The Governors of The Elms School are delighted to announce the appointment of Edward Lyddon as the new permanent Head of the school with effect from 1st April 2023.

The Governors have thus concluded a thorough search for a new Head and were lucky to have had a deep pool of very high-quality candidates from whom to select. Ed was the outstanding candidate within this impressive field.

Ed has a long track record of success within the independent preparatory school sector. He is currently Deputy Head (Pastoral) at Sandroyd School in Wiltshire, where he is also Designated Safeguarding Lead, teaches geography and coaches rugby. Prior to that, he was Head of Boarding at Windlesham House School.

James Rose, Chair of Governors of The Elms said “Following a rigorous selection process, we are very excited to appoint Ed to the Headship of The Elms. He has been able to demonstrate to the Board of Governors that he and his wife share the same ethos and values that we hold for The Elms. We are a school which has recently been through a well-publicised and successful campaign to retain our independence, a process which has galvanised an already passionate Elms community. Under our excellent Interim Co-Heads, and due to the boundless commitment of our fantastic staff, a firm foundation has already been established from which we look forward to a bright future for our school. We are confident that Ed is the ideal leader to deliver for our staff and pupils. In this endeavour, he will be joined by his wife Hattie, who will herself add greatly to the school’s energy and community. We believe we have found, in Ed and Hattie, committed believers in the independence of education who will lead the charge to deliver our vision of a thriving, independent prep school that delivers wonderful, interested and happy children to the senior schools that best suit them. This is what The Elms has been doing since its foundation in 1614.”

Ed Lyddon, Head-designate of The Elms School, said of his appointment, “I am honoured to be appointed to the position of Head of England’s oldest prep school from April 2023. I have high conviction in the plan adopted by the school and I am confident I can deliver it, while maintaining the unique ethos of The Elms with which Hattie and I have fallen in love. I have enjoyed getting to know the staff body over the course of my recent visits and, in them, I can see a great, committed group of professionals who have worked incredibly hard through some very tough recent times. I look forward to working with them to take The Elms forward with confidence such that it can regain and extend its position as the leading independent preparatory school of not just its local area, but its region and beyond.”

Mr Lyddon commented: “From my very first visit to The Elms, and throughout the selection process, I was struck by the cheerfulness and politeness of the children, awestruck by the exquisite grounds, and wowed by the animals on the school farm. It is very clear the school has a heart and soul that is a tangible presence when one visits the school, and this is something I look forward to fostering over the coming years.”

Ed and Hattie have three children (a son and two daughters, one of whom is of prep school age and who will join The Elms in April) and two dogs. Ed is a committed rugby fan, is learning fire pit cooking the Argentinian way, and loves the outdoors, demonstrating this by completing the Three Peaks Challenge.

The Governors of The Elms School would like to offer their thanks to the Head of Sandroyd School; it is a great tribute to Mr Speers and his school that Ed has finessed the skills that made him the first choice to lead our school.

To read more about our new Headmaster and his family please click here.