Leadership Team
Josephine Okokon - Principal
Ms Okokon is an experienced Principal with a successful track record as a Head Teacher over the last 8 years in 3 Schools within 3 local boroughs. Most recently she was Headteacher at St Martin- in- the- Fields, which she successfully led until it closed at the end of the Summer Term 2024.
Ms Okokon has 6 years’ experience at Executive level dealing with Government Ministers, Local Authority Directors, Diocesan Directors, and strategic leaders in DFE and FSFA. For the last 5 years she has been a Trustee of a Multi Academy Trust.
Ms Okokon adopts a creative approach to problem solving and has been involved in a number of different strategic projects to deliver significant change programmes to bring about changes needed, including cultural change and to introduce stability. She has also been involved in Finance projects to address critical challenges within the schools that she has worked.
She has a reputation as a strong leader, who proactively promotes positive, effective, and collaborative working relationships within schools. Her personal Leadership Style is built on the coaching and empowerment of those within teams to lead effectively. She has proven herself as an inspirational leader.
Also known for her infectious positivity, she builds constructive relationships with students, staff, parents, carers, and Governors. She is excited about joining St Gabriel’s College and contributing to our future. Her own personal values align with our values and our Christian ethos. She is passionate about creating opportunity for all of our students and to ensuring that “We will all fulfil our unique God given potential".
Joshim Uddin - Vice Principal
Josh is genuinely excited about the opportunity to take on the role of Vice Principal at St Gabriel’s College, as he believes the school has enormous potential to benefit both its students and the wider community. During his interview days, what struck him most was the warm and welcoming atmosphere created by both staff and students. He immediately felt that this was a community he could contribute to and grow with.
Born in Battersea and having lived in Kennington for the past 20 years, Josh has seen first-hand the many changes and challenges in the local area. He has been a teacher for 15 years and a senior leader for the last seven, working across a range of London schools, including a Pupil Referral Unit. These experiences have given him a deep understanding of the diverse contexts and needs of young people in the city, and he is confident that his knowledge and leadership experience will allow him to make a meaningful contribution to the culture at St Gabriel’s.
Josh has a proven track record of sustainably improving outcomes and driving school improvement. He has successfully navigated multiple Ofsted inspections, each resulting in Outstanding judgements. Alongside academic improvement, he places strong emphasis on pastoral development, embedding a culture of kindness and positive behaviour recognition, which has led to significant improvements in both behaviour and attendance.
His aspiration for the role is to continue building on the excellent work already underway to raise standards, ensuring that strong systems are in place to help every student fulfil their God-given potential. He is equally committed to supporting teachers so that they can consistently deliver excellent lessons and do the basics right every single time, because that, ultimately, is what outstanding teaching is built on.
Finally, Josh is passionate about strengthening partnerships between the school, parents, and the local community so that St Gabriel’s is not just a school for students, but a true heartbeat of the community — a place that uplifts and benefits everyone connected to it.
He looks forward to the opportunity to work with all stakeholders to achieve this vision.
Theo Chambers - Director of Ethos & Culture
Over the past decade, Theo’s journey in education has spanned roles in inclusion, mentoring, and pastoral support before qualifying as a teacher. Since then, he has taught and led across inner South London in areas such as Lewisham, Bromley, Lambeth, and Greenwich, with a strong focus on pastoral care and supporting students to achieve their academic goals.
Theo is committed to creating environments where young people feel seen, encouraged, and ready to thrive. His aim is to equip students with meaningful learning experiences both in and beyond the classroom, shaping them into confident learners and future leaders.
His teaching expertise spans Drama and Religious Education. As a former Head of Department, he developed robust systems and strengthened curriculum quality, leading students to strong academic outcomes and successful progression, including places at Russell Group and Oxbridge universities.
A lifelong Arsenal supporter, Theo values resilience, teamwork, and community — qualities he looks forward to fostering within the SGC family.
Nikhil Shah - Director of Quality of Education
Nikhil Shah is the Director of Quality of Education, overseeing curriculum, teaching and learning, and data and assessment at the school. Having benefited from a bursary at a leading independent school which helped him gain a place studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of Oxford, he is passionate about delivering a world-class education to all students, irrespective of their socio-economic background or life circumstances.
He joined the school as a Teach First Mathematics teacher in September 2020. Since then, he has led the Challenge Ambassadors programme, the Humanities Faculty, and served as the Assistant Principal for KS3 Achievement and then KS4 Achievement, during which time he has been focussed on fostering a culture of aspiration, ambition, and scholarship within the student body. Ultimately, he is committed to ensuring that all students leave having fulfilled their unique potential, so that they are able to enter the world as empowered young adults, with every opportunity available to them to realise their own goals and make positive change in the world around them.
Outside of school, he enjoys cooking for family and friends, going to the theatre, learning languages, and travelling.
Ms King - Director of Inclusion
Ms King is the Director of Inclusion, managing the SEND department and our external provision - EBEC.
Ms King joined Saint Gabriel’s College in 2014. Since joining, she has held a number of positions of responsibility including Head of Blue Learning Community and Behaviour and Improvement Coordinator.
She is a keen believer in lifelong learning and has continued to pursue such achieving an MA in Education. Ms King creates and maintains an environment which promotes and secures good teaching, effective learning, high standards of achievement, good behaviour and discipline to ensure that all students achieve their best.
Vinay Gupta - School Business Manager
Vinay Gupta is the School Business Manager. He is responsible for finance, premises, catering, IT, HR and website for the school. He also runs the Student Council. Vinay has worked with Saint Gabriel's College since Jan 2015 and previously worked as a corporate banker in the City of London.
Outside of work, Vinay passionately follows the exploits of the Indian cricket team and mentors for a charity which supports refugees.
Fr Alan - School Chaplain
Fr Alan moved to London in May 2024 to become the full-time chaplain of SGC after being a parish priest in Newcastle for 14 years. Before this he spent over twenty years living and working on housing estates in Glasgow and Birmingham where he set up and ran youth projects for local young people.
Fr Alan’s main role at the school is ministering to both students and staff by caring for their spiritual and pastoral needs. Another role is to develop community links with others schools and community groups. He believes strongly in the vision of the school: that every child should be valued and encouraged to fulfil their God-given potential.
Despite leaving Newcastle he remains an ardent Toon fan (Newcastle United)!