, with responsibility for significant projects, budgets and teams. It all changed when I met and married my wife, Eve.
It was through my wife and her family that I first engaged with Rudolf Steiner’s work. My mother in-law had been diagnosed with cancer and was working with Anthroposophical doctors in Munich and Switzerland. I was both intrigued and inspired. I joined a study group and began to explore Steiner's lectures and works. I have never stopped. My wife and I decided to send our children to our local Steiner School. At around this time I made contact with the Association for Social Development (ASD). The ASD is a global body of organisational consultants who draw inspiration for their practice from the works of Steiner and Bernard Lievegoed. I applied for membership in 2000 and became a full member of the ASD in 2004.
In 1998, I left the corporate world and founded the Network Consulting Group (NCG), a management consultancy that focused on organisational development and social development. The NCG allowed me to fuse my organisational experience with my developing philosophical framework. The NCG's mission was to support the effectiveness of organisations through bringing about individual, social and community development. Through the NCG, I worked with worked with many and diverse organisations, including multi-nationals, Steiner Schools, Charities and Anthroposophical organisations.
My family and I arrived in the UK in December 2008. I met an ex-Chair of the South Devon Steiner School (SDSS) through our common interest in biographical counseling. It was she who first introduced me to the SDSS, and, in 2010 I was appointed as the Education Coordinator. Over the next two years I worked at the SDSS, helping it through a complex time of needed change.
In 2013 I accepted a position as the Upper School English and Humanities teacher at the Norwich Steiner School (NSS). A critical part of my role was to help create a new, healthy and successful Upper School. The NSS had committed itself to developing an Upper School that followed the Steiner curriculum, and one that would not do any of the state qualifications (GCSE's and A-Levels). It was a challenging and entrepreneurial venture, one that needed the ongoing belief and support of the teachers, pupils and parents. This project culminated in July 2017 when the class 12 students successfully graduated with their Steiner School Certificates and took their first steps into the world, many of them with University places.
My professional journey to date has left me with significant organisational knowledge and experience, as well as with a bag full of practical tools and skills. I am totally committed to Steiner education. I see the essence of my current role as helping the South Devon Steiner School manifest its vision.
Education Manager
I was born in Cape Town and spent my childhood and school going years in a variety of South African towns, cities and settings. A lasting memory is asking my parents to please send me to the Constantia Waldorf School, where a friend of mine was a student, and being told that our family couldn’t afford it. I 'survived' school, and entered the world full of idealism and passion, but not really knowing anything at all.
My working life began in commercial organisations. During this 'chapter' I learned and practiced organisational and operational skills, as well as business administration. I became outwardly successful and operated at an executive management level, with responsibility for significant projects, budgets and teams. It all changed when I met and married my wife, Eve.
It was through my wife and her family that I first engaged with Rudolf Steiner’s work. My mother in-law had been diagnosed with cancer and was working with Anthroposophical doctors in Munich and Switzerland. I was both intrigued and inspired. I joined a study group and began to explore Steiner's lectures and works. I have never stopped. My wife and I decided to send our children to our local Steiner School. At around this time I made contact with the Association for Social Development (ASD). The ASD is a global body of organisational consultants who draw inspiration for their practice from the works of Steiner and Bernard Lievegoed. I applied for membership in 2000 and became a full member of the ASD in 2004.
In 1998, I left the corporate world and founded the Network Consulting Group (NCG), a management consultancy that focused on organisational development and social development. The NCG allowed me to fuse my organisational experience with my developing philosophical framework. The NCG's mission was to support the effectiveness of organisations through bringing about individual, social and community development. Through the NCG, I worked with worked with many and diverse organisations, including multi-nationals, Steiner Schools, Charities and Anthroposophical organisations.
My family and I arrived in the UK in December 2008. I met an ex-Chair of the South Devon Steiner School (SDSS) through our common interest in biographical counseling. It was she who first introduced me to the SDSS, and, in 2010 I was appointed as the Education Coordinator. Over the next two years I worked at the SDSS, helping it through a complex time of needed change.
In 2013 I accepted a position as the Upper School English and Humanities teacher at the Norwich Steiner School (NSS). A critical part of my role was to help create a new, healthy and successful Upper School. The NSS had committed itself to developing an Upper School that followed the Steiner curriculum, and one that would not do any of the state qualifications (GCSE's and A-Levels). It was a challenging and entrepreneurial venture, one that needed the ongoing belief and support of the teachers, pupils and parents. This project culminated in July 2017 when the class 12 students successfully graduated with their Steiner School Certificates and took their first steps into the world, many of them with University places.
My professional journey to date has left me with significant organisational knowledge and experience, as well as with a bag full of practical tools and skills. I am totally committed to Steiner education. I see the essence of my current role as helping the South Devon Steiner School manifest its vision.
Marcus Link BA, Dip RS, Cert Hum
Business Manager, Chair of SLT
Before joining the school in this role in October 2015, Marcus had been a trustee of the school since February 2012 (Chair from June 2014). In his role as School Business Manager, Marcus takes the lead on all non-educational matters. He is also the school's Health & Safety Officer and currently chairs the SLT.
Marcus is described by his father as a "European mongrel" because he has three nationalities: he was born in Ireland but his parents are German and English.
Marcus studied philosophy, religious studies and business management. Professionally, because as a younger man he thought he needed lots of money, he has an entrepreneurial background and developed several (bio)tech, creative and food-related businesses. He has worked in venture capital and management consultancy before he discovered that his previous work made him feel like a big black-hole had opened up in him. He then decided to change his life and began working in education management - and finally made it into our wonderful school: the best vision and most important contribution to education in this country (his words).
In his spare time, Marcus is more of a dreamer and likes spending time with many books, writing poems and stories, and mowing the lawn of his tumble-down house in this beautiful part of the world where he lives with two cats, two dogs and his two boys who are also at our school (of course!).
Business Manager, Chair of SLT
Before joining the school in this role in October 2015, Marcus had been a trustee of the school since February 2012 (Chair from June 2014). In his role as School Business Manager, Marcus takes the lead on all non-educational matters. He is also the school's Health & Safety Officer and currently chairs the SLT.
Marcus is described by his father as a "European mongrel" because he has three nationalities: he was born in Ireland but his parents are German and English.
Marcus studied philosophy, religious studies and business management. Professionally, because as a younger man he thought he needed lots of money, he has an entrepreneurial background and developed several (bio)tech, creative and food-related businesses. He has worked in venture capital and management consultancy before he discovered that his previous work made him feel like a big black-hole had opened up in him. He then decided to change his life and began working in education management - and finally made it into our wonderful school: the best vision and most important contribution to education in this country (his words).
In his spare time, Marcus is more of a dreamer and likes spending time with many books, writing poems and stories, and mowing the lawn of his tumble-down house in this beautiful part of the world where he lives with two cats, two dogs and his two boys who are also at our school (of course!).
Elizabeth Elsholtz BA (Hons)
Chair of the College of Management
Elizabeth (BA) is a class teacher, and, in addition to representing Lower School on the SLT, Elizabeth takes responsibility for personnel matters at the school. She also chairs the College of Management.
As a parent of two children (at the school), Elizabeth found herself being a parent volunteer at the local playgroup and then at the primary school that her children attended. Both of these opportunities led Elizabeth to contemplate a future as a teacher, and in particular a Steiner teacher.
The contemplation became a decision and the family moved from the East coast of Scotland to the South West of England so as to enable Elizabeth to study for a BA in Steiner Education at Plymouth University. After her graduation, Elizabeth spent a year as a Class 1 and handwork assistant before starting her teaching career in September 2013 at South Devon Steiner School.
Prior to her teacher training, Elizabeth spent 18 years in hospitality and catering management.
In her spare time Elizabeth is an avid book reader and coffee shop frequenter, not to mention spending time with her family at home.
Chair of the College of Management
Elizabeth (BA) is a class teacher, and, in addition to representing Lower School on the SLT, Elizabeth takes responsibility for personnel matters at the school. She also chairs the College of Management.
As a parent of two children (at the school), Elizabeth found herself being a parent volunteer at the local playgroup and then at the primary school that her children attended. Both of these opportunities led Elizabeth to contemplate a future as a teacher, and in particular a Steiner teacher.
The contemplation became a decision and the family moved from the East coast of Scotland to the South West of England so as to enable Elizabeth to study for a BA in Steiner Education at Plymouth University. After her graduation, Elizabeth spent a year as a Class 1 and handwork assistant before starting her teaching career in September 2013 at South Devon Steiner School.
Prior to her teacher training, Elizabeth spent 18 years in hospitality and catering management.
In her spare time Elizabeth is an avid book reader and coffee shop frequenter, not to mention spending time with her family at home.
Kaycee Fordham
Senior Leadership Assistant &
Admissions, Marketing and Communications Manager
Kaycee has a varied role at the school, taking responsibility for Admissions, Marketing and Communications (including Concerns and Complaints). She also provides administrative and practical support to the School Leadership Team, including undertaking specific projects.
Kaycee is a member of the College of Management.
Before joining the school in February 2015, Kaycee had been a director of a raw chocolate business, which she co-founded in 2007. Kaycee has also worked in recruitment and temporary staff management, and been involved in the development of a number of small businesses (with a sales and marketing emphasis). She entered the education sector in 2005, when she took the role of Communications Administrator in a mainstream primary school, a formative experience which informs her approach to her work for our school.
Kaycee is a mother to four children, two of whom attend our school. She lives off grid on Dartmoor with her family, dogs and chickens. She enjoys wild walks, beach days, devouring books - and rare quiet moments!
Senior Leadership Assistant &
Admissions, Marketing and Communications Manager
Kaycee has a varied role at the school, taking responsibility for Admissions, Marketing and Communications (including Concerns and Complaints). She also provides administrative and practical support to the School Leadership Team, including undertaking specific projects.
Kaycee is a member of the College of Management.
Before joining the school in February 2015, Kaycee had been a director of a raw chocolate business, which she co-founded in 2007. Kaycee has also worked in recruitment and temporary staff management, and been involved in the development of a number of small businesses (with a sales and marketing emphasis). She entered the education sector in 2005, when she took the role of Communications Administrator in a mainstream primary school, a formative experience which informs her approach to her work for our school.
Kaycee is a mother to four children, two of whom attend our school. She lives off grid on Dartmoor with her family, dogs and chickens. She enjoys wild walks, beach days, devouring books - and rare quiet moments!
College of Management (College)
- Elizabeth Elsholtz
Chair of College - Jeff van Zyl
Education Manager - Jonathan Hobbs
Lower School Department Chair - Phil Wright
Upper School Department Co-Chair - Christine Cook
Upper School Department Co-Chair - Anja Toddington
Early Years Manager and Kindergarten Teacher - Andrew Smith
- Lower School Class Teacher
- Tom Parker
- Lower School Class Teacher
- Gaby Wood
Designated Safeguarding Lead - Kaycee Fordham
Admissions, Marketing, Communications, Concerns and Complaints - Marcus Link
Business Manager, Health & Safety, Educational Visits, Personnel, Finance - Jonathan Liddle
Lower School Class Teacher - Mark van Vliet
Outdoor Classroom Teacher
