Meet the Team
At Tate we are a team of expert educators that focus on delivering the best teaching, guiding and educational experience and results for our students. Each of the team members below focus on a particular tuition unit and is the go-to person for any queries, advice and guidance.
Henri Tate Puren is the youngest child of Nikki and Lieze's family and is the bearer of the name Tate. Tate means 'bringer of joy', which he certainly is! Tate International School became 'Tate' as we feel that our environment provides the space for joy to be felt. We also feel that joy is created at Tate International, by our teaching staff, who nurture and motivate, and by our students, who then live out their authentic selves, which inspires a love for learning.
Henri Tate Purèn
Lieze Purèn
Executive Head
Lieze started her teaching journey in London after obtaining her teaching degree in 1998 at the University of Potchefstroom in the Northwest province. During her time in the United Kingdom, she completed her Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which gave her the opportunity to be internationally qualified. This qualification has given Lieze an extra dimension to the educational needs of children globally. After six years of teaching and travelling the globe, she returned to the shores of South Africa and settled in Cape Town. Lieze accepted a post at the International School of Hout Bay, where she worked for two years, co-ordinating the SAT’s programme and managing the sports programme for the Preparatory School.
In 2006, Lieze started her tenure at Chesterhouse School in Durbanville. In 2013, she was promoted as Head of the Preparatory School where she gained a vast amount of experience in all aspects of education. It was here that Lieze realised that all children learn in different ways and a unique approach to education is the way forward. This inspired Lieze to complete her B Ed Honours degree in Educational Management and use her experience to embark on a new journey. Lieze’s belief in the importance of the holistic development of the child was paramount to the birth of Clever Kids Learning Hub, now Tate International School. When there is order in the environment, there is order in the mind.
Nikki began her tertiary education with a Montessori diploma and taught in London at The Kindergartens. During her break from working, Nikki had 4 children and studied for a BSc (Hons) in Psychology. She went back to teaching at The Kindergartens and headed up Crescent III Kindergarten, London. The family then moved to South Africa where Nikki spent time raising her children before embarking on the venture of Clever Kids Learning Hub, now Tate International School. Her passion has always been children with special needs in education and she has experienced it first hand, as her eldest son has dyslexia.
During the last 20 years, Nikki’s journey in education has been an informative and varied one. Her belief is that every child can learn if each child’s needs are fulfilled and their interests are ignited. All children need to believe in themselves and to find a passion of their own to motivate them to strive for their best. Responsibility and self-discipline go hand-in-hand with their needs being provided for, so that a confident, motivated and aspiring young adult goes out into the world, ready for all that lies ahead.
Nikki Purèn
Director
Esmarie has completed her BA Psychology degree and has worked with Nikki and Lieze for 6 and a half years as learning support, a private facilitator and was our first teacher at Tate International School. Esmarie has a passion for teaching kids with learning barriers and has a wide range of experience in helping to overcome them.
Esmarie believes that incorporating the digital world within the school environment is the only way forward. She completed a certificate in Instructional Design at WITS and managed our Tate World project to enable our pupils to learn in more interactive ways.
Currently, she is using her innovation and leadership skills to lead the Primary School to a new level of Academic Excellence!
Esmarie Carstens
Director & curriculum developer
Nika has five years of experience in the financial sector and spent seven years as an organizational manager. When she relocated to Cape Town in 2021, the perfect opportunity arose at Tate International School. Nika became the general and financial manager. She runs the everyday workings of the school and if you want anything done, Nika is the know-how and go-to person. She has a firm hand and prefers things to be done correctly. Nika is the mother hen of our children at TIS. They know that her office is a safe space when they need a time out, but also a loving ear.
Nika Swanepoel
TIS Administrative & Financial Manager
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Dané found her way to Tate International School at the end of 2022. She completed her teaching degree at Stellenbosch University. She loves being creative in the classroom and trying new things. Dané believes that children should be taught in a safe and nurturing environment so that they can achieve everything they set their minds to. She has a passion for creating stimulating and engaging learning experiences that bring out the curious and adventurous side of students. It brings Dané great joy when she sees how students light up when they understand a concept and she hopes to have many more experiences like this.
Dané Meier
Grade 2 teacher
Maryanne earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education for Foundation Phase at Nelson Mandela University in 2005. She has taught in the Foundation Phase since then, focusing on Grade 1 from 2009 to date. Maryanne is a professional and driven English-speaking teacher with 16 years of teaching experience in the Foundation Phase. She has a passion for assisting young children to reach their full potential while realising their capabilities in a child-centred and engaging environment.
Maryanne McDonald
Grade 3 teacher
Sebastiaan is the Grade 6 Teacher of Tate International School. He graduated and obtained his B.Ed in 2020. Sebastiaan perceives education and learning as an ongoing adventure filled with quests, dragons, and rewards. He takes pride in having the ability to create a fun and engaging classroom environment which promotes learning and celebrates creativity, inclusivity, and individuality. Sebastiaan's main goal, aside from providing students with their educational needs, is to ensure that his students are equipped with the emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills that they will need when faced with the ups and downs of everyday life.
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Sebastiaan Van Wyk
Grade 5 teacher
Tamarin comes with a wealth of experience. She obtained her BA degree in Social Work at UCT, her BA in Theology degree from UP, and an honours degree at UP focusing on vulnerable and orphaned children. She worked as a guidance counsellor at Edgemead Primary School as well as a number of other institutions. She has a particular passion for the social and emotional well-being of children. Tamarin has also been part of our Tate World curriculum team; building lessons and managing educational content.
Tamarin Philpott
Grade 4 teacher
Leeze or better know as Lee is one of our high school teachers. She completed her degree in psychology, aiming to be a child psychologist. During this time she fell in love with childhood development which led her to become a kindergarten teacher. As time progressed she realised that she wanted to be a primary school teacher, She then completed her PGCE at the Cornerstone Institute. This gave her more perspective on her teaching career. Lee specialised in Mathematics and it became her passion. She worked at a home-schooling centre for two years where she was introduced to a variety of curricula. Lee is passionate about teaching and watching how her students grow and develop into young, intelligent and responsible people. Lee firmly believes that she did not choose teaching as her career path, teaching chose her. She feels this is her true journey.
Leeze Breet
Grade 6 teacher
Charlotte comes with 38 years of experience in the teaching profession. She started her career at Panorama Primary, where she taught a Grade 5 and 6 class and headed up the English and Maths department for 8 years. Charlotte then took some time off to raise her children but went back into teaching in 2002. She took up a post at De Kuilen Primary School, where she was the Mathematics Lead teacher and acting Head of Department in the Intermediate and Senior Phase.
Charlotte has extensive experience in Public speaking and preparing children for the Tygerberg Eisteddfod in unprepared reading, creative writing and poetry. In her free time, Charlotte also taught Mathematics up to Grade 12, where she prepared the students for their end of year exams. In 2013 she took up a post at Reddam House Durbanville, previously known as Chesterhouse International School as the Grade 7 Head and taught Maths from Grade 5 to 7. Charlotte teaches Math in our Senior School and College.
Charlotte Bruyns
High school
Anika Filmalter
High school
Anika studied B.Ed intermediate and senior phase at CPUT Wellington. After completing her studies, she decided to go abroad and teach English to kindergarten students in Thailand. She then worked in government schools in South Africa where she taught various subjects to various grades. Anika took a break from teaching to work on a superyacht in Turkey and then went to the Middle East where she taught English and Social Studies in Doha, Qatar. She first started working with Tate International School in November 2020 as a content writer for their online platform. Anika immediately felt at home and she is incredibly thankful to have been offered a full-time position for the subjects and grades that she always envisioned herself teaching when she first started studying education.
Mariëtte started her studies at the University of the Free State in 1975 where she completed her BA in Communications degree in Journalism in 1978. She started teaching in Bloemfontein in 1979. In 1985 she joined the SABC as Public Relations Officer. During the same year, she started with her Honours Degree in Afrikaans, which she passed cum laude. In 1987 she started her Master’s Degree in Afrikaans and worked on her thesis for 4 years until the birth of her son in 1990. The thesis was never handed in, as motherhood became her first priority. From 2000 to 2005 she worked in their joined architectural studio with her husband and started to make huge modern paintings. In 2005 she went to Venice to study the works and techniques of the Italian artist Tintoretto. In 2009 she started teaching art at SWPS and at the same time taught at the private schools; Montgomery and Miller and Zamar. Mariëtte joined Tate International in 2020. She teaches Afrikaans and Art. She is passionate about education, art and horses and believes that every child deserves the best education possible.
Mariette teaches Afrikaans (Gr 8 - AS Levels)
Mariette Horne
High school
In 2020 we also welcomed Bernard Morris into our Senior School and College. Bernard specialises in all things business. He has a Higher Diploma in Education, a National Diploma in Cost Accounting, and focuses on Business Studies, Economics and Accounting. Bernard has 32 years of teaching experience under his belt and has joined Tate International School with the view to modernising the way business is taught to our 21st Century students. He would love to witness our current students thrive in entrepreneurship when they leave Tate at the end of their educational journey.
Bernard teaches Accounting and Business studies.
Bernard Morris
High School
Timothy joined our team in January of 2023, he is an experienced and enthusiastic teacher who is passionate about educating today's youth. He has 12 years of experience in teaching mathematics, physics, and chemistry in various high schools, as well as economics at university, with a proven ability to create a positive and imaginative learning environment for students. As a dedicated and experienced educator, he enjoys working with students and contributing to their growth. He is skilled at creating new ways to encourage students, while also challenging and inspiring them to expand their knowledge and understanding. He has a Bachelor of Accountancy, and a Master of Science in Finance, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Finance (UJ).
Timothy teaches Mathematics and Physical Science (AS Levels & International GCSE)
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Timothy Chimedzi
High School
Carine Geldenhuys
Sports & Extra Mural Coordinator
Carine studied fitness at ETA specialising in personal training and kinderkinetics in 2016, where she learned to develop neuro-motoric movement in young children (0-13 years) through scientifically-based physical activity.
Currently, she is studying for a B.Ed through UNISA specialising in Foundation phase. She loves working with children and has a natural understanding of their development. She is passionate about their development and growth
Carine is also our PE teacher.
Veronica has been with Tate International School from the very beginning and in the service industry for 21 years. She has a passion for anything she puts her mind to and is very particular in her work. She is very friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand.
Veronica is our custodian and does a sterling job of keeping our building sanitised and virus free.
Veronica September
Custodial manager
Carol has been with the Tate team for a few years now. She has a beautiful heart and is always willing to help where she can. She enjoys a good laugh and has an excellent work ethic.
Carol is our custodian and makes sure that our school is kept in mint condition.