Patrick Derham

Derham was educated aboard the permanently moored Arethusa II{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/337382da-5762-11dc-9a3a-0000779fd2ac|title=Lessons in opportunity|publisher= Financial Times|website=ft.com}}{{subscription required|date=December 2019}} and Pangbourne College before gaining a First Class Degree in History (1982) at Pembroke College, Cambridge, specialising in the study of Ireland.{{cn|date=June 2020}}

Derham previously served as Headmaster of Solihull School (1996–2001) and Rugby School (2001–2014), when he also served as a school governor of the Lawrence Sheriff School, and is a trustee of Gladstone's Library.{{Cite web|url=http://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0®id=701399|title=Charity Details|website=charitycommission.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-06-09|publisher=Charity Commission for England and Wales}}

Derham is known for his strong views on independent schools in the United Kingdom and makes occasional press appearances to argue his case,{{Cite web|url=https://www.tes.com/news/book-review-engines-privilege-britains-private-school-problem|title=Book review – Engines of Privilege: Britain's Private School Problem|website=tes.com|publisher=Times Educational Supplement|first=Patrick|last=Derham|year=2019}}{{Cite book|title=Engines of Privilege: Britain's private school problem|last1=Green|first1= Francis|last2=Kynaston|first2= David|authorlink2=David Kynaston|isbn=978-1-5266-0127-8|year=2019|location=London|publisher=Bloomsbury|oclc=1108696740}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tes.com/news/we-stand-our-book-private-education-should-be-reformed|title=We stand by our book: private education should be reformed|website=tes.com|first1=Francis|last1= Green |first2=David|last2= Kynaston|year=2019|location=London|publisher=TES}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.westminster.org.uk/patrick-derham-appears-newsnight/|title=Patrick Derham appears on Newsnight|website=westminster.org.uk|date=2016-09-10|publisher=Westminster School|access-date=2018-06-09|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140049/http://www.westminster.org.uk/patrick-derham-appears-newsnight/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/03/dont-make-public-schools-into-a-scapegoat/|title=Don't make public schools into a scapegoat|last=Derham|first=Patrick|date=2016-10-04|website=telegraph.co.uk|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=2018-06-09|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.lux-mag.com/2017/05/19/patrick-derham-on-how-to-be-headmaster-of-the-best-school-in-the-world/|title=Patrick Derham on how to be headmaster of the best school in the world|website=lux-mag.com|date=2017-05-19|publisher=Lux Magazine|access-date=2018-06-09|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://londonist.com/2016/08/the-secrets-of-westminster-school|title=Behind The Scenes At Westminster School|date=2016-10-14|work=londonist.com|access-date=2018-06-09|language=en-GB}} including inviting those from the other side of the debate to speak at the school.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/may/31/private-education-must-go-westminster-school-melissa-benn|title=I returned to my father's school to say why private education must go|last=Benn|first=Melissa|authorlink=Melissa Benn|date=2016-05-31|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-06-09}} At Westminster, he introduced the PISA tests, introduced Queen's Scholarships for Girls{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/229269373|title=Girls to become Queen's Scholars|website=vimeo.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-09}} and announced plans to open 6 schools in China from 2020,{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/westminster-school-to-open-in-china-wtw02hrd5|title=Westminster School to open in China|last=Bennett|first=Rosemary|date=2017-12-07|website=The Times|access-date=2018-06-09|language=en|issn=0140-0460}} although these plans drew criticism from many of the students, as the schools will teach the Chinese Communist curriculum, as opposed to an international curriculum normally taught by international schools.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/dec/07/westminster-school-to-set-up-branches-in-china-to-teach-chinese-curriculum|title=Westminster School to set up branches in China to teach Chinese curriculum|last=Phillips|first=Tom|date=2017-12-07|website=theguardian.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-09}} Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at SOAS, University of London, was quoted in the Financial Times as saying: “I think they have no idea what they’re dealing with [...] If you set up a school in China, they will have a party secretary superintending the whole school and the party secretary will be responsible for political education”.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/4ea11ec0-daa9-11e7-a039-c64b1c09b482|title=Westminster School to teach Chinese curriculum in China -Political education at UK private school's new sites to fall under Communist party direction|website=ft.com|publisher=Financial Times|access-date=2017-12-07}} The issue was re-opened when The Times published an article, quoting Professor Edward Vickers of Kyushu University, accusing the school (and King's College School who have similar plans) of "helping Chinese teach propaganda".{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/westminster-and-kings-accused-of-helping-chinese-teach-propaganda-g2982z3sj|title=Westminster and Kings accused of helping Chinese teach propaganda|last=Education Editor|first=Rosemary Bennett|date=2018-05-18|website=The Times|access-date=2018-05-20|language=en|issn=0140-0460}} He edited a book, Loyal Dissent - a story of some of those who studied at Westminster.{{Cite book|title=Loyal Dissent: Brief Lives from Westminster School|last1=Donaldson|first1=Ian|last2=Grayling|first2=A. C.|last3=Campbell|first3=James|last4=Cox|first4=Peter|last5=Clegg|first5=Nick|date=2016-06-23|publisher=The University of Buckingham Press|isbn=9781908684745|editor-last=Derham|editor-first=Patrick|language=English}}

Derham also has strong views on widening access to independent schools. He set up the Arnold Foundation in 2003, during his tenure as headmaster at Rugby School, which provides financial support for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.{{Cite web |title=Patrick Derham |url=https://schoolsshow.co.uk/speaker/patrick-derham |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=Independent Schools Show |language=en-gb}}

Derham was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to education.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/birthday-honours-lists-2018|title=Birthday Honours lists 2018|website=gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-06-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3041656|title=Patrick DERHAM|website=thegazette.co.uk|access-date=2018-06-10}}

Derham met his wife Alison at Cambridge where she was studying English and Drama at Homerton College, Cambridge.{{Cite news|url=https://issuu.com/westminsterschool-owwonline/docs/en_2015|title=Elizabethan Newsletter 2014/15|work=issuu.com|access-date=2018-06-09|language=en}} They have two adult children. In 2019, he announced that he would retire in 2020.{{Cite web|url=http://www.londonpreprep.com/2019/08/westminster-school-head-master-to-retire/|title=Westminster School Head Master to retire|date=28 August 2019 |website=londonpreprep.com}}

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Category:Alumni of Pembroke College, Cambridge

Category:Living people

Category:Head Masters of Westminster School

Category:1959 births

Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire