Hans van Mourik Broekman

Johannes Bernardus van Mourik Broekman is a Dutch teacher and former Head Master who was the Principal of Liverpool College having previously been a Head teacher at a number of Schools in the United States. He is noted as being the Principal of Liverpool College who oversaw the transition of the school from fee paying independent school to a state funded academy.

Hans van Mourik Broekman
Born
Johannes Bernardus van Mourik Broekman

1966
CitizenshipDutch[1]
Alma materSt Andrews University (MA)
Occupation(s)Head Teacher, author
Known forTransitioning Liverpool College from private school to an Academy

Broekman was born to Dutch parents, he attended high school in the United States, then went on to earn a Masters Degree in classics in 1989 at the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. Broekman then returned to the United States where he served as a deputy headmaster, headmaster, and Principal at schools in D.C., Arkansas, and Tennessee.[2]

Principal of Liverpool College

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in 2008 Broekman became Principal of Liverpool College, at the time a private independent school in Liverpool, England.

In 2012, amid shrinking numbers at the school, Liverpool College made the decision to transition to an Academy,[3] a state funded school independent of the local authority. Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove gave the go ahead to the college, and in September of 2013 it became the largest private school to convert voluntarily to an Academy, Labour Peer Lord Adonis described this decision as "“perhaps the single biggest breach in the Berlin Wall between the private and state sectors of education in recent decades.”[4] Prior to the transition Broekman became aware that many parents wanted their children to attend but were unable to afford the fees. Broekman led the school through this transition and remained committed to keep the small scale structure of the schools campus site. Broekman believed that this change would also allow the school to re-connect with its founding mission, to serve the City of Liverpool – not to be exclusive.[4]

Since transitioning to state school Broekman oversaw the schools rise from 725 students to the over 1500[5] Liverpool College has presently enrolled, as well as the Outstanding in all areas report the school achieved in its 2019 Ofsted inspection.[6]

In March 2024 Broekman announced in a letter to the schools governing body that he would be stepping down as the Principal after over 16 years of running the school.[7][8] He announced in the letter that he will go on to be the lay school Chaplin for schools in the Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust.[9] He officially left Liverpool College at the end of August 2024.[10]

Personal life

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Broekman lives in Liverpool with his family, and currently serves on the council of the University of Liverpool as vice president.[11] Broekman also gives talks at events on education.[12] He has wrote 3 books about his time being a Head Teacher.

References

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  1. ^ "Liverpool College Independent Schools Trust Directors".
  2. ^ "Hans van Mourik Broekman". New York Encounter. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  3. ^ "Liverpool College set to become academy". BBC News. 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  4. ^ a b Welham, Holly (2015-02-01). "I converted my private school into an academy to rediscover its original ethos". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  5. ^ Broekman, Hans (2020-03-16). ""Why my private school became a state school" - PEPF". Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  6. ^ https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50133391
  7. ^ "Message from the Chair of the Governors" (PDF).
  8. ^ Greer, Jamie (2024-03-11). "Liverpool College headteacher to step down after 16 years in role". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  9. ^ "Liverpool College headteacher steps down to join St John Plessington Catholic College". Runcorn and Widnes World. 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  10. ^ "Liverpool College Independent Schools Trust, Companies House, Termination of Director appointment".
  11. ^ "Governance, Council - University of Liverpool".
  12. ^ St Swithun Wells Catholic Parish (2022-09-01). The risk of education :: Hans van Broekman. Retrieved 2024-08-14 – via YouTube.