What was your pathway to becoming a headteacher?

It was never a particular goal of mine to become a headteacher. After university, I worked in a bank for two years and then decided that it wasn’t the career for me. I qualified as teacher and had an amazing and rewarding year working in Ghana as a science teacher. This really confirmed that teaching was the career I wanted to be in. I have family connections with Battersea, (my grandfather was the first mayor of the new borough of Wandsworth!), Balham and Streatham and this led me to work at Salesian College, (14 years) and now La Retraite, (15 years). Also my mum used to go to La Retraite as a student. In both schools, I have been lucky to be offered leadership roles and I have thoroughly enjoyed the responsibility and the chance to lead some brilliant colleagues.

Why did you want to become a headteacher?

I have a very firm belief that all students deserve the best – the best facilities, the best care, the best opportunities and the best learning. I also believe that the staff deserve to work in the most fulfilling environment possible. It is a great honour to play a part in making that happen and it is very rewarding working with the amazing community of dedicated and hard-working staff and students at La Retraite.

What is the most surprising thing about you that people might not know?

I think most people at la Retraite know that my wife and three children are the centre of my universe but when I have some free time, I do like to do a bit of embroidery and long distance running. They are both great at providing a bit of mind space to relax.

What are you most proud of at your school?

There are lots of things to be proud of at La Retraite, not least our high academic outcomes and two recent Outstanding Inspections, (OFSTED, December 2023 and a Diocesan Inspection, February 2024). This is the third time we have achieved a double ‘Outstanding’. I think, however, the thing I am most proud of is the way the young people in our community treat each other and the fact that we really live our ethos: `Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God’. Whilst we are a Catholic School, we have students form all faiths and it gives me great pleasure to see how well they all get on.

Come along to our open day on the 9th July to find out more https://www.laretraite.co.uk/Open-Events/