The Last Word

Ngaire Telford

Company: Herne Hill School

Job title: Headteacher

Ngaire Telford was born and raised in New Zealand where she trained as a teacher at Victoria University in the early 1990s. After beginning her career in primary education there, she moved to London in 1993 where she first taught in the state sector in Southwark for several years before starting her family. As an educator passionate about the importance of early years, Ngaire was initially drawn to Herne Hill School for their excellence in the field of Early Childhood Education when seeking a school for her own children in 2000. She is now only the third Headteacher of the organisation in their 48-year history.

What was your first job and what was the pay packet?

I worked in what we in New Zealand call a ‘dairy’ (corner store) when I was 14, wrapping the freshly baked loaves of bread at 6:00am on weekend mornings. I was paid about $5 an hour, but most of that was transacted into sweets before I left the premises.

If you were prime minister, what would be your first decision?

To inject money into research and raise to parents, with urgency, the issue of the dangers our children are facing regarding technology and on-line safety. As a society we are sleepwalking into some major problems by exposing babies and children to screens at a crucial time in their brain and physical development. In schools we are seeing some very concerning trends in our youngest children in terms of special educational needs, and emerging science suggests that screen exposure is at least in part to blame. In addition, social media bosses must be held to account for the damage to young people’s mental health their organisations facilitate.

What is the biggest challenge in your business?

Southwark Chamber of Commerce 100th Year Anniversary Event

Friday 29th November 2024 Evening event

Dress Code: Black Tie / Evening Wear Venue TBC

There are two major current challenges to independent schools in general. The first is the threat of a Labour government charging VAT on private school fees if they are elected. Contrary to popular tropes, most independent schools in this country are not filled with the progeny of the financially elite. What this policy fails to recognise is that our state education system, already under enormous pressure, will come under further immense strain as parents find themselves no longer able to stretch to independent schools fees and therefore resort instead to the state sector.

The second challenge we face is supporting our many stakeholders with the significant life pressures and challenges they are currently experiencing. In our case, this applies to the emotional health of our pupils, parents and staff.

If you could do another job what would it be?

If I wanted to do another job, I would do it! It is important to impart on our young people that if a career isn’t feeding them, then they are not feeding into that career, and subsequently no one and nothing thrives. It is never too late to pivot. For me, children are born seeing the magic in life, and I want to be around them for that reason, hopefully influencing them to continue to be curious and sustain the fun.

What is your favourite London building?

I adore the British Library in Marylebone. Not only is it designed so beautifully, particularly the interior, it is also a portal into another dimension of thought and intellectual creativity.

Successfully helping Southwark

Businesses for 100 Years

Our Committee

Chair

Roderick Lynch

President

Neil Coyle MP (MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark)

Vice President

Lord Roy Kennedy (House of Lords)

Vice President

Rt Hon Harriet Harman KC MP (MP for Camberwell and Peckham)

Patron

The Worshipful Mayor of Southwark

Patron

Sir Simon Hughes (Former MP)

Executive Members

Chair Roderick Lynch

Vice Chair Teekall Mair-Macfarlane

Executive Member 1

Hon Membership Secretary

Executive Member Jacy Stewart

Executive Member Cedric Whilby

Executive Member Lyn Hamblin

Executive Member Nauman Akbar

Executive Member Julie Leggatt

Executive Member Sonia Sutton

Life Member Cait Wilkinson

Life Member Ken Hayes

Life Member Richard Kalmar

Executive Member

Hon Treasurer Agata Wiak (soon to step down)

Council Representative Cllr John Batteson

Administrator Maia Coelho

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