Head of English

Latymer Upper School is first and foremost a 'learning school', vibrant, global in perspective, innovative in its teaching and learning and combining the best of the traditional and the modern. A high value is placed on scholarship in both pupils and staff and the School prides itself on the excellence of its teaching and pastoral care, its academic achievements and its exciting and innovative curriculum.

Newcomers are often surprised by the size of the site on which Latymer Upper resides, little realising on first glimpse that the School stretches from the gothic gates on King Street in Hammersmith, to Latymer's Boat House on the banks of the River Thames.

Latymer Upper School’s ethos is as strong today as it was almost 400 years ago when The Latymer Foundation at Hammersmith came into being. Our story starts in 1624 when a prosperous lawyer, Edward Latymer, left part of his wealth for the clothing and education of “eight poore boyes” from Hammersmith.

Edward Latymer's vision was to offer his wards a life-changing education that would equip them to flourish in the wider world. This vision remains firmly at the heart of the School - although we now teach rather more than those original eight Hammersmith boys. The Latymer of today consists of a vibrant, co-educational student body of 1,200 girls and boys from all over West London and beyond, and a further 167 pupils at Latymer Prep.

Latymer Upper is a happy school, where the well-being of our pupils is central to all that we aim to achieve, both in and out of the classroom. Our priority is to ensure our students are equipped with the knowledge and strategies required to live healthy, safe and balanced lives. We believe that our school should help pupils become well-rounded young people, comfortable in themselves and in the company of others, whatever their differences. There are no typical Latymer Upper pupils, but we do encourage values such as politeness and helpfulness, and seek to instill a genuine sense of social responsibility.