Berkshire


<p>If you think you know what a Prep school Head looks like, think again. Adam Hurst, Head of <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/the-dolphin-school-hurst/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dolphin School</a> near Reading, is not one for stiff blazers, hushed corridors or headmasterly gravitas. A former English teacher and sports coach who fell into teaching via the back door, Adam leads with humour, energy and a refreshing lack of pomposity. He’s deeply serious about children (all three of his own attend the school), their wellbeing and their futures, but refreshingly relaxed about just about everything else. </p>



<p>Honest, modern and quietly formidable, he’s built a school culture rooted in trust, clarity and genuine connection rather than rulebooks and rhetoric. We caught up with Adam to find out more about what makes him tick, epic school trips, and his much-loved chocolate snack drawer.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="2250" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Adam-Hurst-43.jpg" alt="adam hurst head dolphin school hurst" class="wp-image-84638" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Adam-Hurst-43.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Adam-Hurst-43-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Adam-Hurst-43-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Adam-Hurst-43-267x400.jpg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Adam-Hurst-43-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Adam-Hurst-43-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/Adam-Hurst-43-1365x2048.jpg 1365w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-30-second-elevator-pitch-for-your-school-sell-it-nbsp">30-second elevator pitch for your school – sell it!&nbsp;</h3>



<p>What&#8217;s wonderful about Dolphin School is that it is a meaningful alternative to more traditional schools steeped in legacy and history, inflexible and unable to change. Dolphin is a school that was founded on Montessori principles that believes in informality and children being comfortable in their setting and accessing their education accordingly, whether it&#8217;s no uniform or first name terms with teachers. It&#8217;s an incredibly warm and vibrant school, more akin to a children&#8217;s summer camp than a more traditional Preparatory school. </p>



<p>When people visit, I always hope they will hear noise and children&#8217;s voices, not to be confused with disorder and disharmony, but more that children are confident to share their ideas, collaborate together, and discuss topics and what they&#8217;re learning with their teachers, and ultimately feeling totally comfortable and confident in their surroundings. Trips are another huge part of what we do and which defines us as much as anything else. This is a wonderful school and a breath of fresh air, and somewhere I think more schools should aspire to be like.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-would-you-like-to-star-as-you-in-the-movie-nbsp">Who would you like to star as you in the movie?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>I desperately want to pick an action hero, but my friends like to ridicule me and tell me my baldness makes me look like Megamind. However, I then favourably compare myself to someone like Jason Statham. So, maybe a mixture of Megamind and Jason Statham because I like to think I&#8217;m a fun person, therefore it would need to be a comedy.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-ve-been-given-a-1m-donation-for-the-school-what-will-you-spend-it-on-nbsp">You’ve been given a £1m donation for the school, what will you spend it on?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>I get more critical feedback about the car park than just about anything in the school, which is laughable if you think about it, because that is just not important to a child&#8217;s education. And in fact, I don’t know a school where the parents are happy with the car parking. I think if I&#8217;m honest, I would like a kitchen and dining room because our hall is multi use; it&#8217;s used for assemblies, eating, dance, drama, so I would love a dedicated dining room where we sit down and eat together and where we can host other schools. Then probably a DT space where kids can do hands-on crafting and woodwork, because I think that resonates really well with the Dolphin ethos and curriculum. (Hot off the presses – Dolphin will have a new DT Classroom ready for September 2026!)</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-your-own-childhood-school-days">Describe your own childhood school days </h3>



<p>Honestly, I was a bit of a lazy and happily underachieving child, at least at the time, though I reflect now with a bit of shame. All I really cared about was sport and the social excitement of school, especially when my all-boys secondary school became co-educational, which made those early years distracting in the best possible way. I played sport almost constantly, six days a week, and although I was technically a day pupil at a boarding school, I stayed until late every evening by choice because I loved being there. School was, to me, a place for enjoyment rather than seriousness, and I embraced it fully. I represented my school and county in multiple sports and even played representative rugby at under-18 England schoolboys&#8217; level, including a match against Australia. While I was often criticised for my relaxed attitude, I took it in stride, knowing my teachers were probably right, and I never felt misunderstood or unhappy. I genuinely loved my school days.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-the-common-theme-of-your-school-reports-nbsp">What was the common theme of your school reports?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Talks too much, could try harder.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-worst-teachers-at-your-childhood-school-and-why-nbsp">Favourite/ worst teachers at your childhood school and why?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>I think most of them were incredibly frustrated by me, but I got on well with my rugby coach who was also my English teacher. He was someone I looked up to and who tried to keep me on the straight and narrow. He was a good guy who I think valued my better qualities and didn&#8217;t find me as annoying as the others.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-and-worst-subject-at-school-nbsp">Best and worst subject at school?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>I would say English was probably my best subject. I found it easy and I loved reading and had nice handwriting. So, that fit really well with English. Then, it&#8217;s not necessarily my worst subject as I took it for A level, but French was almost definitely the worst. I did it for 11 years and I don&#8217;t think I ever really applied myself, and I certainly underachieved in my A Levels for French.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/dolphin-school-DS_2022-018-1.jpg" alt="who is the head of dolphin school in hurst" class="wp-image-85299" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/dolphin-school-DS_2022-018-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/dolphin-school-DS_2022-018-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/dolphin-school-DS_2022-018-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/dolphin-school-DS_2022-018-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/dolphin-school-DS_2022-018-1-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-you-go-to-uni-what-did-you-study-and-your-high-and-low-of-student-life-nbsp">Where did you go to uni, what did you study – and your high and low of student life&nbsp;</h3>



<p>After two gap years and a short stint at Bristol University, I went to Reading University to study Philosophy, Politics, and English, and ultimately ended up doing English Literature for my final two years. Admittedly, I followed a similar pattern to my schooling, where I just coasted and didn&#8217;t really stretch myself at all. So many Heads I&#8217;ve spoken to have this massive success story, but honestly, I love not being traditional. I get happily ridiculed by family and my wife for that. Even my graduation I totally forgot about and ended up borrowing a friend&#8217;s suit in the middle of his working day, so I could race down there. I didn&#8217;t have my parents or girlfriend there or any photos of the day as I totally forgot &#8211; just another example of how laissez-faire I was about everything. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-weren-t-a-head-what-would-you-be-nbsp">If you weren’t a Head, what would you be?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>My parents always wanted me to be a lawyer or a stockbroker because I was meant to be quite bright. But in fact, because my parents wanted it, I veered away from both. So, I think probably an author or a coach of some sort.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-what-s-on-your-work-desk-and-what-s-in-the-top-drawer">Describe what’s on your work desk (and what’s in the top drawer)</h3>



<p>My top drawer has always got snacks because my youngest son runs in here frequently and says, &#8220;Dad, snacky,&#8221; and then opens my drawer, so I have chocolate and biscuits there. Then on my desk, I usually have my reading book. That&#8217;s always to hand.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-favourite-books-childhood-and-now-nbsp">Your favourite books, childhood and now&nbsp;</h3>



<p>I tend to read teenage fantasy, so I like epic and high fantasy where I can escape to my own little world. My favourite childhood book would be <em>Lord of the Rings</em>. That&#8217;s something I read front to back, all three books and all the appendices. Then actually David Gemmell is one of my favourite fantasy authors and I&#8217;ve read every one of his books.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="779" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/dolphin-school-Screenshot-2025-12-12-at-12.43.21.png" alt="is dolphin school in hurst good head teacher adam hurst" class="wp-image-85310" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/dolphin-school-Screenshot-2025-12-12-at-12.43.21.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/dolphin-school-Screenshot-2025-12-12-at-12.43.21-800x623.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/dolphin-school-Screenshot-2025-12-12-at-12.43.21-400x312.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/dolphin-school-Screenshot-2025-12-12-at-12.43.21-768x598.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-best-school-trip-childhood-or-current-you-ve-ever-been-on-nbsp">What’s the best school trip (childhood or current) you’ve ever been on?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Well, most of mine revolve around sport and fun again, so secondary school, I loved going to Bath Hockey Festival. Similarly, we went to Oxford and played 7s rugby in my fifth form, which was a real privilege because not many fifth formers ever got to go. And at Dolphin, I’ve been on a number as that’s what we are renowned for –&nbsp;hiking in the lakes, learning about the Industrial Revolution in Ironbridge (staple residentials), amongst others.&nbsp;The ones I particularly enjoy are the Young Voices trips which, for some people are horrendous because it’s just noise and hours and hours sitting in an auditorium, but the energy, the enthusiasm, and excitement from thousands of children, for hours on end is the sort of stuff I feed off and absolutely love.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-play-book-and-film-should-be-on-every-child-s-cultural-bucket-list-nbsp">What play, book and film should be on every child’s cultural bucket list?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>A family favourite is the <em>Princess Bride</em>. I think it&#8217;s suitable for adults and children because there&#8217;s lots of humour in it the children won&#8217;t get, but adults will love, and yet there&#8217;s lots of traditional fairy tale aspects that children will love. In terms of plays, my children are just getting to an age to watch plays. I like them watching satirical or visually comical stuff. So, things like <em>The Play That Goes Wrong</em>. For film, well, since I read teenage fancy, I would say <em>Lord of the Rings</em> again, but it&#8217;s easy for me just to say the same thing, so maybe start with <em>The Hobbit</em>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-want-to-hide-from-the-kids-and-staff-for-half-an-hour-where-do-you-go-nbsp">If you want to hide from the kids and staff for half an hour, where do you go? &nbsp;</h3>



<p>I don&#8217;t go anywhere to be honest. Occasionally I will read a book or play bit of music, but there&#8217;s not much space. It&#8217;s a relatively small school. In the summer, I like to go and walk out on the fields and get some fresh air. But on the whole, I&#8217;d say just reading a book for 15 minutes or listening to a bit of music sometimes just takes the edge off. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-song-you-sing-at-full-volume-when-everyone-s-gone-home-nbsp">The song you sing at full volume when everyone’s gone home?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Currently, <em>Die with a Smile</em> by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advice-you-d-give-your-younger-self-and-your-current-students-nbsp">Advice you’d give your younger self – and your current students?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>I&#8217;d probably give the same advice to both, which is to appreciate your parents. My parents are in their 80s, and I sometimes say to them now, I am disappointed in how I sometimes spoke to them and how I sometimes must have come across after the sacrifices they made for me. I often say to the children here that in the coming years, there will be times where you think you don&#8217;t like your parents, and I say never, ever let yourself think that. You can let yourself think they&#8217;re annoying or they&#8217;re frustrating you but never, ever tell yourself they don&#8217;t love you or you don&#8217;t like them, because they would do anything to help you.</p>



<p>So yeah, parents is something I feel very strongly about. My parents have never judged me and they&#8217;ve never held a grudge against me, but I do look back on them putting me through private education in a particular time where they didn&#8217;t have so much money and it was harder towards the end to just get me through, so I could have been more grateful.</p>



<p><em><strong>Want to hear more about Adam Hurst&#8217;s headship? Read our review of Dolphin School in Hurst <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/the-dolphin-school-hurst/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</strong></em></p>


Meet the Head: Adam Hurst, Dolphin School

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