Farewell to Martin Priestley
Published by The Leys School on Friday 27th of June 2025
As the academic year draws to a close, we bid a heartfelt farewell to Martin Priestley, the tenth Head of The Leys.
Joining the School in January 2014, Mr Priestley has been a pillar of strength and leadership, guiding the School through a transformative decade. His tenure has been marked by significant achievements across all areas of school life, fostering a nurturing environment for pupils and staff alike.
Reflecting on his time at The Leys, Mr Priestley shared his thoughts: “Serving as Head of The Leys these last dozen years has been the greatest honour of my professional life. Leading the School through Covid was probably the single most extraordinary challenge; it was strange and unnerving to run a school with virtually no pupils or teaching staff on site! However, I was consistently impressed by how our pupils and my colleagues adapted and by the resilience and positivity they displayed in such challenging circumstances.
“All in all, I am proud of what has been accomplished by the Leysian community in the last dozen years, and proudest of all of the Leysian pupils themselves. My thanks go especially to my colleagues, both teaching and support staff, to the parents for their engagement and encouragement, and to the Governors for their steadfast support and wise counsel not just for the School and for the wider Leys and St Faith’s Foundation but also for me personally.
“I am delighted to be handing over to such an outstanding successor, Dr Clare Ives. In this our Sesquicentenary year, it is highly appropriate that Clare will become the first female Head in our history. She and I have been liaising and meeting regularly to ensure a smooth handover from September and, having worked so closely with her over the last year, I know that the School will be in very safe hands. Μore importantly, I know Clare will lead not just with undoubted strategic vision and insight, but with warmth, integrity and compassion.
“I am confident that The Leys will continue to flourish in its exciting next chapter and I wish Dr Ives and the entire Leysian community the very, very best for the future. Χαίρετε!* ”
Chair of The Leys Governors, Jeremy Gladwin, commented: “I have known Martin for the entirety of his service to The Leys: first as a fellow Headmaster and for the past three years as a governor. Martin has struck a wonderful balance between leading the community, whilst getting in amongst the pupils and never ceasing to surprise with his ability and willingness to join in with pupil events.
“Above all he is a very caring and empathetic leader who gives all constituent members of the School community: parents and pupils; teaching and support staff; governors and alumni of his time. Amongst CEOs, school Heads are uniquely accessible, and Martin has thus been at the heart of the special community, which is The Leys. He has led the School through tumultuous times with the benefit of wisdom and experience and always putting the pupils first and foremost at the heart of his decision-making.
“I have enjoyed a strong working relationship with Martin who will be sorely missed.”
We look forward to welcoming the School’s eleventh Head, Dr Clare Ives, in September.
*The word Χαίρετε is a word with which all Leysians are familiar: it features prominently in the eponymous school hymn. It is an ancient Greek word meaning “rejoice” or “be glad”. In the context of the school hymn, it is used as a greeting; in some contexts, including this one, it can also mean “farewell”.
