Surrey


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1280" height="852" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/07/Hoe-Bridge-School-Head-master-Chris-Webster.jpeg" alt="Chris Webster, head master at Hoe Bridge School in Woking, Surrey." class="wp-image-54703" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/07/Hoe-Bridge-School-Head-master-Chris-Webster.jpeg 1280w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/07/Hoe-Bridge-School-Head-master-Chris-Webster-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/07/Hoe-Bridge-School-Head-master-Chris-Webster-1000x666.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/07/Hoe-Bridge-School-Head-master-Chris-Webster-400x266.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/07/Hoe-Bridge-School-Head-master-Chris-Webster-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" /></figure>



<p><em>Chris Webster has been headmaster at Hoe Bridge School since 2018 and is admired for his warmth, approachability, and focus on building children’s confidence. With an open-door policy for children and parents alike, he fosters a strong, family-like school community. Before Hoe Bridge, Chris was deputy head at King’s Hall School in Taunton for five years, and before that was at Sedbergh School in Cumbria for 12 years. </em></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-there-s-lots-going-on-at-hoe-bridge-what-with-the-merger-with-greenfield-so-you-must-be-a-busy-man-what-are-the-top-3-things-to-tackle-in-your-inbox-nbsp"><em>There’s lots going on at Hoe Bridge &#8211; what with the merger with Greenfield &#8211; so you must be a busy man. What are the top 3 things to tackle in your inbox?&nbsp;</em></h3>



<p>1. A continued commitment to delivering a child-centred, individual educational focus for all pupils within the Hoe Bridge community.</p>



<p>2. A progressive, collaborative approach to all aspects of the merger with our Greenfield community, ensuring we lay the strongest possible foundations ahead of joining as one in September 2026.</p>



<p>3. Working with senior colleagues to maintain daily momentum, embed the wide range of opportunities we’ve created for now and the future, and continue investing in every aspect of Senior School development as we prepare for the launch of our secondary site in September 2026.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-30-second-elevator-pitch-for-your-school-sell-it-nbsp"><em>30 second elevator pitch for your school – sell it!&nbsp;</em></h3>



<p>Happiness. Confidence. Achievement. This is how we live our lives and all three elements flow through our community in everything we do. As a happy community we create a uniquely nurturing environment where children and young adults thrive, are known by all adults and cherished for who they are. This means we can create a specific approach for each pupil, tailoring what we do to their learning style and giving them the educational environment to achieve their best. </p>



<p>Our children thrive within a positive and proactive school culture that emphasises our Latin motto of <em>Semper Optimum Meum</em> (Always My Best), a concept that we apply in everything we. We love being at our school, coming together as a community each day, and are passionate about learning in every possible way.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-would-star-as-chris-webster-in-the-movie-nbsp"><em>Who would star as Chris Webster in the movie?&nbsp;</em></h3>



<p>I’d be delighted if it were someone like Timothée Chalamet. He doesn’t look much like me. But he’s an exceptional actor and I think he’d truly capture the special environment at Hoe Bridge School. My family would also be thrilled. They all think he’s brilliant, which would be a significant upgrade on their ageing father!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-ve-been-given-a-1m-donation-for-the-school-what-will-you-spend-it-on-nbsp"><em>You’ve been given a £1m donation for the school, what will you spend it on?&nbsp;</em></h3>



<p>The kind of donation dreams are made of! I’d divide the funds so that each of the Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior sections could develop key educational areas for the children in their care. We’re committed to investing evenly across the school, and this would align perfectly with that principle. And, if there were anything left over, I’d love to celebrate with an ice cream van visit, a special cake and copious amounts of hot chocolate for everyone.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/02/Hoe-Bridge-School-Chris-Webster-head.jpg" alt="Chris Webster, the headmaster at Hoe Bridge School in Woking,Surrey, with pupils in the headmaster's office." class="wp-image-64450" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/02/Hoe-Bridge-School-Chris-Webster-head.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/02/Hoe-Bridge-School-Chris-Webster-head-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/02/Hoe-Bridge-School-Chris-Webster-head-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/02/Hoe-Bridge-School-Chris-Webster-head-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/02/Hoe-Bridge-School-Chris-Webster-head-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-your-own-childhood-school-days-what-was-the-common-theme-of-chris-webster-s-school-reports-nbsp"><em>Describe your own childhood school days. What was the common theme of Chris Webster&#8217;s school reports?&nbsp;</em></h3>



<p>I loved school – especially sport, geography and science – and simply being around people of all different ages. The friendships, inspirational teachers and the opportunities I was lucky enough to have were what led me to decide, in Year 10, that I wanted to become a teacher. I’ve never looked back and have enjoyed every step of the journey, across some very different environments.</p>



<p>The recurring line in my reports was always ‘Could do better’ – and that mindset pushed me to strive to be the best version of myself. My dad and I would sit down – rather formally – to review my reports each term and, even with A’s and B’s, he would point out there was still ‘room for improvement’. That mentality has stayed with me ever since.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-worst-teachers-at-your-childhood-school-and-why"><em>Favourite/worst teachers at your childhood school and why?</em></h3>



<p>Mr Scott – my PE / Games teacher and Housemaster in Years 12–13 – was fundamental in shaping me at that most influential stage of my life. He was an exceptional teacher, an understanding and supportive housemaster, a genuinely kind person and very funny too. I owe him a great deal for the role he played in helping me become who I am today.</p>



<p>I never really had a worst teacher &#8211; I got on well with them all.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-and-worst-subject-at-school-nbsp"><em>Best and worst subject at school?&nbsp;</em></h3>



<p>At A Level, I chose Physical Education, Biology and Economics – my strongest and favourite subjects at the time.</p>



<p>I’m afraid Modern Foreign Languages was never a strength of mine, so I tended to focus my energies on other areas.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-you-go-to-uni"><em>Where did you go to uni?</em></h3>



<p>Loughborough University. I loved the large campus, world-class facilities, exceptional lecturers who were at the forefront of their fields and the nationally acclaimed sport.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-did-you-study"><em>What did you study?</em></h3>



<p>Physical Education and Economics</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-your-high-and-low-of-student-life"><em>What was your high and low of student life?</em></h3>



<p>High: winning the BUSA (British Universities Sports Association) Championships with the 1<sup>st</sup> XV Rugby Team.</p>



<p>Low: not acing my statistics examination in my final year due to one bad question. Always read the question twice Christopher!</p>



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



<p>A professional golfer, winning Open Championships, being a key member of the Ryder Cup team and investing heavily in the grassroots of the game so that large numbers of children could do what I had done and reach the top of the game.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-what-s-on-your-work-desk"><em>Describe what’s on your work desk…</em></h3>



<p>Four books written by past and present Hoe Bridge pupils, alongside an array of Liverpool Football Club treasures made by my son Arthur when he was in Pre-Prep. There’s also a note from my youngest daughter, Daisy, written in Year 5, saying ‘Have a great day’, plus a collection of cricket balls, golf balls, badges, medals – and, of course, hundreds of pens in every colour imaginable. It’s busy – but very tidy!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-what-s-in-the-top-drawer"><em>And what’s in the top drawer?</em></h3>



<p>Folder and clip boards with important documents that I am working on, more pens, a large stack of business cards that have been given to me and a number of cards from significant people in my life that inspire me to be my best.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-your-favourite-books-in-childhood-uni-and-now"><em>Tell us your favourite books – in childhood, uni and now.</em></h3>



<p>Childhood: <em>The Red Hand Gang</em> by Mike Woods &amp; <em>The Famous Five</em> by Enid Byton.</p>



<p>Uni: mainly course text which was a significant amount of very large books.</p>



<p>Now: <em>Jack Reacher</em> by Lee Childs</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/02/film-the-greatest-showman.jpg" alt="A scene from The Greatest Showman" class="wp-image-64289" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/02/film-the-greatest-showman.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/02/film-the-greatest-showman-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/02/film-the-greatest-showman-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/02/film-the-greatest-showman-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/02/film-the-greatest-showman-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>The Greatest Showman</em></figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-play-book-and-film-should-be-on-every-child-s-cultural-bucket-list"><em>What play, book and film should be on every child’s cultural bucket list?</em></h3>



<p>Play / Musical: <em>The Lion King</em></p>



<p>Book: <em>The Adventure of Tom Sawyer</em> by Mark Twain</p>



<p>Film: <em>The Greatest Showman</em></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-want-to-hide-from-the-kids-and-staff-for-half-an-hour-where-do-you-go"><em>If you want to hide from the kids and staff for half an hour, where do you go?</em></h3>



<p>It&#8217;s simply not possible at Hoe Bridge as we are so busy.. and my PA Vicky can track me down anywhere. If I could get away, it would certainly be the adventure playground &#8211; but only in the summer months when its sunny and warm.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-song-you-sing-at-full-volume-when-everyone-s-gone-home"><em>The song you sing at full volume when everyone’s gone home?</em></h3>



<p><em>Malibu</em> by Mumford and Sons. I seriously do sing this loudly at the end of the week when I am driving home on a Friday evening.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-advice-would-you-give-to-a-younger-chris-webster-and-your-current-pupils"><em>What advice would you give to a younger Chris Webster </em>and your<em> current pupils?</em></h3>



<p>Stay true to yourself and let your inner good shine through at every turn. Your kindness and caring nature will make such a significant impact to everyone around you even when you are so young and you feel the world is so big.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



<p><strong><em>Hoe Bridge School is an independent day school for children aged 6 months to 16 years. From September 2026, it will merge with Greenfield School in Woking to create the town’s only all-through co-educational school, offering a seamless journey from early years through to GCSE. </em></strong><em><strong><a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/school-reviews/hoe-bridge-school-woking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read our review here.</a></strong></em></p>



<p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hoebridgeschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hoe Bridge School</a>, Hoe Place, Old Woking Road, Woking, GU22 8JE. Tel: 01483 760018</em></strong>&nbsp;</p>


Head’s up! Chris Webster, Hoe Bridge School, Woking

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