Headmaster's Profile

Trinity School

Profile of Tim Waters, Headmaster

Mr Tim Waters

Tim Waters joined Trinity from The Royal Wolverhampton School, where he had been Headmaster since 2004. The Royal Wolverhampton has always been known for the quality of its pastoral care, its social mission and its strong Chapel life and Tim built upon these strengths whilst taking the school through a period of considerable change and modernisation.

Before Wolverhampton, Tim had been Senior Teacher (Pastoral) at The Portsmouth Grammar School, one of the country’s top co-educational schools. He was responsible for the Pastoral System there, which is recognised as being an outstanding example of best practice. Prior to Portsmouth he taught at Abingdon School, where he was a boarding housemaster for five years.

These experiences have helped form Tim’s educational philosophy. He believes that happy children become successful adults. Creating an environment in which learning is a pleasure ensures that achievement and personal development go hand in hand. Tim also believes that schools which educate children across the full age-range are the ideal. This helps create the safe, family atmosphere that is highly valued by pupils and parents alike and provides essential educational continuity throughout childhood.

Tim’s own education began at Monmouth School. He then studied Botany at Pembroke College, Oxford following which, he was invited to carry out postgraduate research in The Oxford University Forestry Department to obtain his M.Sc. in Forest Ecology.

Tim believes strongly that education through activity outside the classroom is vital. He rowed for many years, representing Wales at Junior level, winning Senior level silver and bronze medals at the National Championships and rowing twice for Oxford in the Universities Lightweight Boat Race. His hobbies include hill-walking and fly fishing. He has written articles for walking magazines and educational publications. He plays the violin enthusiastically, but badly!

Tim’s wife Ruth was a Hydrographic Officer in the Royal Navy for seven years. She has since taught Chemistry at Shrewsbury High School and Portsmouth Grammar School where she also ran the RN section of the CCF. Ruth is a keen sailor and a Yachtmaster.

Tim and Ruth have two young sons, William and Caio, and Tim has a ten year old daughter, Arwen, from a previous marriage. Ruth and Tim very much look forward to watching their family develop within the communities of Trinity and Teignmouth.