Headmaster Profile

On King Edward’s

"King Edward’s is a dynamic and thriving community which has a proud tradition of combining academic success with the education of well rounded individuals. My wish is to continue with, and to develop, these traditions whilst bringing the school firmly into the 21st Century and establishing it as the centre of academic excellence in the Wolds". Written in 2008 these words seemed to encapsulate all that we were trying to achieve. Fast forward to 2012 and following some phenomenal team work across the School and wider community King Edward's has achieved the following accolades:

  i) Rated Outstanding by OFSTED in 29 out of 31 categories
 
  ii) Sutton Trust's research into Higher Education identified us as the second highest performing state school in Lincolnshire
  and North East Lincolnshire for the percentage of pupils attending University.

  iii) Our GCSE results compare well with the Top 200 Independent Schools in the country and would place us above famous schools
  such as Sherbourne, Monmouth and Cheltenham College and close to the likes of Oakham and Uppingham.

  iv) Our A Level results have continued their upward trend and mean that our students apply to and achieve places at the country's most
  prestigious Universities - Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, King's College London, Bristol, London School of Economics etc.

  v) Our plans for a regular Enrichment Day programme have become a reality and have been validated by OFSTED.

Despite all this good news we are not content. We have exciting plans for the future which include, establishing a Wolds Centre for the Gifted and Talented, the provision of a refurbished Sixth Form Centre with a modern café and study centre facilities, the development of a new Humanities block and the development of new common rooms for each year group in the school.

Ethos

Results matter but being well rounded, and possessing confidence without arrogance matter just as much. My hope is that as a community we will do all that we can to encourage our young people to participate in the extensive extra-curricular activities that we have to offer, and that through this they will develop excellent leadership, and team building skills. Furthermore, I hope that through the re-introduction of prefects and the development of mentors, we will continue to foster and develop the already excellent relationships that exists across all age groups in the school.

We are working towards finding the space for common rooms for each of the key stages in the school so that we can give each group of children a decent base to relax, and build friendships but perhaps more importantly to give a focus for the support and care that is given to each individual by staff, and sixth formers.

Our regular whole school services at St James' Church marks what I hope will be a realignment of the school with its historic roots. My hope is that our pupils will be able to further develop the support, and care that they already give to many members of the wider community, and that we can give all of our pupils a solid understanding of the Christian values of compassion and tolerance.

Personal

James Lascelles, aged 41, married with four children aged 8 and under including 4 year old twins.

Educated in a Gloucestershire market town with many similarities to Louth. Formerly Deputy Head (Director of Sixth Form) at Bedford Modern School one of the country's leading independent schools. Educated at Exeter University, graduating with a 2:i in Politics and Philosophy. Choosing to pursue a career in the marketing and communications sector where I gained commercial management and leadership training this was then followed by a brief intermission at the London College of Law, I then moved to Reading University to complete my PGCE. In 2008 I completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship at the Institute of Education and took over the Headship of King Edward's in January 2009.

Educational Leadership

I have had experience in single sex, coeducation, independent day and boarding environments. I have participated in schools at a senior level to change management from single sex to coeducation; instigated the restructuring of a large 350 strong Sixth Form to improve overall management efficiency, leadership and academic ethos; contributed to curriculum review in two schools resulting in a rebalanced curriculum and restructured school day; led on ICT and Teaching and Learning to implement SMART Boards; co-ordinated the project management of the final stages of a £4.5 million refectory and Sixth Form Centre. I have been both a School Inspector and an Examiner for AQA and Edexcel in both History and Politics.

Hobbies

Inevitably family commitments rightly take up most of my free time but given half a chance I have directed a number of school productions and have a keen interest in stage and theatre lighting, and set design. I also play the guitar, bass guitar and the drums but my main passion is for singing: the crossover of music and theatre means that predictably I am a big fan of musical theatre. Outside of music and the theatre I have a strong interest in architecture, Formula One and am a developing golfer.

James Lascelles
Headmaster

January 2012