Q&A with our new Headteacher, Mr Matthew Burke

1.Where did you work before coming to Beaulieu?

I was Headmaster of St Edward’s in Cheltenham before joining Beaulieu and previous to that had been Head of St Martha’s, now Mount House in North London. Prior to that I had been Deputy Head at Our Lady’s, Abingdon and the same role here in Jersey at De La Salle. The beauty of leadership roles is that you have a genuine chance to enhance the lives of the communities you lead which hopefully sees a happy pupil and student body, a happy staff and of course happy families. Central to all my decision making in school is the impact on the children and ensuring the team all come along together.  

2.What are you looking forward to most about your role as Headmaster?

The last few weeks have been exciting – spending time getting to know the students, staff, and wider community and in this significant year for Beaulieu, I am also excited to be building on Beaulieu’s strong and proud foundation in Jersey and beyond. I am also looking forward to fostering student well-being, promoting academic excellence, and working with the school community.

3.What do you love most about teaching?

On a very basic level it is the joy of seeing students grow, both academically and personally. Over the years there is nothing more rewarding than being a part of someone’s journey, guiding them to discover their strengths and passions and helping them find who they are as a person and what they can contribute to the world when they leave school.

4.What’s the most important lesson you can teach?

I think more so even now is the value and purpose of resilience, the value of learning from failure, and the importance of kindness and empathy towards others is something that if we all followed would lead to a much nicer world. From an academic point of view, I always like to emphasise the need to nurture a growth mindset in students – being open minded to other possibilities but also value the views and opinions of others. 

5.Why do you think Beaulieu is so unique?

Every school is special and has aspects of it that attract families, but what attracted me to Beaulieu was not only to lead the school, but to also send one of my daughters here. Alongside this, the sense of community, the school’s rich history, and its commitment to holistic education that balances academic achievement with personal development which is achieved through the supportive and nurturing environment that fosters individual talents.

6.What are you most excited about this academic year?

Every new year is an exciting time as there is opportunity to reflect on what went well previously and look forward to an exciting future and I add to this that a change of role or school is also an exciting time – I am looking forward to celebrating the many strengths of Beaulieu, looking to enhance the experience we provide, strengthening community ties, and supporting students in their personal and academic growth.

7.What’s the proudest moment of your career so far?

It is always difficult to think about one, but in my first two headships I am incredibly proud of the schools I left behind. They had their challenges and there were times when their future lay in the balance, so to see them thriving and the staff and students happy, are experiences I am incredibly proud of and pleased to have had a role that made a difference to those communities.    

8.Out of school, do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy spending time with my family which will be a little more of a challenge with the move to Jersey, but I also enjoy cooking, travelling as well as supporting Portsmouth Football Club and Bath Rugby Club. 

Quick Fire Round:

– Favourite book: I love anything by John Grisham – not only is he an excellent storyteller but I also lived in the Southern States of America for a time and so they also remind me of good times

– Favourite food: I enjoy food and having travelled across the globe I have had the chance to sample lots of different foods but I think it is difficult to beat a roast dinner, sat around the table at home with those nearest and dearest to you enjoying it with you. 

– Favourite holiday destination: This depends on the time of the year but when getting away I like to relax, get away from work and I really enjoy Dorset – it is where I was brought up and is a lovely place to return to but having a brother in Sydney – it is great to have an excuse to visit Australia.

– Favourite animal: Growing up we never had pets but a couple of years ago we added a small dog to our family and despite me saying no for 10 plus years he has been a great addition but sadly currently residing in Gloucestershire not Jersey!  

– Favourite colour: Blue – not just because it is a dominant colour for Beaulieu but because it is also the dominant colour of the sports teams I follow!