Chris is tackling a change of career (From Stroud News and Journal)

Chris is tackling a change of career

Former professional rugby player Chris Raymond has just completed his first term as a primary school head teacher. Reporter Alli Pyrah asked him about the transition from the rugby pitch to the classroom.

BECOMING a head teacher might seem like an unlikely career move for a former professional rugby player, but Chris Raymond seems to be tackling his new job at Nailsworth Primary School head on.

"I got fed up with it," he says of his sporting career. "It's a very physical job. You don't use your brain. Although I was getting shed loads of money I wasn't getting any satisfaction from it. I was 31 and coming to the end of my career.

"I am trying to bring the young kids through to take over. I'm not quite as quick as I used to be."

I find this difficult to believe.

Towering above me, the rugged former Worcester player doesn't look like he'll be reaching for his Zimmer frame anytime soon.

He positively oozes energy and enthusiasm, and has some innovative plans to inspire the kids.

Unsurprisingly, he is keen to promote sport in the school, and recently organised a black tie sporting dinner for the children, complete with formal invitations.

"I invited all the juniors who all dressed up in their bow ties and stuff," he explains.

"We had a top table with the governors and all the parents who helped with things like transport.

"There were trophies for sports boy of the year, sports girl of the year, fair play and sports personality of the year. It just highlights the profile of sport in the school."

Winners faces were flashed up Oscar-style onto a projector screen as they accepted their awards.

It is a far cry from my own primary school days, when not being made to do forward rolls in your underwear was about as good as it got.

Now in his eleventh year of teaching, Chris taught at three previous schools in Cheltenham and Gloucester before taking a break to pursue his rugby career.

He was given a two year sabbatical while teaching at Tredworth, but decided to continue for another year and take his chances getting a job back in education.

Before he began at Nailsworth, he was deputy head of Greatfield Park Primary School in Cheltenham, which two of his three children, Charlotte, 10 and Marcus, eight, attend.

"My two children were there so that was great - well, it was for me, anyway," he grins.

"They used to just completely blank me.

"At my last school, I was put in the stocks for a school fete. The kids were throwing water and missing a lot of the time, so they brought a fire engine over and had it hosing me down."

He says he has found the transition from the classroom to the office fairly easy. The most difficult aspect is remembering the names of his 166 pupils.

"It's a nightmare," he groans. "I'm not the best with names anyway, but I'll get there. What I have tried to do is teach in each class for half a day. I reckon I probably know about a third at the moment.

"I like being able to get to know a wide range of children and have an impact on their education. When you're a teacher, you can only have an impact on the class you're teaching.

"I think my job is making sure the teachers don't feel swamped. I'm sort of like the go-between for teachers and government initiatives.

"I also want to make sure the school has the best resources possible so the kids get the best education they can - and have the most fun doing it."

In his short time as head, the school has already enjoyed music and arts mornings and a sponsored attempt at a world record for the most people walking at the same time, for which the youngsters were rewarded with a trip to Cheltenham lido.

There is also a residential trip to the Isle of Wight in the pipeline for Year 6 pupils.

You could say his new career has turned out to be a whole new ball game.