Carlisle school bids goodbye to longest serving headmaster

Mr Hattam will succeed Mr 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 headmaster; prior to this he was headmaster of the Elms School in Malvern and taught for 12 years at Sedbergh School.

He brings with him a wealth of experience and a visionary approach that resonates deeply with the ethos and values of Austin Friars. He is poised to build upon the strong foundation laid by his predecessors, guiding Austin Friars into the next chapter of its history and its 75th anniversary in 2026.

Matthew Harris will leave the school after 12 years in charge (Image: Supplied)

Speaking on his appointment, Mr Hattam expressed his delight, stating: "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 as headmaster later this year."

Mr Harris, the longest-serving lay headmaster 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.

Mr Chris Hattam (Image: Supplied)

Most recently, he has launched and overseen an ambitious £2.5 million fundraising programme which will see a new multi-use sports hall constructed and the creation of a bespoke art and digital design suite (including a photography dark room and ceramic kiln).

Under Mr Harris’s guidance, the school has navigated two successful Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) 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.

Reflecting on his time as headmaster, 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 and beyond.”

As the Austin Friars community prepares to embark on this new chapter, chair of trustees, Ewen Swinton, conveyed a sense of optimism and anticipation, saying: “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.”