A new headteacher has been appointed to lead Carlisle’s Austin Friars school.
The independent day school for youngsters aged three to 18, has announced the appointment of Chris Hattam from September this year.
Mr Hattam will succeed Matthew Harris, who will end his tenure after 12 years in post.
Mr Hattam joins Austin Friars from Westbourne School in Sheffield where he is currently head; prior to this he was head of the Elms School in Malvern and taught for 12 years at Sedbergh School.
Mr Hattam said: “Austin Friars is a school which embraces the community and wants its members to feel valued, and I look forward to upkeeping that important sense of purpose once I take over later this year.”
Mr Harris, the longest-serving lay head in the school’s history, is stepping back from teaching, having guided the school through the pandemic and overseen momentous changes – including the renaming and rebranding of the school – formerly Austin Friars St Monica’s – in 2015, and the introduction of an international programme welcoming a small number of overseas pupils into the school for the first time since boarding finished in 1997.
Most recently, he has launched and oversaw an ambitious £2.5 million fundraising programme which will see a new multi-use sports hall built and the creation of a bespoke art and digital design suite.
Under Mr Harris’s guidance, the school said it had navigated two successful Independent Schools Inspectorate inspections and seen increased collaborative working with the network of other Augustinian Schools around the world – hosting education conferences for international educators, and welcoming exchange pupils and visitors from Spain, Malta and the Czech Republic.
Mr Harris said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed having the privilege and honour to play a part in the continued development of Austin Friars.
“I have had the pleasure of seeing both my children flourish as they came through the school, which allows me to be especially confident of the school’s ability to equip every child with the skills they need to fulfil their unique potential.
“I hope that Chris Hattam will have an equally rewarding time, guiding the school through the exciting times leading up to our 75th anniversary in 2026 and beyond.”
Chair of trustees, Ewen Swinton, added: “Matt Harris’s character and his personal faith have left its mark on the school and we are a stronger and more vibrant Augustinian community as a result of the heart and soul that he has given to the whole community.
“As Matt moves on, we welcome Chris Hattam into our community and very much look forward to working together as he takes Austin Friars with the exciting new developments that are currently in progress.”
