EDUCATION
Theatre – Huw Williams inside the Princess Alexandra Auditorium .
I want our young people to go out into the adult world knowing that they can make a contribution and a difference to their communities .”
Cambridge . After a degree in anatomy and developmental biology at University College London , and a PhD in embryonic patterning at a Cambridge research lab , he switched to the renowned Wellcome Sanger Centre , where he worked as a postdoctoral scientist .
But his passion for teaching developed during spells as a biology teacher at Westminster School , in the shadow of Big Ben , and as senior deputy head at Tunbridge School in Kent .
He recalls : “ A school timetable gave me the structure I needed and suited me because I was dealing with people .
“ In a lab , I was dealing with vials of colourless liquid most of the time . In a school , there ’ s the wonderful chaos of the hundreds of people you mix with every day .”
He admits , however , that taking the reins at Yarm School was quite a prospect , with its already established reputation locally and even a 750-seat theatre , the Princess Alexandra Auditorium , to oversee – a facility he sees as “ a cultural hub for the region ”.
He said : “ When you step into this headship , suddenly you are line managing the finance team , the HR team , the theatre ; you ’ re working with governors on the finances and strategic direction of the school , including all of the fees , salaries and everything else ; the capital development schemes and all the ambitious plans we ’ ve got – to walk into that with no training , yes , it was pretty daunting .
“ You hope the governors have done their job choosing someone capable of picking that stuff up pretty quickly !”
And just to ensure he hit the ground running , after just one “ normal ” term , along came Covid .
He recalls : “ As a school leadership team , we had to regularly reinvent all our policies and procedures , with no guidance , so it was hideous .
“ But it did mean I was drawn into the day-to-day running of the school in a way I wouldn ’ t otherwise have known . And I ’ m still so proud of the community effort to pull together during that period .”
Only the third head in Yarm School ’ s history , following the 20-year tenures of founder Neville Tate and David Dunn , Huw , 47 , proudly reels off some of the highlights his five-year spell in charge has already overseen , including an upgraded sixth form centre , a new 160-place car park at the prep school – “ it ’ s massively solved some of the traffic problems on The Spittal and increased safety for our pupils and parents ” – and the prep school ’ s new Hazel Andrews Building .
He ’ s also hugely proud of some of the community partnerships the school has established , including the appointment of local musician Mike McGrother as music partnerships coordinator , a Phab club that brings young people living with disabilities and those without together once every two weeks , science roadshows in primary schools , careers events , a Community Action Group that recently collected toiletries to donate to tackle hygiene poverty , and a programme of school house charity days and fundraising .
He says : “ Our role in our community is something I ’ ve focused on since I ’ ve been here because I think as a big employer and institution , we have a duty – and gain a lot – from being a productive member of our local community .
“ As an institution in our local community , we have a huge amount to contribute , but also a huge amount to learn from being involved with , and engaged with , all sorts of local organisations .
“ There was already a lot going on in terms of partnership work but I ’ ve ramped it up a bit by putting a spotlight on what we ’ re doing and making sure we are significantly contributing to the local community .
“ There ’ s a whole range of things we do that bring us and the community closer together .”
During his rare time off , he enjoys running , family walks with much-loved whippet Nery , bird-watching and surfing .
And having chosen to live in Yarm , rather than out of town , he even has a solution for its notorious traffic problems – “ I ’ ll show you it later ,” he smiles . “ Honestly , it would transform it .”
But professionally , it ’ s how Yarm School prepares its pupils for the world that matters most .
He said : “ Our pupils learn the value of service . I want our young people to go out into the adult world knowing that they can make a contribution and a difference to their communities .”
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