'The rigour demanded for studying law was a great boot camp'

Simon Uttley graduated with an LLB Hons in 1988. He shares more about his time in Leeds and how he has eventually made his way to being a secondary school Headmaster at Blessed Hugh Faringdon school, Reading, and Full University Professor at the University of Notre Dame (USA), London.

How did your course at Leeds Beckett help you?

Developing a legal approach has given me a more forensic way of thinking which has always been helpful. The degree was significantly more demanding than my subsequent undergraduate degree at Oxford. I also met some great people, some of whom remain firms friends to date. A Mancunian by birth, I really enjoyed Leeds.

What are some of your best memories of studying at Leeds Beckett?

Some of the lecturers were excellent, some eccentric, some both. I met some very nice people here.

The rigour demanded for studying law was a great boot camp. I also remember the old law building, which looked about to fall down at any moment!

Tell us a few details about your current role and how you got here.

Following a short period in the police, I went to work for a church-based NGO both in the UK and South America. After this, I began teaching (unqualified). I got a teaching qualification the year my first son was born and seven years later I was Headteacher.

I have been Headteacher of three secondary schools over the last 19 years.

In this time, I have built a new school in inner London, led schools through a number of inspections, and turned around opportunities for the students.

I have also secured a second undergraduate degree (University of Oxford), an MA in the Economics of Education (UCL), my teacher training qualification (PGCE) from UCL, and my doctorate from Nottingham Trent. In addition, I hold national professional qualifications in educational executive leadership (leadership of multiple schools), and I am a licensed inspector of Catholic schools.

I am also Full Professor at the University of Notre Dame (USA), London, where I run a programme on education. I am also Visiting Professor at St Mary's University, Twickenham, as well as VP at Dominican University, Chicago, again in the field of the philosophy of education and education policy.

What has been your biggest success so far?

I think 19 years of successful Headship as well as Full Professorship at one of the most prestigious US universities has been pretty good. Getting my doctorate eight years ago was also a high, as was the pleasure of reading philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford in my early 20s.

What advice would you have liked to receive when you were a student?

You never know what's going to happen next - so get a sound intellectual formation and be a person of good character.