THE man who was brought up in working class Liverpool, in the shadow of Anfield football ground, has an unlikely pedigree for headmaster of Bromsgrove School, writes Adrian Kibbler.

But Chris Edwards, who has taught on four continents and in some of England's leading public schools, sees no contradiction.

"I came from modest circumstances but my parents always wanted the best for me. It has been my ambition to be headmaster at Bromsgrove for many years because the school is modern and forward looking," said Chris, aged 40, who joins after six years at Stowe School, where he was the deputy head and also spent a brief period as acting headmaster.

"It gave me valuable experience of running a school so I am not a complete beginner," joked Chris, who is nothing like the caricature of the aloof and unapproachable public school headmaster.

Chris studied at Oxford on a scholarship and graduated with a first in English. He taught in Australia, the Far East and South America, before returning to England to work at Merchant Taylor's School. It was after this that he went to Stowe.

"There is no place for independent schools that are aloof or pretentious. If these types of schools still exist then I want no part of them. If there is something that we have not done as well as we should have then it is integrating with the life of the local community and I am determined that we will do better in the future," he said.

"For one thing, I am determined that we integrate better with the state schools in the area and continue to make facilities at the school more available to people in the town.

"There are some people who object in principle of private education and I respect their opinion but there is no reason why the state and independent sector cannot work together," he added.

Chris points out that the majority of his students are day pupils and most of them come from the local community.

"It is important that people in this part of the world regard Bromsgrove as their school."

But he firmly rejects the view that all pupils at independent schools were born with a silver spoon in their mouths and are pampered and privileged.

"I am sure that there are some parents with pupils at Bromsgrove School who have a lot of money but many do not. My parents left school young and were never wealthy, we did not have fancy holidays or cars but they recognised the value of education. There are parents of children at this school just like that."

The new headmaster said he was proud of Bromsgrove School's academic record but did not "give a damn" about its position in league tables.

"We are not as selective as some independent schools and while we want to do well in exams, the most important thing is that our students fulfil their full potential. My message is simple. If children just want to make up the numbers don't come to Bromsgrove School. I want our students to excel in everything to the best of their ability, I want them to want to excel and I want their parents to want them to excel."

Chris said he was proud of the school's academic achievements but also of its successes in sport, music and the arts.

"We want students to leave as rounded individuals with a broad perspective on life."

He is a committed internationalist, as might be expected from someone who has taught in all corners of world, and has students from different countries at his school.

"We are excited that Bromsgrove School will be opening shortly in Thailand. It will be a school based upon the model we operate here in Worcestershire.

"But I want to make it clear we did not go looking to open a school overseas. We were approached because they were impressed with the reputation and philosophy of the school."

Chris is proud of the history of Bromsgrove School but he is clearly a man for whom the present and future are more important than the past.

"This school must not drowned in its tradition but must be forward looking and build on the past. A priority is to build our links with the town and local community of which we are very proud to be a part."