Surrey


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1501" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/04/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-with-pupils.jpg" alt="Will Newman, headteacher at Cranleigh Prep, with pupils." class="wp-image-58485" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/04/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-with-pupils.jpg 1501w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/04/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-with-pupils-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/04/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-with-pupils-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/04/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-with-pupils-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/04/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-with-pupils-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1501px) 100vw, 1501px" /></figure>



<p><em>Will Newman arrived at Cranleigh Prep in January 2025, bringing with him almost 25 years of senior leadership experience. He makes the move from Cumbria where he was headmaster at Sedbergh Prep for six years. Before that he was deputy head at Taunton Prep in Somerset for three years. He also has an 11-year stint at Edgeborough School near Farnham and Chinthurst School in Tadworth on his CV.</em></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-top-3-things-to-tackle-in-your-inbox"><em>What are the top 3 things to tackle in your inbox?</em></h3>



<p>Opening a Nursery and Pre-Prep; curriculum innovation at Year 7 and 8; getting to know every child in the school!</p>



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



<p>Cranleigh Prep School is ready to turn the page on an exciting chapter in its history. The opening of a Nursery and Pre-Prep has been the only missing piece from our offering – this development will be transformational for the whole Cranleigh community. It comes in a year where two new Heads are making even stronger the connections between the Prep and Senior, revising the shape of the day to enable greater synthesis and collaborating over the development of our Key Stage 3 curriculum. </p>



<p>The Prep School has everything for every child. For enthusiastic learners with a range of starting points, we promote huge progress towards potential. For active children looking to develop sport and sportsmanship, we’ve got your back. And for creative sparks that need a canvas or a stage, we have everything from dance productions to art exhibitions and concert solos. If you&#8217;re a quiet soul still finding your voice, we will give you confidence without arrogance. And for those that need to get out of London and breathe, we have a first class and flexible boarding offer. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-would-you-like-to-star-as-will-newman-in-the-movie-of-your-life"><em>Who would you like to star as Will Newman in the movie of your life?</em></h3>



<p>Harry Hill!</p>



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



<p>Bursaries.</p>



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



<p>Like a scene from Grange Hill!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-Portrait-9_180025.jpg" alt="Will Newman, headmaster at Cranleigh Prep School in Surrey." class="wp-image-59059" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-Portrait-9_180025.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-Portrait-9_180025-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-Portrait-9_180025-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-Portrait-9_180025-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-Portrait-9_180025-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-Portrait-9_180025-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Cranleigh-Prep-Will-Newman-Portrait-9_180025-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-the-common-theme-of-will-newman-s-school-reports"><em>What was the common theme of Will Newman&#8217;s school reports?</em></h3>



<p>Teacher’s pet (honest).</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 Hughes was my PE teacher at secondary school. He was incredible in the way he inspired loyalty and complete respect.</p>



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



<p>Best was PE and science. The worst was French (to my shame).</p>



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



<p>University of Exeter and University of Victoria in Canada.</p>



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



<p>BA(Ed) Hons Physical Education and MA Physical Education (Sports Psychology)</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>The high &#8211; two years on Vancouver Island completing my Masters. The low was living off cheap baked beans for days at a time.</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>I always fancied architecture.</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>Very little – my MacBook, a pop-up standing desk and a lamp.</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>Three chocolate bars in case of emergency.</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>&nbsp;</h3>



<p>In childhood it was <em>Danny the Champion of the World</em> by Roald Dahl. At uni it was <em>The Beach</em> by Alex Garland. And now it&#8217;s the <em>Slow Horses</em> series by Mick Herron.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-best-school-trip-childhood-or-current-you-ve-ever-been-on"><em>What’s the best school trip (childhood or current) you’ve ever been on?</em></h3>



<p>When I was at primary school in Melbourne, we went on a trip called the Train of Knowledge. We slept in sleeper carriages and travelled to the north of Victoria. I still remember the excitement of being away from home for the first time.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1130" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Film-et-the-extra-terrestrial.jpg" alt="A scene from ET The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)" class="wp-image-59060" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Film-et-the-extra-terrestrial.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Film-et-the-extra-terrestrial-800x603.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Film-et-the-extra-terrestrial-1000x753.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Film-et-the-extra-terrestrial-400x301.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/Film-et-the-extra-terrestrial-768x579.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A scene from <em>ET The Extra-Terrestrial</em> (1982).</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? &nbsp;</em></h3>



<p>Play: <em>Noises Off</em>. It’s hilarious</p>



<p>Book: <em>His Dark Materials Trilogy </em>by&nbsp;Philip Pullman </p>



<p>Film: <em>E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial</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>Matron</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>A Little Respect</em> by Erasure.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-advice-would-you-give-to-a-younger-will-newman"><em>What advice would you give to a younger Will Newman?</em> </h3>



<p>Chill out a bit.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-your-current-students"><em>And your current students? </em></h3>



<p>Dream big!</p>



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



<p><em><strong><a href="https://www.cranprep.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cranleigh Prep School</a> is a day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 7 to 13 years. It sits on a stunning 40-acre site with a dazzling array of facilities and also makes use of the wider 240-acre site that is Cranleigh School across the road. <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/school-reviews/cranleigh-prep-school-cranleigh/">Read our review here.</a></strong></em></p>



<p><em><strong>Cranleigh Prep School, Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, GU6 8QH. Tel:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=cranleigh+prep+school&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB906GB906&amp;oq=Cranleigh+prep+school&amp;aqs=chrome.0.35i39i457j69i59l2j0i395l7.5056j1j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8#">01483 542058</a>.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>


Head’s up! Will Newman, Cranleigh Prep School

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