About Millfield News
Millfield Preparatory Headmaster retires...
Mr. Kevin Cheney, who has been Headmaster of Millfield Preparatory School since January 2001, is retiring at the end of July after a distinguished career in private education during which he has held three Headships.
Kevin, who is 60, masterminded the move of the pre-preparatory school from the centre of Glastonbury to the School's main Edgarley Hall site just outside the town. He also oversaw the building of two new boarding houses and was the inspiration behind the use of Middle Edgarley Farm as riding stables on the School's campus.
His vision to improve the overall look of the School has resulted in better facilities for children giving them an environment to be proud of, interspersed with specially commissioned sculptures. He oversaw the building of a new sports hall and the conversion of the old one into a theatre. He also revamped the dining hall.
During his 9-10 year headship, Kevin introduced the teaching of Mandarin as an extracurricular activity. He appointed a Grand Master to teach chess. The School gained publicity for the introduction of English type, a touch typing course. He developed bus routes for day pupils among many other achievements.
Millfield Preparatory, under him, has been at the forefront of ECO and environmental awareness. It was one of only 10 independent schools to achieve Green Flag status and one of the few so far to put up a wind turbine.
Kevin has led a committed, supportive and excellent group of staff. As a result, the School has received glowing reports from Ofsted for its Early Years provision and from visits by Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). A recent Ofsted boarding inspection found the School to be outstanding in all respects and the ISI report at the same time found the School to be ‘outstanding ‘and ‘good in all areas'. The lead inspector commented: ‘Children at Millfield Preparatory have the time of their lives'.
The School was also visited by Sue Palmer, author of ‘Toxic Childhood' who said it was the least toxic school environment which she had ever seen. Another visitor was Jim Rose, the Government's Primary Schools Advisor, who also commented on the excellence of the School.
In Mr Cheney's final year the pupils have had great success in music, art, drama and sport. The Under-13 boys won the Rosslyn Park Sevens and several national championships organised by the Incorporated Association of Prep Schools (IAPS). These included: hockey, swimming, golf, trampolining, cross country running and fencing. Apart from this the girls and boys have been successful in a variety of other sports at county and regional level.
Kevin leaves with a vision of a lake for fishing, sailing, and canoeing and even possibly a ski slope which is awaiting planning permission.
His first headship from 1986-92 was at Trinity School, a 3-18 day and boarding school in Teignmouth, Devon. He then became Headmaster of Cranmore School, an all boys Catholic prep school in Surrey.
His first teaching job was as Assistant Housemaster at Clifton College, Bristol, from 1977 to 1980. He then joined the staff of Millfield School for six years as a Housemaster and a Geography teacher. He was also Commanding Officer of the Millfield Combined Cadet Force (CCF).
Mr Cheney is married to Hilary who has been fully involved in the work of Millfield Preparatory. They have four grown-up sons: Thomas aged 29, twins Edward and Samuel aged 26 and Henry aged 19.
Mr Cheney was educated at St George's College, Weybridge, and Exeter University. He completed his postgraduate teaching certificate at Christ Church College, Canterbury. He was an army officer in the Royal Army Educational Corps and was trained at Sandhurst.
