Richard Jones, Head of Bryanston School, on his journey from renting out camper vans to leading one of the UK's most distinctive schools
“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough. Sometimes in schools, they can be still relatively traditional and hierarchical. But I think you’ve got to back yourself. If you feel you’re ready for opportunities, don’t be afraid to throw your hat in the ring.”
Richard Jones never planned on being a teacher. After studying industrial economics at Nottingham uni, he worked in recruitment, the energy sector and even ran a business renting out custom-wrapped Mazda Bongo campervans to backpackers travelling around Europe. It took a week shadowing his best friend in a classroom to change everything. Now, at the tender age of 40, he's the ninth head of Bryanston School, one of Britain's most unique independent schools nestled in beautiful Dorset countryside, having risen the ranks to the top in a remarkably short time span.
🎙️ Episode highlights
His unconventional career path: from renting psychedelic camper vans to backpackers, to headship at Bryanston in under 15 years of teaching
Why Richard believes the skills from jobs outside education have been invaluable in headship
The Bryanston method: students have study periods from Year 9 and learn how to manage their own time, so they arrive at university ahead of the curve
His rant about league tables: "That's not the sole measure of what education is about... you go into a school and you can tell when there's a good culture"
His controversial opinion: scrap school uniform – "My first interactions now when I'm walking down the corridor, instead of going 'tuck your shirt in,' I'm going 'how's your day going?'"