Concordia
Merchant Taylors’ School
Can you tell us a little about those
aspects of your own life, career and
family life which you think will
help you in your Head Mastership at
Taylors?
My parents were both senior HMIs, so
education runs in the family. However, I
draw first upon the support of my wife;
we have been married for eleven happy
years. As for my own resources, I think
that I will draw upon the diversity of my
educational experience. I have worked in
the independent sector, the state sector
and taught for a year in a school in Japan.
I have experience of boys’ schools and
mixed schools; schools with wide ethnic
diversity; schools that serve challenging
communities and those that are highly
academic. My own life experience has
helped me to formulate a clear educational
philosophy. I firmly agree with the MTS
tradition that no boy learns well unless
he is happy. Pupils need to develop their
intellectual capacities in an environment
of respectful and supportive relationships.
I believe that pupils and staff alike should
expect from their school an equal measure
of support and challenge. A culture of high
expectations is essential for the institution
and those within it to thrive. I am also
clear that a school functions best in a
collegiate fashion.
What are your intellectual passions?
I have a wide diversity of interests.
I approach life with curiosity and
enthusiasm to learn. My primary
intellectual interests are currently
philosophy, the study of pre-history, music,
art and literature.
Many incoming Headmasters start
from the adage “If it’s not broke, you
don’t need to fix it.” Is this useful or
disguised complacency?
The adage contains a hidden false
assumption that it is possible to avoid
change. I believe that change is inevitable
and should be welcomed. However, before
any change can be made, I would like to
understand the school. It is important
to spend time with staff and pupils to
discover what works best in the school and
what might usefully be improved.
Of course, any change should be made
in the context of a clearly articulated
educational philosophy, an understanding
of what works best in practice and not just
for the sake of it.
What do you think have been the
major educational changes of the last
decade that are likely to impact on
independent schools?
Independent schools are certainly not
immune to the changes that have been
imposed upon state education. There is
huge turmoil in education at present. State
schools have had to absorb reductions
in income and changes to performance
management. All teachers have seen
adverse changes to their pensions.
Further, a hasty introduction of major
Incoming HeadMaster
Simon Everson
joins Merchant Taylors’ fromSkinners’
School, Tunbridge. He outlines his thoughts on education and some of the challenges
that lie ahead, both for Merchant Taylors’ and independent schools in general
Simon Everson
