Experience and Background

With a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Pembroke College, Oxford, I entered the European Fast Stream Civil Service after university and was seemingly bound for a career as a European diplomat or civil servant. However, my previous Gap Year experience, prior to university, in which I worked in a small boarding prep school, beckoned me away from the civil service and I applied speculatively for roles in senior boarding schools where my subject specialisms, in economics and politics, would be more gainfully employed. That was a career pivot I have never regretted.

For twelve years I had the good fortune to work at Uppingham School, as a teacher of Economics and of Politics, a cricket and squash coach, a Head of Department, a resident Tutor and then for 8 years as a Housemaster of a boys’ boarding house for pupils aged 13–18.

I left Uppingham to become Headmaster of Warminster School in Wiltshire. In my time there, the school successfully applied for membership of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), the professional association of Heads from leading independent schools worldwide. Founded in 1869, HMC champions a holistic education, combining academic excellence with strong pastoral care, co-curricular opportunities, and a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. I served as Headmaster of Warminster from September 2006 to December 2013.

In January 2014, I took up my second Headship, as Headmaster of The Leys School in Cambridge, a role I held for almost twelve years. During that time, what gives me most pride is having led the school through the challenges of Covid. Our surefooted and reassuring communication and the quality of our online provision meant that we achieved our goal, which was to emerge from the Covid crisis with our reputation not simply intact but enhanced.

Post-Covid, The Leys enjoyed some of the most academically and financially successful years in its history, culminating in our highest ever placings in the ‘Parent Power’ league table run by the Sunday Times. In my final year, the school celebrated its Sesquicentenary (150th anniversary of its foundation) with its most successful year academically, reaching 67th position nationally based on public examination results.

Whilst I am now retired from Headship, I am keen to contribute and to support of those now running schools. I have completed the online HMC training in appraisals and mentoring. For the sheer joy of it, I am also back in the classroom after a 20-year hiatus, teaching A Level Economics very part-time in a local independent school. I am also helping to advise an AI startup company founded by a Cambridge Engineering graduate.