I have had eight busy and exciting months since starting as the new Headteacher of Latymer and, in some ways, I feel like I have been at the school for so much longer than this. It may be because Latymer is a school that very much gets under your skin - once you are a part of it, you can quite easily be absorbed by the history, the tradition, the incredible people, the events and the wonderful students, both past and present, who make it such a special school to work for! 

Undoubtedly there have been some real highlights, such as the Founder's Day celebrations, the numerous brilliant concerts, sports day, the junior school production, and our Remembrance assembly to name but a few. There have also been some wonderful interactions with parents at these events, as well as some lovely conversations at our Alumni Reunion with former students who shared their fond memories of their time at Latymer and were still able to expertly sing our school song. 

What has perhaps resonated with me most since starting at Latymer is just how bright and brilliant our students are. I have the privilege of awarding the Headteacher's Commendation to students who have done something really worthy and this is perhaps the most memorable and special part of my job. Hearing from our students who have done some wonderful things such as representing our country in sporting events, winning national writing competitions or being elected on a Youth Council, truly inspire and make me incredibly proud. Or just last week, we received a phone call from an elderly local resident who wanted to share how impressed she was by our students giving up their seats on the bus for her and her group of friends. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to the former students who have generously donated their time, expertise and money to support the school this year. The huge library extension, which will open in 2026, couldn't be built without your philanthropy. The Prizes awarded to over 100 students this year couldn't have been bought without you. The many lectures, seminars and UCAS workshops to inspire students and prepare them for the next steps in their life couldn't be as impactful without you. 

As every state school in the country, our budget gets tighter every year so, if you would like to help in any way, please consider making a donation this Christmas. We are currently running our Winter Appeal 2025 to raise much needed funds to replace aging smartboards – any support, small or large, that you can bring will make a real difference. 

Finally the key aims of developing confident young people who are considerate has been at the heart of the Latymer School for many years, and will continue to be central to much of what we do in the future. I therefore look forward to the privilege of hearing about and meeting with more alumni who carry those values into adulthood in the coming years of my Headship at our wonderful institution.

Mr Joseph Gilford
Headteacher, The Latymer School