Nick Williams
Nick Williams has worked in education for over 30 years. The BRIT School is his second headship, where he has been in charge for nearly 7 years. Previously as head of Thomas Tallis School he led a large inner London comprehensive school to become a specialist Arts College and Beacon School.
As Principal of The BRIT School he has presided over a very productive period in its brief history, with a significant increase in academic performance and a growth in its reputation as a unique centre for the performing and creative arts, fully engaged in the London education and artistic world, supporting and collaborating with other schools and community groups.
Nick is strongly committed to state education and the ability of good schools to change the lives of young people of all backgrounds. In all his jobs, from English teacher and Head of department to schools Inspector to leadership posts he engages with challenges with compassion and commitment. He believes leaders should take risks and be brave in striving for the best for young people.
Nick feels there is much to learn from the experience of The BRIT School. Before he came he, like many other teachers, had little idea of the full power of vocational education when harnessed to a clear commitment to artistic as well as academic excellence. The quality of the performance and creative output in the School vividly shows what can be achieved by young people in a focussed, well-organised and imaginative environment.
The School is a model of how the commercial world, in this case the record industry, can positively influence education, both though sponsorship and industry advice. The School’s links with The BRIT Trust and all aspects of the music and the arts industries generally have been beneficial in allowing students to understand the relationships between their work in the School and their future career paths.