New Deputy Head Pastoral

Tom Burnside was born and raised on Ireland’s beautiful north coast, where he attended Dalriada School. Upon achieving a 1^st Class degree in English Literature at the University of Manchester, he elected to pursue his academic interests through an MA, for which he was awarded a Distinction. After teaching English in Taiwan, Tom returned to the UK to complete a PGCE before taking up his first UK teaching role in the maintained sector. Tom then spent six fascinating years at St. Paul's, an HMC school in São Paulo, Brazil, where he gained pastoral leadership experience against the exciting backdrop of one of the world's biggest and most dynamic cities. Following the birth of his twin sons, Tom, and his wife relocated to London where he joined Forest School, where, as Assistant Head of Sixth Form, he launched and ran the Forest Diploma programme. In 2016 Tom moved 'south of the river' to take up the role of Director of Sixth Form at Whitgift School in Croydon, overseeing the academic and pastoral progress of around 400 pupils.

Tom has a child-centred approach and is passionate about ensuring that every pupil is known and valued as an individual so that they can become the very best version of themselves. He is thrilled at the prospect of implementing his pastoral vision at Chigwell, whose placing of happiness and kindness at the heart of the School Values resonates strongly with him.

"I am delighted to be joining such an ambitious school and very much look forward to supporting the whole school community", said Mr Burnside.