Lichfield Cathedral School

I am delighted to join the staff of Lichfield Cathedral School for two terms as Director of Academic Studies.

My role will be rather different from that of my predecessor, David Stovell as I will only be working part-time. Consequently a number of day-to-day responsibilities have been shared out amongst other members of staff (for which I am very grateful!).

Having been educated at Bishop Wordsworth Grammar School, Salisbury, I studied for my B.Ed degree at Bath. I subsequently took an M.Ed at Nottingham University with a focus on educational management. I started teaching as a music specialist in a 9-13 middle school before moving into the primary sector. I moved to Derbyshire in the early 1980s to take up the first of three headships. After 21 years as a headteacher I decided to seek pastures new and trained for OFSTED. However, a serious illness and operation changed my perspective on life and other job opportunities began to emerge.

Consequently, over the past 6 years I have worked as an Adviser for headteacher appraisal, a Tutor for trainee teachers at Nottingham TrentUniversity and as an Adviser for elective home education in Derbyshire. I also sing as a tenor in Lichfield Cathedral Choir.

My wife, Anne, is a Headteacher in Derbyshire and we have two grown-up children who attended Trent College, Long Eaton. This has provided me with an insight into the life of a school in the independent sector from the viewpoint of a parent.

My first few days in school have flown by as I have started to find my way around. I have been impressed by the warmth of my welcome and the energy and commitment of all the staff and their genuine concern for the care and development of every child.

Paul Clayton