AFTER twenty one years at St Mark’s West Essex Catholic School, John Taylor has reached the pinnacle of his career by becoming the school’s fifth headteacher in 57 years.

Everyone you speak to regarding Mr Taylor will make reference to his quiet authority but also his dedication to the school.

Mr Taylor is aware of the legacy he inherits from Mr O Shea in the sixties and seventies to the much-loved Ms Heaphy who leaves in July.

Mr Taylor said: “The school is a partnership between those who were here in the past, those here now and those yet to be.

“My responsibility is to ensure the school is true to its values and its ethos whilst striving to be an outstanding institution.

“Ultimately, this is a life changing mission to educate and improve chances for students and their families”.

Mr Taylor inherits a number of great opportunities such as the new building earmarked for the school but also challenges as the Ofsted report pointed out: the sixth form requires improvement.

But as this interview shows, Mr Taylor is already putting the building blocks in place for a great future for the school.

Finally, some people say Mr Taylor is not the man he was. That’s because he has recently shed several stone and is seen most Saturday mornings running round the Harlow parkrun! Not only that, he cycles there and back!

The YourHarlow editor couldn’t catch up with Mr Taylor at the parkrun so he went up to Tripton Road to speak to Mr Taylor and discuss his vision for the future.