Surrey


<p>Phillip Makhouli joined <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/school-reviews/aberdour-school-tadworth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aberdour School</a> in April 2025, coming from Skippers Hill Manor Prep School in Mayfield, East Sussex. He has a degree in electrical engineering and, before moving into education, worked in the nuclear power industry.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1333" height="1473" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/03/Aberdour-head-Phillip-Makhouli.jpg" alt="Phillip Makhouli, the headmaster at Aberdour School in Tadworth." class="wp-image-59154" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/03/Aberdour-head-Phillip-Makhouli.jpg 1333w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/03/Aberdour-head-Phillip-Makhouli-724x800.jpg 724w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/03/Aberdour-head-Phillip-Makhouli-905x1000.jpg 905w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/03/Aberdour-head-Phillip-Makhouli-362x400.jpg 362w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/03/Aberdour-head-Phillip-Makhouli-768x849.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Phillip Makhouli is headmaster at Aberdour School in Tadworth.</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-very-new-to-aberdour-school-how-have-you-settled-in"><strong><em>You&#8217;re very new to Aberdour School&#8230; how have you settled in?</em></strong></h3>



<p>Yes, I joined in April 2025. It’s been a happy and energising start, and I feel incredibly privileged to lead such a vibrant, kind-spirited and forward-thinking school.</p>



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



<p>1. Orchestrating ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’ sessions with all year groups, the best way of understanding any school is spending time with the children.</p>



<p>2. For our parent body I hosted a set of ‘Meet the head events’ and have just sent out a parent survey where I am seeking feedback on their experiences and priorities.</p>



<p>3. Liaising with the Senior Leadership Team and wider staff body as we develop our School Development Plan.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-phillip-makhouli-s-30-second-elevator-pitch-for-aberdour-school-sell-it"><em>Phillip Makhouli&#8217;s </em><strong><em>30 second elevator pitch for Aberdour School – sell it!</em></strong></h3>



<p>What do we all want for our children and their education? An incredibly happy and nurturing environment that inspires curiosity and a love of learning. In a context of belonging and happiness, we craft the teaching around opportunities for your children to discover their passion, interests and brilliance.</p>



<p>At Aberdour School, we care deeply about each and every child and their development. We believe every child is unique and deserves an education that nurtures their individuality.</p>



<p>Set in the beautiful Surrey countryside, our supportive community and dedicated staff create an environment where children thrive, discover their passions, and become the best versions of themselves.</p>



<p>We have also secured over 365 offers and 146 scholarships from over 30 different independent and grammar schools since 2023!</p>



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



<p>We’ve already got great facilities and are investing every year in more. So, I’d set up an endowment fund to enable more children to benefit from the transformational education offered at Aberdour.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="977" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/05/Film-mission-impossible-Tom-Cruise.jpg" alt="Tom Cruise in the 1996 film Mission Impossible." class="wp-image-60071" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/05/Film-mission-impossible-Tom-Cruise.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/05/Film-mission-impossible-Tom-Cruise-800x521.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/05/Film-mission-impossible-Tom-Cruise-1000x651.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/05/Film-mission-impossible-Tom-Cruise-400x261.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/05/Film-mission-impossible-Tom-Cruise-768x500.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stuntman! Tom Cruise in the 1996 film <em>Mission Impossible</em>.</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-star-as-phillip-makhouli-in-the-film-of-your-life"><strong><em>Who star as Phillip Makhouli in the film of your life?</em></strong></h3>



<p>Tom Cruise as we do all of our own stunts&#8230; and have a very similar running style!</p>



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



<p>This is the main reason why Aberdour resonates with me. I meandered through school and fortuitously did well enough to study engineering but ultimately left school not really knowing much about myself or what my passion was or where my true talents lay. This is what Aberdour does best and we want our children to find their brilliance from a young age and maximise their time enthralled by whatever that is. Sparking curiosity and igniting wonder is what we love to do.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-the-common-theme-of-phillip-makhouli-s-school-reports"><i style="font-weight: bold">What was the common theme of </i><em style="font-style: italic;font-weight: bold">Phillip Makhouli</em>&#8216;s<strong><em> school reports?</em></strong></h3>



<p>Quiet and conscientious. Like many quiet children it meant I was never really seen or understood, which again plays a part in why I want every child to be seen, valued and encouraged to flourish. </p>



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



<p>Mr Kazina, my maths teacher, had so much energy and made maths a lot of fun and engaging while getting the best out of all of us. Least favourite? I won’t mention any names but he was another maths teacher and, let’s just say, he had clearly lost his passion for teaching and working with children. I subsequently learned the power of a teacher and their influence on a child’s love of learning and the subject they teach.</p>



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



<p>Best: maths and sport – luckily as a teacher in the independent sector I was able to focus on these as well.</p>



<p>Worst: languages – but strangely it is why I am so passionate about languages for our children.</p>



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



<p>University of Aberdeen</p>



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



<p>I first studied electrical engineering and spent several years in the nuclear sector before returning to university to gain a PGDE in Education.</p>



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



<p>High: how well I did in my teaching assignments and placements, showed me how right I was with my career change.</p>



<p>Low: The all-nighter assignment sessions… I have always worked better under pressure but why would I do it to myself!</p>



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



<p>Probably still an engineer but working abroad, I have always loved to travel.</p>



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



<p>I try to keep it very simple and decluttered, at least when visitors come in! A few thank-you cards from pupils, notebook, my favourite pen, and a well-used cup of coffee.</p>



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



<p>A very prized selection of highlighters, I have had to hide them in there as someone has been mixing up the order of colours!</p>



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



<p>Childhood: <em>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis &#8211;</em> I remember exploring wardrobes at my grandparents &#8230; always hoping!</p>



<p>Uni: – apologies as this will appear a teacher’s pet choice but John Hattie’s <em>Visible Learning</em>. A ground-breaking book at the time, it synthesised the results from over 95,000 studies involving 300 million students into what works best in education. It helped me understand that teaching was not just the dark arts but we could actually prove what is effective and best for our children.</p>



<p>Now: I have just finished <em>The Anxious Generation</em> by Jonathan Haidt, where he delves into the latest research and reveals how the decline of free-play in childhood and the rise of smartphone use among adolescents is changing our world.</p>



<p><strong>What’s the best school trip (childhood or current) you’ve ever been on?</strong></p>



<p>Favourite school trip had to be the Year 7 French trip, especially as my son was in that year group and it was lovely to share that experience with him and all his friends.</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/7/2024/11/War-Horse-Tom-Sturgess-Albert-Narracott-and-Diany-Samba-Bandza-Jordan-Paris-Eloise-Beaumont-Wood-Baby-Joey-in-War-Horse.-Credit-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.1113-0662a_.jpg" alt="War Horse on stage" class="wp-image-57425" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/War-Horse-Tom-Sturgess-Albert-Narracott-and-Diany-Samba-Bandza-Jordan-Paris-Eloise-Beaumont-Wood-Baby-Joey-in-War-Horse.-Credit-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.1113-0662a_.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/War-Horse-Tom-Sturgess-Albert-Narracott-and-Diany-Samba-Bandza-Jordan-Paris-Eloise-Beaumont-Wood-Baby-Joey-in-War-Horse.-Credit-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.1113-0662a_-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/War-Horse-Tom-Sturgess-Albert-Narracott-and-Diany-Samba-Bandza-Jordan-Paris-Eloise-Beaumont-Wood-Baby-Joey-in-War-Horse.-Credit-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.1113-0662a_-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/War-Horse-Tom-Sturgess-Albert-Narracott-and-Diany-Samba-Bandza-Jordan-Paris-Eloise-Beaumont-Wood-Baby-Joey-in-War-Horse.-Credit-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.1113-0662a_-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/War-Horse-Tom-Sturgess-Albert-Narracott-and-Diany-Samba-Bandza-Jordan-Paris-Eloise-Beaumont-Wood-Baby-Joey-in-War-Horse.-Credit-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.1113-0662a_-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Brinkhoff Moegenburg</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>What play, book and film should be on every child’s cultural bucket list?</strong></p>



<p>Play: <em>War Horse </em>– it&#8217;s magical and deeply moving.</p>



<p>Book:<em> Wonder</em> by R.J. Palacio – empathy in action!</p>



<p>Film:<em>&nbsp; The Goonies</em> &#8211; adventure and curiosity that many children are missing out on…or probably just an excuse for me to relive my favourite film from childhood!</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"><strong><em>If you want to hide from the kids and staff for half an hour, where do you go?</em></strong></h3>



<p>I can’t reveal that they will know where to find me!</p>



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



<p>Last time I went full volume was with some of our children in a sing-along to Myles Smith’s &#8216;Nice to Meet You&#8217;. What a lovely welcome!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-advice-would-you-give-to-your-younger-self"><strong><em>What advice would you give to your younger self?</em></strong></h3>



<p>Have you thought about a career in education, hint hint?!</p>



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



<p>I actually really like the advice Chadwick Boseman gave during his 2018 commencement speech at Howard University.&nbsp;</p>



<ol type="1" start="1">
<li>Find your purpose, not just your career</li>



<li>Embrace setbacks, they&#8217;re part of your path</li>



<li>Stand up for what you believe in- even when it costs you</li>



<li>Leave a legacy that uplifts others</li>



<li>Use your education to empower your community.</li>
</ol>



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



<p><strong><em>Aberdour School is a non-selective co-ed day school for ages 2-11, near Tadworth  in Surrey. It has an innovative approach to learning that includes a unique and bespoke curriculum. </em></strong><em><strong><a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/school-reviews/aberdour-school-tadworth/">Read our review.</a></strong></em></p>



<p><em><strong><a href="https://www.aberdourschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aberdour School</a>, Brighton Road, Burgh Heath, near Tadworth KT20 6AJ. Tel:&nbsp;01737 354119.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>


Head’s up! Phillip Makhouli, Aberdour School near Tadworth

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