Chris Staley is to join Bablake and King Henry VIII School (BKHS) as the new principal.
An experienced head, with an extensive track record in overseeing successful change management, Chris has been headmaster at Wisbech Grammar School for the last seven years. Chris will formally take up his role at BKHS in September 2022 but will spend a considerable amount of time getting to know staff, students and the schools, over the next months.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Chris emigrated to Britain at a young age and attended St Dunstan’s College in London before reading geography at the University of Portsmouth. After completing his teacher training at the University of London he was subsequently awarded an MBA in 2011 and now is a visiting lecturer to current MBA students. He specialises in topics such as communication, marketing, leadership, resource management and strategic thinking.
He started his teaching career working for two years at a maintained day school in Kent. He then moved on to Cranleigh School in Surrey for 15 years. In his time at Cranleigh, he was head of the geography department, subsequently appointed housemaster and finally senior housemaster.
In 2010 he moved to Dorset having been appointed deputy head at Milton Abbey School, with the key responsibility of the operational leadership of the school. After four years, he then moved to be headmaster at Wisbech Grammar School, a coeducational academically selective day school.
Married to Gilly, he has three adult/late teen children who are studying at locations throughout the UK.
Chris said: “I am very pleased to have been appointed and I am excited by amazing opportunities and possibilities this post presents to The Coventry School Foundation. We have all been through significant amounts of change over the last 18 months and the Foundation needs to ensure it is in the very best position to deliver a top-class education to the current and future pupils in a world that is changing rapidly.
“I look forward to working with all stakeholders – pupils, parents, staff, former pupils, governors and the people of Coventry, to ensure that their voices are heard.
“We want to make sure that we embrace any opportunities offered, but we must ensure the beating hearts and the unique DNA of each of the wonderful schools within our Foundation, remains our top priority. I look forward to meeting pupils, parents and staff in the coming months”.