The Headmaster of Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire, Christian San José, discusses his background and educational philosophy
What is your background?
I was a financial PR consultant then did officer training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. I became an officer in the Royal Green Jackets, which later became the Rifles, and served in Iraq. After leaving the military, I became a geography teacher and housemaster at a boarding school in Oxfordshire. I was there for 11 years, then moved to a school in Yorkshire as Senior Deputy Head before joining Wycliffe.
What excites you most about your role?
It’s a pivotal time for independent schools and what excites me is tackling the challenges and opportunities before us head on. Wycliffe is a community which leaves no stone unturned in developing the best education for all abilities across a variety of disciplines. Opportunities are abundant here and all pupils are encouraged to have a go. Ambition for what we all can achieve – pupils and staff alike – is at the core of all we do. People have preconceptions about independent schools, but we want everyone to take a look behind our doors and see what we are doing.
What is your academic philosophy?
It’s about developing our children before we let them out into the big wide world – providing the opportunity to see what’s there and what might interest them, where they might excel. We need to take into account pupils’ individual learning needs but also ensure they don’t see limits to what they can do. We need to know their strengths and provide the environment to nurture those talents. It is important to keep that motivation at the centre – something which can be integral to unlocking a child’s potential and setting them up for their future.
Can you tell us about one pivotal moment in your career?
Becoming housemaster. I enjoyed the opportunities that boarding gave me to positively influence the lives of pupils and colleagues. I’ve worked with inspirational leaders and Heads, all of whom demonstrated a wonderful sense of humanity and drive to do their best, and in whose footsteps I wish to follow.
What is your school’s approach and what sets it apart?
I love the grounded unpretentiousness, where everyone from the age of two to 19 is known and valued. What sets Wycliffe College apart is a focus on holistic development of the child. We don’t set any boundaries but look at the whole person, the character of the individual, when we accept pupils. We adapt to their bespoke needs – from academic to sport, music and employability – to ensure a high level of achievement. Our pupils leave us as resilient young people who are ambitious for themselves and what they want to achieve in life.
What makes a great student?
Kindness, a willingness to learn and embrace difference and display unassuming confidence.
From your experience, what makes a great school environment?
A great school environment has experienced, innovative and caring staff combined with specialist departments and facilities that create a welcoming but also engaging and vibrant community full of opportunity. Happy children get more out of school, but a good school pushes itself to really engage children, helping them see what they are capable of. That passion, fostered early for education and growth, leads to a lifelong and inbuilt confidence and core abilities that are invaluable.
Wycliffe College wycliffe.co.uk
Further reading: 60 Seconds with Joanna Wright, Head of King Edward’s Witley
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