Mr Gilford happily took part in a short Q&A to help the Latymer community get to know him better.

What did you do before joining the Latymer School?
Over the past two decades, I have worked in three successful secondary schools. These have all been quite different but have always had a real focus on high academic standards, coupled with developing students socially and emotionally so that they understand the role they play in society now, and more importantly, in the future.

I taught in Leicestershire for nine years in a 14-18 upper school eventually becoming Assistant Principal in charge of Teaching and Learning. I then moved to Orleans Park School, an Ofsted outstanding school, where I was Deputy Headteacher overseeing the Quality of Education. More recently, I have been Vice Principal and then Acting Principal at a new 11-16 school in Newcastle which was an exciting and rewarding opportunity to really shape and develop a brand-new school.

This means that I have a range of experiences to draw upon, but I also know that Latymer has its own unique history and identity, therefore my focus will always be on ensuring that everything we do reflects the needs and context of the Latymer School. 

What attracted you to Latymer?
I was very impressed by the Latymer approach of genuinely putting students at the heart of everything. The staff clearly work hard to ensure that the teaching is of the highest standard and that students are supported to become experts in what they are learning. However, I could see it went further by also ensuring that the young people here are well-rounded individuals who are emotionally intelligent and socially aware.

It has been lovely to hear staff and students talk so proudly about being part of the Latymer community, and I feel immensely honoured to be part of this.

What subject do you teach?
I am an English teacher and have taught students from Year 7 to 13. I enjoy teaching GCSE English Literature and am excited to be teaching Year 10. I particularly enjoy teaching poetry and am also quite a fan of historical fiction so my class can expect to see a few English Language extracts which reflect this genre.

Why did you become a teacher?
It’s mostly because I absolutely love my subject and really enjoy working with young people. My father and my sister are both primary school teachers and my grandad was a secondary school music teacher, so I grew up seeing how rewarding it was for them, so I think that influenced me quite a bit. I don’t think I could imagine myself doing anything else now!

What is a top priority for you in your first term?
First and foremost, getting to know you all, taking part in various Latymerian events and supporting students and colleagues in this crucial exam period.

Overall, as Headteacher, my priority is to ensure our students continue to feel happy, included and safe at Latymer. I think it’s important to make sure that staff and student wellbeing is prioritised as this leads to the greatest chances of success both academically and socially.

What do you like to do when you’re not in school?
I am a keen runner and particularly enjoy parkrun every week; I’m about to do my 250^th parkrun. Unsurprisingly for an English teacher, I also quite like reading and am always happy to chat about different books with students and staff. I will be sure to add an item or two to the recently launched Latymer Book Swap, another great student initiative!