Following an extensive, multi-stage recruitment process, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Claire Lyons as the new Head of Prep at Oswestry School from January 2025. The role attracted an extremely strong field of candidates from throughout the UK and overseas, with Claire emerging as the standout candidate whose leadership experience and compelling vision impressed from the outset. A passionate educationalist with over 17 years of experience working in the independent Prep School sector, Claire joins us from her current position as Head of Burton Hathow, a family-orientated independent Prep School in Lincolnshire, one whose visions and values very much align with those of our own school.
Chair of Governors Peter Wilcox-Jones said of the appointment, “We are thrilled to appoint such a high calibre individual as our new Head of Oswestry School Prep and we greatly look forward to Claire joining the team. She brings a wealth of experience and a broad-ranging skill set to lead the school forward in the years ahead. Above all else, she cares deeply and passionately about independent education, and I’ve no doubt that in her capable hands, the Prep School will continue to thrive and flourish in the years ahead.”
A graduate in Theatre Studies at the University of Wolverhampton, Claire went on to study for her PGCE at the University of Leicester before embarking on her teaching career as Head of RE and Drama at St Mary’s Preparatory School. She was a member of the founding leadership team when Burton Hathow opened in 2013 initially as Deputy Head, DSL and SENCo, before an internal promotion to the position of Head in 2022. A co-educational Prep School for pupils aged 2-11 with a school roll of 128 children, Burton Hathow places a strong emphasis on holistic learning encapsulated in their motto Learning for Life which is rather similar to our own school motto: We Learn Not For School But For Life! During Claire’s tenure as Head, she has worked closely with the school’s Board to provide a strategic vision for the school and has a strong track record of outstanding leadership.
Commenting on her appointment, Claire said, “It is with great excitement that I step into the role as Head of Oswestry School Prep from January 2025. I am honoured to have the opportunity to become part of your unique and magical setting, and I greatly look forward to joining such a special community that embodies togetherness, warmth and ambition.”
Claire’s interests include theatre, literature and travel, and she enjoys running and yoga amongst other pursuits. Her daughter Ella has just graduated from the University of Leeds with a combined degree in English and Music and her son Ben is about to start as a trainee accountant at Streets. 2025 is going to be a year full of adventure for Claire as she both joins the Oswestry team and marries her fiancé Sean. They are both greatly looking forward to moving to Shropshire and becoming part of the Oswestry family.