In our first 'A Conversation With... ' of this half term, we chatted to Mr Chris Lloyd, our new Head of Design, Engineering and Technology who joined us in September. Mr Lloyd is passionate about DET after starting life as an engineer in the Royal Signals. His other great passion is rugby, where he has also had a successful career as a professional coach with Wasps.
What is your role at Shiplake and where were you previously?
I am Head of the Design, Engineering and Technology Department, previously I was at Stowe School.
What are your first impressions of Shiplake College?
It is a great community that cares for and supports each other.
What inspired you to teach DET?
I trained as an engineer in the Royal Signals and at the end of my time I worked as an apprentice master passing on my skills. I loved it so much I realised that I wanted to be a teacher and my passion for problem solving, designing and making have led me down this wonderful path.
As well as teaching DET, you have a very successful rugby background, could you tell us more about that?
I played through a period where half of my career was amateur and then whilst I was at Loughborough University the game became professional and so did I; my coaching career has mirrored that.
I have enjoyed coaching rugby in schools massively and led the rugby development programme at Whitgift where we raised the levels of participation, development and performance to levels where all students were getting an enormous amount out of our great game there; with most still playing the game for the love of it now and a few reaching professional and international standards. A great joy is that a lot of ex students from that period are still in touch and I am honoured that they still choose to share their news and successes with me.
My work at Whitgift became recognised by Wasps who brought me in part time to coach with the senior academy whilst I was still teaching at the school. Eventually they asked me to go full time, which I reluctantly did. I only ever intended it to be a short break from teaching but I eventually spent 11 years with Wasps in various development and performance roles including three years as an assistant coach with the 1st team where I was lucky enough to be involved in European Cup and Premiership winning campaigns. The greatest thing I took away from my time there though has been the friendships made in such a tight knit club.
However, throughout my time with Wasps my aim had always been to come back to teaching the subject I love. Whilst doing so again at Stowe School I have continued to work in elite level development and performance rugby part time through external coaching and consultancy roles with people such as the WRU, UAR and FFR as well as managing to coach the Cambridge University pack to two Varsity match wins (sorry Mr Howe!).
What is the most memorable moment in your career so far?
To be honest there have been so many in teaching it is hard to pick one out but the best moments are actually little 'light bulb' moments when students achieve more than they thought they were capable of and you see how it makes them feel.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I am a passionate angler and have already spent a good deal of my time at Shiplake chatting with colleagues Tosh and Paul about all things piscatorial.
What does the future hold for Mr Lloyd?
Enjoying my time at the College and seeing the Design, Engineering and Technology Department and the students flourish, and probably plenty more fishing...
