What are you looking forward to, having been appointed as Headmaster of Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School?

Sompting Abbotts is a magical place for children to grow up. It is nurturing, safe and supportive. I especially value its beautiful outside space, of which almost every metre is explored during curricular and extracurricular activities. As soon as I arrived here, I was struck, too, by the exemplary high standards of conduct and manners of the children. They are testament to consistently modelled behaviour by all staff, with Mrs Sinclair at the helm.

This makes Sompting Abbotts a very special community and sets our children apart from others. There are so many stories that I have heard from past pupils, staff and current pupils which I find fascinating. Each generation of pupils make their own memories and want to come back and tread the floorboards again, speaking about those that inspired them. The ethos and traditions of the school make it a place that is yearned for again, once they are too old to stay.

Tell us about your career experience.

My first role was Head of Boys’ Games at Tavistock and Summerhill Preparatory School in Lindfield, West Sussex, between 2012-2015. This role developed into Head of PE, Sport & Outdoor Education. Whilst at the school, I designed and implemented a broad and holistic curriculum that enabled all children to challenge their personal best and foster their wellbeing.

I then moved to Greenway Academy in Horsham where I developed PE from the ground up. Through my leadership, we achieved the Association for Physical Education Quality Mark with Distinction, the School Games Gold Mark* for four years running, and the Virtual School Games Mark for efforts to promote physical education over lockdown. [*The School Games Mark is a government-led awards scheme launched in 2012 to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community.]

What has your experience of working in both the state and independent sectors taught you?

Not only have I worked across both the independent and state school sectors, but I’ve also taught across the three key stages in subjects from Sports to Maths, Computing, RS and PSHE. So I understand that as prep school teachers we need to be willing to turn our hand to different disciplines. 

I know that our teachers work very hard, and most do it for the love of those magic ‘light bulb moments’ when a pupil’s eyes light up in the classroom, as well as the fun, joy and energy that typifies life in a busy prep school like Sompting Abbotts. 

I'd say that I've learned a lot about the education system and the way that Independent and State educations differ. Starting my career in an independent school – not too dissimilar to Sompting Abbotts in size – enabled me to witness first-hand the impact and success of an inclusive, broad curriculum, implemented by highly skilled specialist teachers. Having more freedom to inspire and tailor the learning to the individual child meant that children were more confident, had better self-esteem, and were more inspired to learn.

I found teaching in the state system enjoyable and equally as rewarding. But I was unable to provide the same level of individual attention and opportunity. I made it my personal challenge to provide opportunity to vulnerable children or those with SEND who were more likely to miss out on participating in wider events.

All this has made me appreciate how fortunate we are here at Sompting Abbotts to be able to provide all of our children with high-quality teaching, tailored curriculum planning and a huge breadth of extra-curricular opportunities for them to participate in.

Preparing children for not just their senior schools, but life beyond is a serious responsibility, and I always bear this in mind when parents entrust us with the thing they value most – their children’s education.  

Sports teaching was how you began your educational career. What kind of positive character traits and values do you feel children absorb through learning sports?

I love sports for a plethora of reasons. It's not just about the values, discipline, and deep respect for tradition it instills in children, both girls and boys. It often reflects the ups and downs we face in daily life, teaching us patience, bravery, and the essence of teamwork. While it's amazing how athletes can showcase their unique styles, they must also recognise the power of team spirit.

Just as in life, it's crucial to tackle every challenge head-on and give it your best shot. Through sports, I’m able to see the children in a different light to that of the classroom. Sharing in their success on the sports field against opposition, or when mastering a skill, provides me with such a sense of pride and accomplishment that I can’t imagine stopping doing it entirely!