We are pleased to announce that Jeff Lippman has accepted the offer of Halcyon Director, starting at the beginning of the 2025/26 school year.

Jeff is very excited to accept the role and to lead Halcyon as it continues on its pioneering learning journey. He was pleased to share that he and his wife are excited to relocate to London next year. We will also be planning a few visits over the coming school year (2024/25) to support his transition and to allow him to spend time with the wider community.

In his 30 years in education, Jeff has worked in international schools in Brazil, Spain, France and the US, beginning by teaching history and later moving into leadership roles. Jeff prides himself on being a life-long learner. He speaks Portuguese fluently and Spanish and French to a high level of proficiency, as well as his native English.

During the candidate interview days at school, the Board Succession Committee received and considered thoughtful and insightful feedback from representative teams from all stakeholder groups (Students, Staff, School Leadership Teams and Parents) who interviewed all three finalist candidates. There was a notably high level of consistency in the reports from each group. The Committee reviewed their own findings and interviews alongside the stakeholder reports. As it is one of the most important decisions a Board makes, the Committee was diligent to find not only the best candidate but also the right candidate to lead Halcyon.

A recommendation paper was sent to the Trustees and, after a thoughtful discussion at the Board meeting last Tuesday evening, the recommendation was unanimously approved.

We can be proud of how our entire community worked together to organise and execute several days of meetings and interviews. From catering to facilities, from staff, to students, to parents to trustees - it was truly a collaborative effort and a very successful one at that.

Jeff would like to share these thoughts with the community:

I feel so honoured to have the chance to join the Halcyon community and serve as your next director. As soon as I arrived on campus, it became readily apparent to me that Halcyon is a place that lives its values every day by creating a joyful learning environment where students have a voice. I was struck by the consistency of what I heard from all stakeholders: the pride in the culture that has been built, the desire to continue innovating, and a deep commitment to inclusion and belonging. As I walked the hallways with my student guide, I asked him what he likes best about Halcyon. Without hesitation, he said, “It's the community. Everyone cares for each other here.” In my cover letter I wrote: “More than just a school, I am seeking to be part of a warm and vibrant community that is bound together by common values.” I feel so fortunate to have found just that in Halcyon. I look forward to working hand in hand with Barry over the next year to guarantee that the school remains true to itself through this transition.

Over the coming twelve months, Jeff will be visiting the school to meet with, and learn from, our community of learners. Halcyon has celebrated its 10 year anniversary and we are proud of how this collaborative community has moved from strength to strength under Barry’s leadership. We are confident that Jeff will continue to lead our pioneering education.