AN ISLE of Wight primary school has welcomed a familiar face to Ryde as its new principal, taking up his new post on the first day of Spring Term. 

The new principal of Priory School in East Cowes, David EJJ Lloyd, previously served as deputy head of Ryde School with Upper Chine from 2005 to 2010, after his role as head of economics and business and senior master at Warwick School for 11 years before that.

At the end of 2022, he completed a 12-year-tenure at head of Solihull School in the West Midlands and said he is delighted to move back to the Island, where he has always retained his family home, bringing with him a wealth of experience, knowledge and insight.

Former school principal Edmund Matyjaszek, who remains on the leadership team of Priory, said: “We are delighted that David has returned to the Island to run Priory School at the very point where it is in such high demand from Island and mainland families.

Isle of Wight County Press: Priory School principal David EJJ Lloyd, with Ed Matyjaszek, former principal and current bursar, hard at work on first day of Spring TermPriory School principal David EJJ Lloyd, with Ed Matyjaszek, former principal and current bursar, hard at work on first day of Spring Term (Image: Priory School)

“It is a privilege to hand over the reins to someone whose experience in independent education is second to none and who has the interest of Island families at heart.”

After one week in post, David commented on ‘the genuine respect and care pupils and staff have for each other, the strong attitudes to learning and a sense that pupils are not in a great rush to grow up, which is often the case elsewhere’.

He added: “The teamwork and camaraderie across year groups is also obvious. Older pupils look out for the younger ones, and younger pupils aspire to be like their older peers.”