New Principal takes up reigns at Priory School of Our Lady of Walsingham

Priory School of Our Lady of Walsingham is delighted to announce the arrival of a new Principal, David EJJ Lloyd, who took up his post on 9 January 2023.

Many Islanders will know David as he was Deputy Head of Ryde School with Upper Chine from 2005 to 2010, after serving as Head of Economics & Business and Senior Master at Warwick School for 11 years prior to that.

At the end of 2022, he completed a very successful 12-year tenure as Head of Solihull School in the West Midlands, and is delighted to have moved back to the Island where he has always retained his family home. He brings to the post a wealth of experience, knowledge and insight as head of a major independent school.

The former Principal, Edmund Matyjaszek, remains on the leadership team of the school in the role of Bursar, and comments: "We are delighted that David has returned to the Island to run Priory School at the very point where it is in such high demand from Island and mainland families. It is a privilege to hand over the reins to someone whose experience in independent education is second to none and who has the interest of Island families at heart."

After one week in post, David commented on 'the genuine respect and care pupils and staff have for each other, the strong attitudes to learning and a sense that pupils are not in a great rush to grow up, which is often the case elsewhere’.

He added: "The teamwork and camaraderie across year groups is also obvious. Older pupils look out for the younger ones, and younger pupils aspire to be like their older peers."

Founded in 1993, Priory School has grown rapidly since then, establishing an excellent reputation as an independent coeducational day school that is now the independent school of choice for increasing numbers of Island parents. It welcomes pupils from age 4 to 18 and has a small and flourishing Sixth Form. Class sizes throughout the school are small and there is a strong emphasis on knowing individual pupils and their families.