Introducing Dr Paul Parham, Director of Studies
A Clear Focus on Every Pupil's Progress
Radnor House Sevenoaks is pleased to announce Dr Paul Parham’s expanded role as Director of Studies, alongside his existing position as Head of Mathematics.
Paul joined Radnor at the start of the 2025/26 academic year as Head of Mathematics and has now taken on the additional responsibility of Director of Studies. In this key leadership role, he will focus on further strengthening teaching, learning and academic progress across the Senior School for 2026/27 and beyond.
Paul brings an unusually broad academic background to the role. He holds a first-class honours degree in Physics from Imperial College London, a PhD in the mathematical modelling of infectious diseases, also from Imperial, and an MSc in Mathematics from the Open University. Before moving into schools, he spent 15 years in higher education as a research scientist and lecturer in infectious disease epidemiology and mathematical modelling, teaching at three universities and serving as Director of Studies for the University of Liverpool’s Master of Public Health programme.
He then spent eight years at Sevenoaks School as a teacher of Mathematics and Second in Department, gaining his teaching qualification, a PGCertHE, from the University of Liverpool along the way. He is also a qualified BACP counsellor, giving him a grounding in how pupils learn and cope, not just what they achieve.
That combination of a scientist’s understanding of data and modelling, a teacher’s experience of the classroom and a counsellor’s understanding of the individual shapes his priorities as Director of Studies, alongside his continuing role as Head of Mathematics.
As part of the School’s continuing focus on academic development, Paul’s work will centre on three connected priorities, each designed to give pupils the clarity, challenge and support they need to make strong progress.
Understanding every pupil’s progress
By bringing assessment information together more clearly across the School, teachers will be able to build a fuller picture of each pupil’s progress. This will help them recognise strengths, identify gaps earlier and provide the right support or additional challenge at the right time. The aim is to make the information Radnor already gathers work harder for every pupil, informing teaching and enabling more timely, personalised support.
Preparing pupils to use AI confidently and responsibly
Artificial intelligence is already changing how young people find information, approach problems and produce work. Rather than treating it simply as a shortcut or something to avoid, Radnor wants pupils to understand how to use it purposefully, safely and with academic integrity.
Paul is leading the development of a clear, well-governed approach to AI across the School. This will include guidance for pupils and staff, appropriate tools to support teaching and learning, and study-skills provision for GCSE and A Level students. Pupils will learn where AI can help them explore ideas, review their understanding and work more effectively, but also where independent thinking, subject knowledge and personal judgement remain essential.
Providing consistently strong exam preparation
Paul is also working with departments to ensure that every pupil receives clear, high-quality preparation for internal and public examinations. This does not mean adopting an identical approach in every subject. Instead, it means establishing a consistently strong standard of revision guidance, resources and support across the School.
Pupils will know what effective revision looks like, have access to appropriate materials and receive the guidance they need to prepare with greater confidence and independence.
Together, these priorities are intended to create an academic experience that is increasingly joined-up and responsive: one in which teachers have the insight to support pupils effectively, young people are prepared for a changing world, and every student has the tools and guidance to achieve their best.
This work builds on significant recent progress, including a 25-percentage-point increase in A Level grades at A*–B since 2023, while maintaining the personalised pastoral care at the heart of Radnor’s approach.
A Joined-Up Approach to Academic Excellence
This appointment forms part of a strengthened leadership structure, working alongside Scott Milne in his role as Head of Senior School and James Chesterton as Deputy Head of Senior School. Together, they will support a cohesive approach across academic and pastoral provision, ensuring that pupils are challenged and supported in equal measure, with exceptional personalised pastoral care underpinning strong academic outcomes.
“At Radnor, we already have a very strong foundation. My focus is on bringing greater clarity and consistency to how we support every pupil, ensuring that all students are both challenged and inspired to achieve their very best. Academic success comes from high expectations, strong teaching and a clear sense of purpose, and that is what we will continue to build together.”
