In July this year, Highbury Preparatory School welcomed Roland Lacock as their new Headmaster. This is a role that only five people have held since the school’s inception in 1903.
Mr Lacock grew up in KwaZulu-Natal and was schooled at Merchiston and Maritzburg College. Following this, he studied a Higher Diploma in Education at Edgewood College, a Bachelor of Arts at UNISA and a Masters in Educational Leadership at the Open University in the UK. He has an impressive pedigree in boys’ education, having taught at Merchiston and Cowan House, as well as abroad in Taiwan and Abu Dhabi, where he served as Acting Principal at Glenelg Boys’ School. He returned to South Africa to take up the role of Deputy Headmaster at Uplands Preparatory School in White River. On the sports field, Mr Lacock has coached rugby, cricket, hockey, athletics and swimming.
“I have always been attracted to work in schools that are values based and I believe the stone chapel at the entrance to the Highbury campus is symbolic of the values that our boys learn. Highbury exudes a wonderful tradition of boys’ education, balancing academics, sport and culture, and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading up about its history.”
Mr Lacock has relished his first few months at Highbury and, being gregarious in nature, enjoys the process of getting to know the boys, staff and parents who make up the Highbury community. “I have also dusted off my old canoe and made my way down to Shongweni Dam for a paddle and to join Umzinyathi Canoe Club.
“I am excited to be leading Highbury strategically forward at a time when one of the greatest challenges is to develop young South Africans who are creative, critical thinkers who can lead with integrity. Our world needs people who have strong values and it is our responsibility, as schools, to partner with parents to grow generations of children who have a positive influence on their communities. I like the sense that I can leave my mark on the organisation and have the ability to positively build on the wonderful foundation that is in place.
