This week, Cumbria’s only standalone independent school for children aged 3 – 11, Hunter Hall, extends a warm welcome to the new Head, Paul Borrows.
After completing his PGCE at Homerton College, Cambridge, Paul started his teaching career at an international school in Zambia. On returning to the UK, he took a position at an independent day school in Bury St Edmunds. During this time, he completed a Masters in Education at the University of Cambridge and also began working with a number of other organisations, including the Royal Institution and the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) as a Maths Subject Advisor, during which time he organised a number of popular and oversubscribed courses.
Paul also works with the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB) where he leads the 11+ Maths Setting Team and writes the 13+ Mental Arithmetic Papers. Prior to joining Hunter Hall, Paul was Deputy Head at Vinehall School in East Sussex, where he earned a reputation for being a forward-thinking, outward-looking leader.
At Hunter Hall, Paul has a clear vision of what he wants to achieve. As an outstanding classroom practitioner and innovative senior leader, he wants to focus on ensuring children enjoy a broad range of learning opportunities that will equip them with the knowledge, skills and aptitudes that will enable them to thrive in an ever-changing world. He believes it is important that schools embrace technology so that children have the skills to flourish in a digital age, and he is looking to develop the use of educational technology at Hunter Hall. At the same time, he remains firmly convinced of the benefits of learning outside of the classroom, and the space this provides for children to develop as individuals and grow in self-confidence.
At Hunter Hall, he is looking forward to getting involved with the already substantial Outdoor Education programme and will be developing more outdoor learning opportunities by introducing the teaching of horticultural skills into the curriculum, enabling the children to gain the benefits that gardening brings, including supporting the environment and improving wellbeing.
Paul commented: “I feel enormously privileged to have been given the opportunity to lead Hunter Hall. Fundamental to the success of every child is the strength of the relationships that the children enjoy with their teachers, and the staff at Hunter Hall are all incredibly dedicated and focused on supporting and encouraging every child as an individual. It is wonderful to be joining such a warm and welcoming community, and I am very much looking forward to getting to know the children over the coming days and weeks.”
Paul has spent most of his life until now in the South East of England but has been visiting the Lake District from an early age, enjoying walking and climbing holidays in the fells. The opportunity to move to Cumbria with his family was too good to miss. Having previously had to drive for seven hours to reach the Lakes, since relocating over the summer holidays, he now has to open his back door in order to get out onto the fells. And now, as Autumn beckons, it’s firmly down to work. Son, George, and daughter, Florence, joined the school ranks this week, while wife, Rachel, has led the first timetabled Horticulture class for Hunter Hall students.
Chair of Governors Natalie Harling commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Paul and his family to Hunter Hall. He takes over a thriving school community with over 100 pupils on the roll for September 2023. With his depth and breadth of experience in school leadership generally, and Maths subject specialism in particular, Paul complements the wider staff body beautifully, and I look forward to seeing how he will bring that experience to bear on the school and ultimately benefit the children.”
Hunter Hall’s next open week runs from Saturday, 7 – Friday, 13 October 2023.