Father of 7, devout Christian... and a ruthless stickler for rules

MATTHEW Tate is not just a stickler for impeccable uniforms for the pupils at his school – but also his own children.

The 2-year-old headmaster admits his brood of seven get ‘fed up’ with him for being strict about such issues.

However, the newly-appointed head defended his hardline stance at Hartsdown Academy – and at home.

Speaking on his second official day in the post, he said: ‘I think it’s nonsense when people think caring for children is allowing them to do whatever they want and to have no expectations for them.

‘I’m a parent. I expect great things of my children and I don’t allow them to do whatever they want. Because I care and because I love them.

‘I think all schools need to have high expectations of their children.

‘What is needed is saying actually this is what we expect, this is what we believe in and following through with it. If we, as educators and schools, did that we would have much better schools.’ The University

of Gloucester graduate, who gained a first class degree in theology in 2003, joined the academy from Trinity School in Sevenoaks, where he was the founding headteacher when it opened in 2013.

The co-educational Christian secondary was the first free school led by churches of different denominations, with 29 involved.

After just two years it had achieved a ‘good’ Ofsted rating.

Speaking in 2013, Mr Tate, who is also a church worker at a local Christian centre, warned pupils would be given the chance to ‘pack bags in Tesco and pick up litter’ as well as learn.

And yesterday, parents of pupils from Trinity School backed his continued firm approach to standards.

Ann Turner, 2, who has two children at the school, said: ‘He did wonders for our school. I think presentation is one of the key things. He made children take socks off if they were the wrong colour.’ And Mr Tate’s superiors at Hartsdown Academy, which is part of the Coastal Academies Trust, obviously expect more of the same now that he is in charge.

Speaking at the time of his appointment, the trust’s executive headteacher, Paul Luxmoore, spoke of the fact he was ‘both compassionate and tough’.

Yesterday, he added Mr Tate had the full support of governors, staff and the ‘massive majority’ of parents.

Referring to the uniform row, Mr Luxmoore said: ‘Mr Tate discussed the matter with me weeks ago, as he did with his own governing body and we completely support him.

‘The school is in a tough area, it’s a tough school. In order to get better results and get a better quality of education, students need to be proud of their school.

One of the ways of doing that is to improve their uniform.’