We are absolutely delighted to announce that Christopher Woodward joins the Dukes Education family in September 2024, taking over from Kelly Gray as the new Head of Bassett House School.
Christopher is currently Deputy Head at Newton Prep, a large and vibrant 13+ co-ed school in Battersea rated ‘excellent’ by the ISI and one which describes itself as ‘unashamedly ambitious’. As well as his involvement in the academic life of the school, including preparation for senior school entrance exams, Christopher is the lead for communication both within the school and with its wider community.
Chris was an organ scholar at King’s College London and studied at the Royal Academy of Music. While working as a professional musician, he was invited to lead a choir of primary age children and, through their energy and enthusiasm, was inspired to change the direction of his career and train as a teacher.
Christopher has over ten years’ experience in teaching. His first teaching position was at Christ the Saviour C of E Primary School – a four-form, ‘outstanding’ school in Ealing where he taught across Key Stages 1 and 2. In 2017, he moved to Newton Prep as Director of Music. At Newton Prep, he has been Head of Years 7 & 8 and has taught across Years 3 to 8. Christopher quickly built a reputation for being creative, energetic, and ambitious for children. He has inspired all pupils to take part in music, and to participate in choirs, ensembles and performances. The school’s Training Choir has performed on tour in Cambridge and Dublin and in cathedrals across the UK. In his Deputy Head role, Chris has organised a range of events at Cadogan Hall, Holy Trinity Sloane Square and St John’s Smith Square to celebrate pupils’ achievements. Chris’s eye for design and attention to detail, coupled with his understanding of the big picture, have led to a transformation in the ways in which Newton Prep communicates.
Outside school, Christopher is committed to bringing the joy of singing to children and currently leads a choir of 45 choristers from local primary schools in his role as Director of Music at St Barnabas Church, Dulwich, and was previously in a similar role at All Saints’ Church, Putney Common.
Speaking about his role, Christopher said, “I am so excited to be joining Bassett House School. In particular, the school’s ambition to nurture confidence and resilience completely resonated with my own experience as a chorister, studying music and then working as a professional musician. The hard work and discipline needed to study music must also be balanced with joy, happiness and creativity. I believe in doing what you do really well – and with passion – and I hope to bring all of these elements with me to the Bassett House school community.”
