Ms. Victoria Playford

From Wetherby School Kensington

In this episode of Education Corner Podcast, we spoke to Ms. Victoria Playford, Head of Wetherby School Kensington. Victoria reflected on her first half term at Wetherby Kensington and discussed the importance of building confidence and skills to allow pupils to thrive.

Victoria began her career studying at Chelsea College of Fine Arts, where she was able to teach at a local state school, which initially sparked her passion for teaching. She told us: “Those skills that I gained and received during that time really became an asset to me and shaped how I think I approach teaching and learning now.” Following that, she worked in several industries, including with charities and in the creative arts, before returning to teaching. Since then, she has worked across the early years, key stage one, various management roles and the senior leadership team before taking on her first headship. Victoria has also taken on roles at the ISI and ISA, allowing her to engage in key conversations regarding education at a national level. Victoria joined Wetherby at the start of 2025 and reflected on her first half term: “I’ve been so warmly welcomed into the community by the staff, the boys and the parents. It really is such a special place and I think their values and ethos really align with my own.” these across school life benefits the whole school community: “I want each child to be really happy and engaged in their learning. I think when they have that nurturing environment around them, it sparks those ideal conditions for learning, but also the opportunity for them to face challenges with resilience.” Building a community where each child feels supported to face challenges and grow is crucial to life at Wetherby: “What truly matters is our commitment to helping them persevere, seek help when they might need it and collaborate with others to achieve their goals.” Victoria explained. As a London school, the school embraces the city’s diversity, with many different nationalities, languages and experiences represented in the school community: “I think that brings another level of excitement and diversity and enriching engagement within the curriculum.” Victoria told us.

The school encourages boys to be Wetherby

The school’s core values are: “kindness, respect and resilience.” Victoria described how embracing

Wetherby Prep Ambassadors

Ambassadors, to represent the school’s values to the whole school community and embody them beyond.

Victoria described qualities of Wetherby Ambassadors: “We really strive for the boys to be kind, to be polite, to be really compassionate to themselves and to others, putting their best foot forward and demonstrating that resilience.” Every week in assembly, staff nominate boys who have embodied the school’s values, who are celebrated by the whole community and given a Wetherby pin to wear on their blazer. Victoria explained: “It’s an opportunity for them to wear that with pride; we want to empower them to dream big and pursue their aspirations with confidence.”

Giving boys key roles in the school community and celebrating their achievements is key to encouraging them to succeed, Victoria shared: “I think every boy should have the belief that they can achieve anything they set their mind to with the right support, guidance and nurture.” In addition to Wetherby Ambassadors, boys are encouraged to participate in a wide range of extra-curricular activities and achieve outside of the classroom. Victoria has introduced weekly ‘Hot Chocolate with Ms. Playford’ meetings with pupils to better understand their experiences and perspectives so the school can support them no matter where their interests may lie. “We really want to know where their passions lie [...] in giving them these experiences, they get to explore what sometimes they don’t even know that they’re passionate about yet,” Victoria described: “I think that’s the exciting thing about educating this age, is that they have the opportunity to really find themselves and find their voices.”

Wetherby Kensington also benefits from being part of the larger group of Wetherby Schools across London, including all-boys’ Pre-Prep, Prep, Wetherby Senior and the new, co-educational Wetherby Pembridge. One of the many ways in which pupils benefit from this is that they have automatic entry as they progress through their education, if they wish to remain in the Wetherby group. Students and teachers alike also benefit from sharing resources and knowledge across the group: “We really just want to strengthen the practice that we’re offering to the boys.” Victoria told us. Wetherby is also part of Inspired Education, a global group of over 100 schools in 24 countries. “There are lots of opportunities that come from that.” Victoria shared. These opportunities include scholarships, bursaries and competitions and fixtures across the group, as well as chances to take part in exchanges and travel as pupils get older. Victoria told us: “The global exchanges are phenomenal, children can go and be immersed in those different cultures, experience different languages and develop that independence and resilience.”

The Inspired group are often at the forefront of embracing and incorporating new technologies. Victoria told us: “We are fortunate to have access to quite a lot of advanced technology in the school.” Incorporating iPads and an AI called Century Tech supports teachers in recognising gaps in boys’ understanding early on, Victoria explained: “It enhances what we’re able to provide to the boys. They have some personalised learning across English, maths and science with this tool. [...] We can really create an individualised learning path to consolidate anything that’s covered within the curriculum.” Although, Victoria reassured us that the school is keen to not let this take over their teaching and emphasised: “Boys do still pick up a pencil and write.”

Pupils from Wetherby Kensington consistently achieve excellent results at 7+ and 8+ and Victoria was able to share that they had a record year for entrance examination results this year, with boys progressing to a range of top schools in London and further afield, as well as many remaining within the Wetherby family of schools. Victoria shared: “We do work closely with King’s College, St Paul’s Junior School, Westminster Under School, Sussex House, but we do send to a wide variety,” including: “Highgate and UCS, as well as City of London.” Supporting families to make informed decisions when it comes to their child’s school choices is key and Victoria emphasised the importance of choosing a school that will make your child happy, beyond academic success: “We set them off on that journey, we get them to begin that love of learning. That’s what you want to hold on to throughout their education, because I think that’s when they’re really going to be able to access the curriculum and thrive.”

At the beginning of her time at Wetherby School Kensington, Victoria set the theme ‘Dreaming Big for 2025’: “I think it’s something I’ve held on to.” she shared. At the core of her goals for her new Headship, as well as the goals of the school, is the desire to impart a love of learning on their pupils and set them up for future success: “I really wanted to look at how we can add value to the boys beyond what we’re doing in the curriculum, that also not only enhances what we do here, but serves them well for the future.” Whilst the world of work is rapidly changing and we cannot know what life may look like when these pre-prep pupils enter the workforce, Victoria believes that

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Wetherby Kensington is doing its best to prepare them to be confident and capable at whatever their futures bring: “I think if they can develop that confidence, that will stand them in good stead for the future.” It seems there is a lot to look forward to as Victoria continues to settle into her role at Wetherby Kensington and the school continues to work passionately to equip its pupils to thrive throughout their time at Wetherby Kensington and far beyond. Victoria concluded: “There are lots of things happening behind the scenes that we’re excited to start launching this year.” www.wetherbyschool.co.uk/kensington-pre-prep-school

We would like to thank Ms. Victoria Playford, Head of Wetherby Kensington, for giving up her time to speak to us.

CLICK HERE to listen to our Education Corner Podcast with Nina Kingsmill Moore, Head of Wetherby Preparatory School