Foundation News
8 July
Meet Mr Charles, our new Head of Foundation
We are delighted to welcome Mr Charles as our new Head of Foundation, joining us from King’s Rochester, where he was Principal and Head of the Senior School since 2019.
Ahead of his arrival, we asked Mr Charles some questions to introduce him to the King’s community and help us all get to know him a little better.
What attracted you to the role of Head of Foundation at King’s Worcester?
King’s is a wonderful school with a rich heritage, a strong sense of community, and a clear ambition for the future. I was immediately drawn to the opportunity to lead a Foundation that encompasses three excellent schools, each with its own identity but united by a shared ethos. The values at King’s align closely with my own beliefs about education – that it should be a community where everyone works hard, plays hard and looks after each other.
What are you most looking forward to at King’s?
I’m really excited about getting involved, meeting the pupils, parents and staff and understanding what life here is all about. I’m going to be very much in listening mode to start with so I can really understand King’s from the people who live and breathe it.
What three words would your family and friends use to describe you?
I’d like to think they’d say I’m loyal, kind, and fun – though I suspect my children might say I’m more annoying, and boring! Perhaps it depends on whether I’ve made them do their homework and music practice.
What are your favourite pieces of music and why?
As a former Director of Music, this is an impossible question – but there are three that have had a profound impact on me. Bach’s St Matthew Passion has been part of my life since childhood. Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’ is a song my wife and I have always shared. And Mahler’s Fifth Symphony never fails to stir something visceral. For me, music is the art form that most deeply connects us to our humanity.
Which rugby team do you support?
Leicester Tigers. I’m Leicester born and bred as is pretty much all of my extended family, so supporting the Tigers is in my DNA. Now that I’m in Worcester, my family and I are also very excited to watch Worcester Warriors at Sixways. Rugby has always played a major part in my life – as a player at school and university, as a coach in my early years of teaching, and as a devoted fan. The values of the sport – teamwork, respect, resilience – have certainly shaped how I approach leadership and life.
Where are your favourite places to think and relax?
Aldeburgh and the Suffolk coastline hold a special place in my heart – I’ve been going there since I was a child, and now take my own children there too. There’s something timeless and restorative about that wide sky and shingle shore. It’s no wonder that Benjamin Britten was so profoundly affected by the sense of place he found there. The Isle of Wight is another firm family favourite – perfect for switching off and being together.