PROMOTION Thrings meets. Julian Thould, Head Master at King Edward VM School, Southampton ing Edward VI School I dare say KES haschanged has been at the heart of over the past 16 years? Southampton for more than I was young and ambitious when change. Reassuringly, lots of things four-and-a-half centuries arrived.I'mstill ambitious. The school haven'tchanged. School relationships planning, So thats a fundamental Outgoing Head Master, Julian Thould el abittired and needed to rediscover rensain very strong, pupils are full of reflects on his 16 years at the helm its can do'attitade. We've rebailt the energy but are respectful, creative andtells Thrings partner Mary Chant school, aequired a prep school and andverycommunity- minded. There's why the future - the school's and his other acilities and reformed the certainly no sense of fear pupils and own-looks bright. curriculum. A now retired teacher teachers are united in wanting to oncesaid to me "although the ride was achieve their best. Were you always destined for a career in education? No! My mother was an English teacher and the one thing I never intended How important is a rounded education? Whena pupilwho has struggled does to do was teach. I had ambitions to Children thrive if they arestimulated well. This year one pupil, who had become a lawyer, but history waswhich might not always come from to work really hard, achieved eight always my first love. After Oxfordd, I doing algebra on a Friday afeernoon Rood GCSE grades; few would have spent a year as an archaeologist in We have 5,000 days a year out of school, predicted that with confidence five Peru, considered an MA in Anglo often over holidays, taking children to yearsago. This can be life changing Saxon but instead became a trainee Localtheatresand galleries, on sports manager at Bulmers PL.CBut I really charity and cultural tours froms the And what of your own future? missed history and went into teaching. USA to Australia and even to do Thiswill be my final year at KES, and you for shaking us up What's gives you the greatest biological research in the Galápagos 'm stepping down while I've still Wealsohave over 50 clubs, some quite some gas in the tank. 'm panning eccentricsuch as bee keeping, cactus to do a masters degree in history and spend more time in Cornwall. My grandfather ran the Westminster How did you come to be Head 1 had held positions at Westminster growing and codebreaking School in London, Cranleigh School in Surrey and King's School Worcester. What about the education Although initially I hadn'tconsidered sector as a wholet runningaschool, I'd beengiven a lot of During my 34 years in education, up in the city and responsibilityand headship seemed to I've seen the professionalisation 've had 16years at be the nextstep. When I moved to KES of schools. I've worked with some KES, so I won't be in 2002 it took a litletime to adjust toinspirational teachers and tauht urning my back leadingso large a school beat I've loved some exceptional pupils, but in the onHampshire every aspect of the job. aunt were brought 80s saw too little focus on training amytime soon* THRINGS For more information about Thrings solicitors, please visit www.thrings.com