Lynne Taylor-Gooby joined the English Department of The Royal School in 1991. She became Head of Sixth Form in 1995 and Headmistress in 1999.  As an enthusiastic teacher of English she regrets that her work schedule as Head means that she is no longer able to teach on a regular basis.  She still enjoys the opportunity to teach her specialism, Chaucer and Medieval English, to Sixth Form and Oxbridge candidates.

Having spent the first half of her career in the comprehensive system and in adult education in the Bristol area, Mrs Taylor-Gooby has had personal experience of teaching in a range of schools and colleges.  Her enthusiasm for the ‘diamond’ school structure is based on her understanding of the learning needs of both girls and boys throughout the age groups. 

The Taylor-Gooby family moved to Haslemere in the late 1980s and all four of the children have been educated in local schools.  Mr Taylor-Gooby commutes to London and the children, all now young adults, are following their respective careers.  The eldest, Katy, works for the Red Cross; Edward works as a Drama teacher/director in the Haslemere area;
Aidan works for a media company in London and Sophie works for Walker Books, the children’s publisher.

Having worked in some schools of 2000 plus pupils, Mrs Taylor-Gooby is very happy to be leading a small school where individuals can be known and appreciated.  “In a nutshell”, she says, “first we make sure that the pupils are happy and then we teach them well.  Everything follows from that.”  Mrs Taylor-Gooby is very pleased that after years of receiving requests from parents who want the same quality of education for their sons, she is at last able to offer it.

Mrs Hirst joined The Royal School in April 2004 as Admissions Coordinator, having previously worked in corporate event management and television.  She became Assistant Head in April 2010 and Head of the Junior School in March 2011.

In addition to her management responsibilities, Mrs Hirst runs the Junior School’s Current Affairs and What on Earth?! clubs.  She has a particular interest in the concept of ‘reflective’ learning and the way in which characteristics such as resilience, perseverance, humour and questioning can be used to great effect by young learners.

Mrs Hirst has an MA in Modern History from Oriel College, Oxford and an MSc with Distinction in Education and Training Management from the University of Portsmouth. 

Mr Senior was appointed Director of Music at The Royal School in 2001, having previously worked in schools in Durham, Devon and Germany.  He became a Sixth Form tutor (Academic responsibilities) in 2008 and then Head of Sixth Form in May 2011. 

Mr Senior has enjoyed great success in both academic and extra-curricular music, recently achieving 100% A*-A at A level and 100% A*-B at GCSE level. He has conducted the school choirs at the Royal Albert Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral and most recently live on The Alan Titchmarsh Show. 

In his role as Head of Sixth Form, Mr Senior’s philosophy is that the Sixth Form is a bridge between school, university and the world of work and he considers it a privilege to be able to help individual students in developing and implementing realistic career plans as they prepare for life.

Mr James Hanson was appointed in 2012 as the new Head of the Boys’ Senior School ready to open its doors in September 2013. He has been eagerly working on the new project from early on in its inception, and brings a wealth of experience most recently through working at Harrow school for the previous 10 years. His roles in running departments and sports both at Harrow and previously at Warwick school have helped shape his vision for the pioneer boys that will pass through here in the coming years, particularly in preparing boys to take up life’s rich opportunities.

During his time at Harrow, Mr Hanson was privileged to prepare and lead a UK maths team to compete in the Italian Maths Olympiad, led rowing training camps across Europe, pioneered a work experience programme in Beijing for year 11 students and convened a local state-independent school partnership summer course on admission to the UK’s top universities.

Alongside running the new boys’ school, he is teaching Maths, RE and PSHE to the boys, as well as taking a keen interest in developing clubs, hobbies and activities that really inspire boys to find their own life-long passions and fulfil their extensive potential.