Caludon Castle School

Hello Tee Pee, I also knew the daughter of Mr Tilly, who was a teacher, but also a fabulous actress. Her professional teaching kept her inside amateur drama, but honestly, she was outstanding in her performances. I also knew Mr. Reynolds, a Welsh man, who was actually a Reverend. A remember the cyclist, Mr. Tidy, who helped manage the Coventry CTC, group that I was in. Them wert days. Seeing the historical reports, as well as knowing some of my best chums who were educated there, Caludon Castle school, until the late sixties I believe was a gem of Coventry's education system, not just of the comprehensive system either. That's just me. I'm biased because for most of my childhood, I enjoyed school.

Hello. Could anyone tell me who took over the Headmaster position after Richard Innes' retirement in 1992. Greatly appreciated.

Hi amlas, welcome to the forum According to the internet Headteacher: Mr. D.J. Jones Years: (he served as headteacher from 1990 to 1995)

Hi Amlas, In the Coventry E Telegraph in 1992, it mentions that a Dr John. A. Conneely BSc took over as head of Caludon Castle School. He was head until 2001 (at aged 55) whereupon he retired from teaching. Coventry Telegraph, 2001 Before working as Head at Caludon he worked as Deputy head at Foxford School.

Caludon Castle School Opens Sept 1954. 1954 to 1973 ~ Headteacher: Mr Harold Hubert Tilley (MA, ATCL) [Head 1954- 1973] (Gained CBE in the 1968 Queen's Birthday Honours list- see ^{SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 8TH JUNE 1968} ) ~ Deputy Headteacher: Mr T. H. Cook (BA) [Years unknown- but thought to be at least 1954/1958(?) to 1973] 1974 ~ Headteacher: 'Vacancy' ~ Deputy Headteacher: Mr Mike. G. Rickard [Deputy 1973- 1986] 1975 to 1992 ~ Headteacher: Mr R. J Innes (MA) (sometimes spelt Inness) [Head 1975- 1992] ~ Deputy Headteacher: Mr Mike. G. Rickard [Deputy 1973- 1986] 1992 to 2001 ~ Headteacher: Dr John. A. Conneely (BSc) [Head 1992- 2001] 2002 to 2011 ~ Headteacher: Mrs Carol Reid [Head 2002- 2011] 2011 to Jan 2021 ~ Headteacher: Mrs Michele Marr [Head 2011- 2021] Jan 2021 to present* ~ Headteacher: Ms. Sarah Kenrick [Head 2021- .] ^{(*At time of writing: 04Nov2025)}

Well done Garlands. Just goes to show that Google AI is getting it wrong.

Hello, I'm given to understand that Mr Cook, the deputy head came from John Gulson school at the opening of Caludon. I think he was the Head of Green or Clifford, part of block 5. Can anyone help. Again, thank you Sir.

I am not sure where I remember this from, maybe CET, but Mr Rickard (aka Gyp) followed Mr Cook as deputy head in 1969(?). He was 6th form master when I left in 1966, but took early retirement (and then became a volunteer for "Meals on Wheels" - not verified, I am probably mistaken). Can anyone verify this?

Hi Philip I can't find anything about Mr Cook at John Gulson School. However given that John Gulson School seemed to be the "progenitor" for Caludon Castle School and Mr Tilley was headmaster at John Gulson before Caludon it does follow. Perhaps someone else can either find something or better still know and remember

I arrived at Caludon in 1959. Mr Cook was deputy head during the time I was there and, I presume, continued after I left in 1966. He was not a housemaster during this time. Clifford was Mr (Taff) Davis. I am struggling to remember the the name of the house master of Green. He taught me pure maths A level, excellent teacher. I can remember the math better than his name!

Hi Choirboy, I've found this article from July 1986. It says he has been Deputy head for 13 years (about 1973)- suggesting Mr Cook left at the same time as Mr Tilley.

Thanks GJS, Now I am not sure who the "Meals on Wheels" volunteer I refered to might be. I think I read an obituary of a teacher from CCCS and may have linked it incorrectly in my memory.

Hello, I've hinted at what I'm sharing 45,000 times (how many), but I do believe now that I might have had a more rounded education at Caludon. I knew Mr. Rickard, his Cornwall origins as well as Binley Woods.

I was not happy there but I suspect I would not have been happy at any school. Being one of the first comprehensive schools I imagine some staff were attracted to it as an egalitarian experiment that coloured the curriculum with a socialist bias. For English Literature GCE we studied 20thC novels "Love on the Dole", "South Riding" and "Cry the Beloved Country" using an examination syllabus approved uniquely for us. We were separated by ability into sets for academic work and mixed ability groups for games and registration. Group periods took place at the end of each day that seemed rather unstructured and pointless. A regime of strict discipline backed up by corporal punishment was used to keep order among those who did not value what they were being taught but I believe it created an atmosphere of repression, especially for me following a relaxed primary education. I recall my housemaster addressing assembly the morning after a parents evening saying the highest ambitions of many of the parents were "...will he get an apprenticeship at Herbert's?". He lectured us saying "What about doctors, solicitors, architects, some of you are capable of becoming." In my year of the intake of 300+ I think only 12 of us left to enter higher education directly. My elder brother went to KHGS and seemed to have a happier time than me. He was the first of our extended working class families to go to university and I feel fortunate to have followed him from CCCS.

We are contemporaries Choirboy. I also entered the first year in 1959, in Segrave House. Mr.Vickery was Housemaster and Derek Glew my form master. My experience at Caludon was very much as you describe, very difficult after a happy and successful primary education. Regular demotions over succeeding years saw me falling from Set 1 to 4B and an ignominious exit in 1963. It was very easy to collect detentions and canings for the most trivial of offences. The above article about Rickard is interesting. He was my form master for years 3 and 4. I don't remember him in a positive light. Tilley simply didn't figure in my experience. There were a few very honourable exceptions to some of the unsympathetic teachers at Caludon but in my personal case, too few. I've mentioned elsewhere that those proficient in sport, especially Rugby, probably found life a little more enjoyable. I do not blame Caludon, the staff or anyone else for my failings there, that was and remains, my own responsibility. I am not unique in managing to achieve academic and professional success post Caludon though I often reflect that we might have become "doctors, solicitors, architects etc." by the conventional route if we had a little help.