Patrick Derham
Patrick Derham | |
|---|---|
| Headmaster, Westminster School | |
| In office 2014–2020 | |
| Preceded by | Stephen Spurr |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Patrick Sibley Jan Derham 23 August 1959[1] |
| Education | Pangbourne College |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge (MA) |
| Website | twitter |
Patrick Sibley Jan Derham OBE (born 23 August 1959)[1][2] is a headmaster and history teacher who retired after his tenure as Headmaster of Westminster School from 2014 to 2020.[3]
Education[edit]
Derham was educated aboard the permanently moored Arethusa II[4] and Pangbourne College before gaining a First Class Degree in History (1982) at Pembroke College, Cambridge, specialising in the study of Ireland.[citation needed]
Career[edit]
Derham previously served as Headmaster of Solihull School (1996–2001) and Rugby School (2001–2014), when he also served as a school governor of the Lawrence Sheriff School, and is a trustee of Gladstone's Library.[5]
Views[edit]
Derham is known for his strong views on independent schools in the United Kingdom and makes occasional press appearances to argue his case,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] including inviting those from the other side of the debate to speak at the school.[13] At Westminster, he introduced the PISA tests, introduced Queen's Scholarships for Girls[14] and announced plans to open 6 schools in China from 2020,[15] although these plans drew criticism from many of the students, as the schools will teach the Chinese Communist curriculum, as opposed to an international curriculum normally taught by international schools.[16] Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at SOAS, University of London, was quoted in the Financial Times as saying: “I think they have no idea what they’re dealing with [...] If you set up a school in China, they will have a party secretary superintending the whole school and the party secretary will be responsible for political education”.[17] The issue was re-opened when The Times published an article, quoting Professor Edward Vickers of Kyushu University, accusing the school (and King's College School who have similar plans) of "helping Chinese teach propaganda".[18][17] He edited a book, Loyal Dissent - a story of some of those who studied at Westminster.[19]
Derham also has strong views on widening access to independent schools. He set up the Arnold Foundation in 2003, during his tenure as headmaster at Rugby School, which provides financial support for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.[20]
Awards and honours[edit]
Derham was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to education.[21][22]
Personal life[edit]
Derham met his wife Alison at Cambridge where she was studying English and Drama at Homerton College, Cambridge.[23] They have two adult children.[1] In 2019, he announced that he would retire in 2020.[24]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Anon (2017). "Derham, Patrick Sibley Jan". Who's Who (online Oxford University Press ed.). Oxford: A & C Black. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U33579. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "Patrick Sibley Jan DERHAM - Personal Appointments". companieshouse.gov.uk. London: Companies House. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "New Appointment". oldwestminster.org.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "Lessons in opportunity". ft.com. Financial Times.(subscription required)
- ^ "Charity Details". charitycommission.gov.uk. Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ Derham, Patrick (2019). "Book review – Engines of Privilege: Britain's Private School Problem". tes.com. Times Educational Supplement.
- ^ Green, Francis; Kynaston, David (2019). Engines of Privilege: Britain's private school problem. London: Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1-5266-0127-8. OCLC 1108696740.
- ^ Green, Francis; Kynaston, David (2019). "We stand by our book: private education should be reformed". tes.com. London: TES.
- ^ "Patrick Derham appears on Newsnight". westminster.org.uk. Westminster School. 10 September 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ Derham, Patrick (4 October 2016). "Don't make public schools into a scapegoat". telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "Patrick Derham on how to be headmaster of the best school in the world". lux-mag.com. Lux Magazine. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "Behind The Scenes At Westminster School". londonist.com. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ Benn, Melissa (31 May 2016). "I returned to my father's school to say why private education must go". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "Girls to become Queen's Scholars". vimeo.com. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ Bennett, Rosemary (7 December 2017). "Westminster School to open in China". thetimes.co.uk. The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ Phillips, Tom (7 December 2017). "Westminster School to set up branches in China to teach Chinese curriculum". theguardian.com. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Westminster School to teach Chinese curriculum in China -Political education at UK private school's new sites to fall under Communist party direction". ft.com. Financial Times. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ Education Editor, Rosemary Bennett (18 May 2018). "Westminster and Kings accused of helping Chinese teach propaganda". thetimes.co.uk. The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Donaldson, Ian; Grayling, A. C.; Campbell, James; Cox, Peter; Clegg, Nick (23 June 2016). Derham, Patrick (ed.). Loyal Dissent: Brief Lives from Westminster School. The University of Buckingham Press. ISBN 9781908684745.
- ^ "Patrick Derham". Independent Schools Show. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- ^ "Birthday Honours lists 2018". gov.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "Patrick DERHAM". thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ "Elizabethan Newsletter 2014/15". issuu.com. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "Westminster School Head Master to retire". londonpreprep.com. 28 August 2019.