King Edward's School Home

Tim Clarke (former parent)

Biography

Tim Clarke is a former parent at KES and is Chairman of the Independent Schools' Governing body for KES and KEHS. He has been a Foundation Governor since 2010 and lives in Edgbaston. He is currently the Senior Independent Director of Associated British Foods PLC, a multinational food and retail group. He is a Director of two brewing, pub and restaurant companies, Hall & Woodhouse Ltd and Timothy Taylor & Co Ltd; and is also a Director of Triplepoint Venture Capital Trust PLC.

After reading PPE at Oxford, he went into the City and became a partner and head of research at Panmure Gordon & Co. He subsequently joined Bass PLC and became CEO in 2000. Following demerger, he was CEO of Mitchells & Butlers PLC until 2009. He is also currently a Trustee director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet and of the Elgar Foundation.

Why I am supporting the AP100 Campaign

The remarkable education provided by a "Great School" like King Edward's not only transforms the individual lives of boys of exceptional potential, but in doing so makes a wider contribution to society as a whole. It was a tragedy that access to such schools, which in the decades after the war, was effectively open to all on merit, has been closed off to state funding. We,as individuals now have the opportunity to fill that gap through the Assisted Places scheme.

It is difficult to believe that Britain, or cities like Birmingham, can thrive in such a competitive world, unless this kind of outstanding education is available to all of our brightest children, irrespective of their parental circumstances. As a family, we are immensely grateful that both of our sons were able to attend KES, receive such a wonderful education, and subsequently go on to Oxford. I am now sponsoring a boy through KES on the AP scheme, because I want able boys, who would not otherwise have that opportunity, to be able to have the same experience that my own sons were able to enjoy.

Please consider supporting this marvellous AP100 Campaign.