Sussex


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/tom_lawson_eastbourne.png" alt="Tom Lawson, Headmaster of Eastbourne College" class="wp-image-85190" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/tom_lawson_eastbourne.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/tom_lawson_eastbourne-533x800.png 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/tom_lawson_eastbourne-667x1000.png 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/tom_lawson_eastbourne-768x1152.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This September, Tom Lawson will celebrate 10 years as Headmaster of <a href="https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/eastbourne-college-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eastbourne College</a>. He arrived in Sussex after a 15-year stint at Winchester, just in time to mark the historic seaside senior school&#8217;s 150th anniversary. </p>



<p>A lot has happened since, including the completion of Project 150, a massive £33-million campus renovation, delivering glossy additions to the college&#8217;s iconic buildings, with state-of-the-art sporting and arts facilities, seminar and event spaces, and an airy, impressive dining hall plus modern classrooms. </p>



<p>There&#8217;s more to come as the College prepares to welcome <a href="https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/st-andrews-prep-eastbourne-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Andrew&#8217;s Prep</a> to its campus. The initiative is dubbed ECi360, in acknowledgement of their combined 310-year history, and it will see new facilities built to accommodate St Andrew&#8217;s. Scheduled for completion by 2029, it will create a through-school campus experience while preserving the prep&#8217;s treasured focus on allowing children to remain children for longer. </p>



<p>Keen to find out what makes this super effective Head tick, Muddy tracked Tom down at the start of his summer holiday. Read on for his top leadership tip, his Lego habit, and his back-to-school ritual. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/10/EC-Sept-22_221.jpg" alt="Eastbourne College" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-would-the-30-second-elevator-pitch-for-your-school-be"><strong>What would the 30-second elevator pitch for your school be?</strong></h3>



<p>We do good people. We do fun. Eastbourne College is authentically all round – great academics in balance with, not overwhelming, a rich diet of sport, music, drama and so much else. Specialising in leadership skills, the College blends tradition and innovation to deliver sector-leading character development.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-top-three-things-to-tackle-in-your-inbox-nbsp"><strong>What are the top three things to tackle in your inbox?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>I always clear my inbox!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-were-given-a-1m-donation-for-the-school-how-would-you-spend-it"><strong>If you were given a £1m donation for the school, how would you spend it?</strong></h3>



<p>It would immediately go to making the College more accessible, i.e. towards our Blue Sky Bursaries campaign target.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-your-own-childhood-school-days"><strong>Describe your own childhood school days.</strong></h3>



<p>I went to boarding school at 13 and ended up loving it. I’ve been at boarding school ever since.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-was-there-a-theme-to-your-school-reports"><strong>Was there a theme to your school reports?</strong></h3>



<p>I was seen as a decent all-rounder, reasonably bright – could work harder, and a bit cheeky.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/10/Tom-cropped-playing-cricket.jpg" alt="Tom Lawson, Headmaster of Eastbourne College, playing cricket" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-were-your-best-and-worst-subjects-nbsp"><strong>What were your best and worst subjects?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>I was pretty good at Economics, pretty hopeless at Biology.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-did-you-have-a-favourite-or-least-favourite-teacher-and-if-so-why"><strong>Did you have a favourite (or least favourite!) teacher, and if so, why?</strong></h3>



<p>I have had a few favourite teachers, Poppy (Lady) Anderson taught me English and inspired me to become a teacher.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-you-go-to-university-and-what-did-you-study"><strong>Where did you go to university and what did you study?</strong></h3>



<p>Christ Church Oxford, PPE. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-what-s-on-your-desk-is-there-anything-quirky-or-something-that-s-perhaps-moved-with-you-from-job-to-job"><strong>Describe what’s on your desk. Is there anything quirky or something that’s perhaps moved with you from job to job?</strong></h3>



<p>I have a Lego calendar which I get to rebuild each month, which is quite therapeutic. I have a letter opener given to me by the domestic staff of my house at Winchester when I left, which I cherish. I have a little card with the spelling of teachers’ names when they are, for example, Jenny/Jennie/Jenni, Alastair/Alistair and so on. Recommended for all leaders!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extra-nosy-question-but-is-there-anything-interesting-surprising-in-your-top-drawer"><strong>Extra-nosy question but is there anything interesting/surprising in your top drawer?</strong></h3>



<p>I have a specialist podcasting microphone in there, which I use to host the HMC podcast.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-weren-t-a-head-what-would-you-be"><strong>If you weren’t a Head, what would you be?</strong></h3>



<p>A head’s husband. My wife would run a school much better than me! She already sort of does&#8230;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/tom_lawson_wife_eastbourne-1000x667.png" alt="Tom Lawson, Headmaster of Eastbourne College, and his wife, a teacher" class="wp-image-85191" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/tom_lawson_wife_eastbourne-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/tom_lawson_wife_eastbourne-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/tom_lawson_wife_eastbourne-768x512.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/tom_lawson_wife_eastbourne.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tom Lawson with his wife Jess, who teaches biology at the College</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-about-your-favourite-book-as-a-child-and-in-adulthood"><strong>Tell us about your favourite book, as a child and in adulthood.</strong></h3>



<p>As a child I loved the short stories of Philip K Dick, the author behind hit movies like <em>Blade Runner</em>, <em>Minority Report </em>and <em>The Man in the High Castle</em>. As an adult I tend to read non-fiction: economics, politics and history, but I was very influenced by Kafka’s <em>The Castle</em>. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-best-school-trip-you-ve-ever-been-on-as-a-pupil-or-as-a-teacher-head"><strong>What’s the best school trip you’ve ever been on, as a pupil or as a teacher/Head?</strong></h3>



<p>Eastbourne College’s Business, Economics and Geography visit to the Long Man Brewery takes some beating as a day trip. The WWI battlefields are the most moving of the school trips I have been on.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-have-any-advice-that-you-wish-could-give-your-younger-self-and-what-advice-do-you-most-consistently-impart-to-your-students"><strong>Do you have any advice that you wish could give your younger self? And what advice do you most consistently impart to your students?</strong></h3>



<p>I think I should have taken more exercise when I was younger. I might have got in the habit&#8230; I tend to advise pupils on what they need to hear individually. My favourite question to them is ‘What do you need?’</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-want-to-hide-from-the-children-and-staff-for-half-an-hour-or-so-where-do-you-go-nbsp"><strong>If you want to hide from the children and staff for half an hour or so, where do you go?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>I live in the school so it isn’t really very difficult. I pop to the kitchen, make a Nespresso and talk to the dog.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/barrythedog_eastbourne_college.png" alt="Barry the Eastbourne College dog" class="wp-image-85192" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/barrythedog_eastbourne_college.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/barrythedog_eastbourne_college-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/barrythedog_eastbourne_college-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/07/barrythedog_eastbourne_college-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tom Lawson&#8217;s dog, Barry</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-song-do-you-sing-at-full-volume-when-everyone-s-gone-home"><strong>What song do you sing at full volume when everyone’s gone home?</strong></h3>



<p>I’m so institutionalised that it will probably be a hymn from a recent Chapel service!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-biggest-change-you-ve-witnessed-in-education-over-the-course-of-your-career"><strong>What’s the biggest change you’ve witnessed in education over the course of your career?</strong></h3>



<p>Technology is probably the main answer.</p>



<p>I think the long-run economic situation – not just the recent horror show – has brought interesting changes. When I left a good independent school, I felt impregnable and it never crossed my mind (or any of my peers’ minds) that we would walk into a good job. I don’t think the well-educated feel like that anymore, and they worry about their parents’ financial wellbeing. All this adds up to tenser and more anxious parents and pupils in our schools than when I was a boy.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-have-any-back-to-school-rituals-at-the-start-of-a-fresh-academic-year"><strong>Do you have any back-to-school rituals at the start of a fresh academic year?</strong></h3>



<p>I quite like to prepare all my teaching materials assiduously. It makes me feel like a real schoolmaster rather than a headmaster!</p>



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Heads up: Tom Lawson, Eastbourne College

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