A former Derby schoolboy is about to become the youngest head teacher in the country at the age of 28. From humble origins, Clive Lawrence is hoping to act as a role model for young people in the city.
PROUD of being Allenton born and bred, Clive Lawrence will take up his headship on September 1 – just five days short of his 29th birthday.
Ambitious to be a teacher from a young age, Mr Lawrence said he owes all of his success to his early education in an area that has received bad press for its schools in past years.
He said: "There has always been a lack of aspiration among young people in the area but I am here to say that your schools can serve you well and to be a good example of what can be achieved if you try."
Mr Lawrence is currently associate head at a special educational needs school – Birch Wood School, near Melton Mowbray – but will become head teacher of Sherbrook Primary School, in Cannock, Staffordshire, at the start of the autumn term.
He is "extremely proud" of having achieved his headship at such a young age and would have liked to continue his career in his home city but a smaller number of special schools has limited where he can find a position. A Derbeian at heart, he will continue to live at Borrowash.
Mr Lawrence said: "It is extremely rare to be the head teacher of a school under the age of 30.
"I discovered I might be the youngest head when I attended a course at the National College of School Leadership and the subject came up because a drive is on to show graduates how they can succeed in the world of education as teachers and aspire to early management positions.
"There is someone else who was 27 when appointed and became the youngest head in Europe at a school in Malaga, Spain. But it seems that I am the youngest in Britain, much to my surprise."
Mr Lawrence, who is of mixed black Caribbean and white British heritage, is hopeful that his early success will act as a positive role model to youngsters growing up in Allenton, especially ethnic minority teenagers.
He said: "I was born in the area and, by five, I was part of a single parent family after my parents split up. My mother stills lives in the area.
"I attended the former Nightingale infant and junior schools before moving to Merrill College."
From there, Mr Lawrence spent two years at Landau Forte College in Derby and then attended Northampton University to study for a BA (Hons) degree in primary education, which gave him qualified teacher status.
He said: "I always wanted to be a teacher from a very young age and can probably date the desire back to an inspirational teacher I had in my junior school.
"I loved my time at Merrill and got very involved with PE in the school. So much so, that I had eventually to choose whether I taught secondary PE or primary education. The latter won.
"I was the first person in my family to go to university and I think that, if I can achieve what I have, then anyone can. There seems to be a lack of aspiration associated with my home area but I hope my example can help change that."
Mr Lawrence has always been ambitious, becoming one of the youngest referees at his level to be appointed by the Football Association at age 17 and officiating during the final match at the Baseball Ground. He also found time to raise money by cycling for Derby Kids' Camp.
His involvement with special needs education, which started when he worked part-time with children's charity Umbrella, continued when he took up his first post as a teacher at St Martins Special School in Alvaston.
He also studied part-time at the University of Derby to obtain an MA degree in education, and then moved to work at Brackensdale Junior School in Mackworth.
His current role has prepared him for the new job and further SEN involvement.
Mr Lawrence said: "I am really in a minority when it comes to black ethnic males being in leadership roles in schools, especially special schools.
"But I feel I have overcome many things that other people would have thought of as obstacles, which have actually spurred me on.
"I still keep in touch with school friends, although I was the only one who went to university, and most have trades now. They help to keep me grounded.
"People ask me what I will do next now I am a head at such a young age. But I have not thought beyond this appointment. I just want to concentrate on having a significant impact on the teaching and learning of my pupils."
