Meet the Head
Jonathan Elms – Battle Abbey School Head of Prep and Nursery
Today we say hello to Jonathan Elms; newly appointed Head of Battle Abbey Prep and Nursery School in Bexhill.
What are you most proud of at your school?
Every morning I leap out of bed with excitement for what the day at the Prep and Nursery have to offer. Our wide, innovative, and varied curriculum is full of opportunity and the incredibly talented staff team have the vision and passion to provide real-life, purposeful and exciting learning opportunities. In addition to this, the school enrichment programme of clubs, themed days, visiting speakers, and trips inspire every child to take risks, find their passion and become lifelong learners.
One of the first things that attracted me to the role was the School’s Green Curriculum. In an era where environmental consciousness is of paramount importance we are embracing sustainability as a cornerstone of our ethos. BAS Prep appointed its very first Sustainability Lead in 2023, and since then, as anyone who regularly visits the school site in Bexhill will see, an impressive array of Green projects have been initiated with the hope that the school will become an exemplar of environmental stewardship and a beacon for sustainable practices for schools in the area.
What was your path to becoming a headteacher? / Why did you want to become a headteacher?
Supporting children to be the best they can be has always played a prominent part of my life. I was inspired from a young age by my mother who, as an educator in special educational needs, demonstrated compassion, perseverance and exceptional levels of trust with the pupils she supported. She never gave up on giving all the pupils in her care the best outcomes possible.
As a teenager, I used her inspiration and combined it with my passion for sport and supported a number of incredible coaches to develop the next generation of footballers. This taught me the importance of teamwork and how skill development takes time and dedication.
Throughout my time at University in South Wales, I took every opportunity to develop as a coach and mentor to the children in the Local Community. I saw first-hand how sport and companionship inspire children to take risks to reach the very highest levels of success in all areas of their lives.
Following a two-year sabbatical working for PGL in France, I knew that teaching and making a difference to every child was going to be my vocation and purpose. With this fire lit beneath me, I completed a Postgraduate Certificate of Education at the University of Brighton and began my teaching career in East Sussex.
Battle Abbey Prep School is my second Senior Leadership post, and I have been delighted to find a school which shares every one of my passions for education. The fostering of natural curiosity and enthusiasm, valuing each and every child as an individual to nurture their unique qualities and talents and its commitment to the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) and sustainability curriculums, will ensure that every member of our community will develop a lifelong love of learning.
I have already found the school is a place where there is a desire to develop the life-long skills to prepare our community for a future which may not yet exist. I am excited to facilitate this across both the Nursery and the Prep School and build the journeys of our children so they can have the most positive impact in the world.
How do you relax outside of school hours?
I am incredibly lucky to be associated with a number of sporting associations, where I can still fulfil my love of being part of a team. I am at my most relaxed when I am playing football, cricket or rugby. Sport is made even more special when I enjoy it with my teenage son, whether that is coaching him, playing together on the same team or taking him to matches. I love those moments we share.
When I’m not at school or on the sports field, then you will probably find me in the garden with the mower putting ‘perfect’ stripes in the lawn!
