Arthur Barzey, an old boy of SLGS (1982/1983), as well as MBHS, has uplifted the name of the
School by winning the award of Best Headteacher in the UK. As the head of Heron Hall
Academy which is a Ponders End school in the UK, he received this award from the Tes School
Awards 2022 held at the Grosvenor Hotel on 17th June 2022.
The Tes Schools Awards, formerly known as Times Educational Supplement, is one of the
biggest nights in the UK educational calendar and Arthur Barzey won the top teaching prize for
his efforts at turning the Ponders End school into a “place of hope”.
It is interesting to note that Arthur traded a career in medicine to become the head teacher of
the Heron Hall Academy which first opened in 2013. By having a diverse staff that reflect all the
ethnic minorities that are represented in the school, he creates an opportunity for his students to
see role models who look like them in the classroom.
He is known to treat the school, teachers and students as family. In his interview with BBC
London news, Arthur said he is inspired by “The drive to be a difference. I’ve always worked in
disadvantaged areas and for most of those kids we teachers are the difference. And I challenge
kids to believe in themselves. They have the potential but some of them have impostor
syndrome, they don’t think they are good enough. It’s about instilling that confidence in them
that your history is not your destiny…..There’s no other job as gratifying as a teacher; changing
lives and creating opportunities.”
Having left SLGS for many years now, our alumni and old boys are still living our mantra; To
Pursue. To pursue success in all things and all fields of life and we are here for it!
Do you know any alumnus that is blazing trails anywhere in the world? Tell us about them by
sending an email to media@regentonians.org