Mrs Helena Grant

What does a day in the life of the Head of Wycliffe Prep look like?

I start off by putting the cones out in the car park and then greeting the children! I lead several assemblies a week and a lot of my day is ultimately about developing the people around me. Those people are the children, my teachers and my support team. Leadership is about giving people the autonomy and the ability to step up.

I also meet with members of my senior management team; I nip in and out of classes; I report in to the trustees about all the different things that we’re doing; and I spend as much time as I can with parents — I’ve got a very open door to parents.

And then there’s the nuts and bolts — which chair needs fixing or which lightbulb has blown! Ultimately, it’s about creating a really safe environment for the children on every level, from physical to emotional. I also spend lots of time in the Boarding House as it’s really important boarders know the Head comes and sees them. And I can often be found in my garden with my two cats, Tanga and Duma!