With the start of the new year, we have a new appointment at Pippa’s Guardians and are delighted to welcome Debbie Bellenger as our new Berkshire Area Manager.
Debbie lives in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire and has been working for the last 14 years as an Admissions Registrar in both day and boarding independent schools, including the prestigious Wycombe Abbey. Wycombe Abbey, with whom Pippa’s Guardians has a long-standing professional working relationship, has a rich international mix of pupils with a 
strong reputation in the Far East, including pupils from Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Japan.
Debbie’s background working with international families from all over the world, means she has an excellent understanding of the needs and concerns of boarders and their families and just how vital it is for families to have a friendly, welcoming and caring individual to whom they can come for help and advice when needed.
Debbie said: . “During my time at Wycombe I met with many overseas families, mainly from Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Russian but also some from Europe and Eastern Europe. I enjoyed the cultural diversity, and working with families to ensure a smooth transition for their children coming to study overseas. As the first point of contact most families had with the school, I was usually the person they would come to with their questions about boarding school life and what they could expect, and I was always keen to support both the student and their families in demystifying the British boarding school education system for them.”
“I knew of Pippa’s Guardians from my time at Wycombe Abbey, as they were responsible for a number of girls there, and when I saw the role of Area Manager advertised, I was keen to apply, as I thought that my experience as a Registrar would suit me well for the role. I am really looking forward to meeting my new students and their families.”
Ben Hughes, Pippa’s Guardians MD, said: “We are excited to welcome Debbie and looking forward to working with her – she brings a wealth of experience working with international students and their families and is a fantastic asset to our Pippa’s team of Area Managers.”
Debbie and her partner Ciaran, a Maths and Psychology teacher, have three daughters and a son, who are all now grown up, and four grandchildren. They also have a Border Terrier called Tiggy!