Dr Virachai Techavichit, founder and chairman of the
International School of the Regent’s, announced that the interview
procedures have been completed, and the school has selected Mrs. Patricia
Metham as new principal of The Regent’s School.
Current Headmaster, Mr. Simon Leslie, will depart the
school at the end of this academic year at the completion of his contract.
(L to
R) Mark Bradshaw Music Director, Dr Virachai Techavichit (founder and
chairman of the International School of the Regent’s), incoming
principal Patricia Metham, outgoing ISR Headmaster Simon Leslie and
Michael Deweney Head of Secondary School.
There were sixty-five applicants from prominent schools
throughout the world for the post of Head.
Mrs. Metham has an outstanding record in education in
Britain and she is currently the Headmistress of the Roedean School in
Brighton, England. Roedean is a well known day and boarding girls’
school located on the south-eastern coast of England. Many people believe
Roedean School is one of the top three all girls’ schools in England.
Mrs. Metham was born in Cairo, Egypt and has travelled
extensively. She spent many years abroad with her parents and has lived in
Brunei, Sarawak and the West Indies. She boarded as a young girl in the
Isle of Wight. She obtained her BA (Hons) from Bristol University where
she studied English and Drama. She has taught at Dartford Girls’ Grammar
School; Sir Leo Schultz High School, Hull; Newland High School, Hull;
Wimbledon High School and the Francis Holland School, London. In 1982 Mrs
Metham accepted a schoolteacher fellowship at Merton College, Oxford
University.
In 1987 she accepted the position of Head of Farlington
School, Horsham and in 1992 she became the Head of Ashford Girls’
School, Kent. In 1997 she took up the headship of Roedean. Whilst at
Roedean she has held many prestigious posts within the British education
system, including the chair of the Girls’ Schools Association (GSA)
Boarding Committee and the vice chair of the Independent Schools’
Examination Board. She is also a school inspector for the Independent
Schools’ Inspectorate in England and has a special interest in setting
up and running projects for gifted and talented children.
Mrs. Metham is an outstanding educator. She will be
accompanied by her husband, Dr. Tim Metham, BSc, MSc, DIC, DPhil, PGCE,
FRAS. Dr and Mrs. Metham have two daughters living in England.
Mrs. Metham will complete her contract at Roedean and
therefore will not take up her duties at the Regent’s until January 1st
2003. Mr. Michael Deveney, currently Secondary Head and Deputy Headmaster,
will act as Acting Head of the school until Mrs. Metham arrives. Mr.
Deveney in fact held this post during Term One of 1997 between the
departure of Mr. Richard Poulton and the arrival of Mr Simon Leslie in
1997. Mr. Deveney has been at ISR for six years and no one on campus knows
the school and its substance better than him. He is an outstanding
educator in his own right. The school will certainly be in good hands
during Term One 2002-2003.
