Turning the Page – Mr Chandler, Head Of Hockey

As his RHS chapter comes to a close, Mr Chandler turns the page, with a new adventure to embark on.

With another school year coming to a close we pause to recognise staff who will sadly not be returning, but instead moving onto new chapters in their adventures. This Bubble feature will provide some insight into staff departing whilst celebrating their hard work, commitment and dedication which will forever leave a lasting impact on our RHS community. This edition features a farewell for Mr Chandler who joined RHS in September 2023 as Head of Hockey. Before joining RHS, he had worked across a number of independent schools following a season playing hockey in Australia, with previous roles including Head of Hockey at Stamford School.

Read on to find out more about Mr Chandler’s RHS journey.

Mr Chandler’s favourite RHS memories:

Whilst there are many memorable moments Mr Chandler has experienced over the past three years, he claims one stands out above all the others. The final girls’ 1st XI fixture of the 2025/26 hockey season against Norwich School, played under the lights, a moment which will stay with him forever. “We went into half-time 2–0 down, but the girls produced an incredible second-half comeback to win 3–2. Not only was it a fantastic performance, but it was also the first time in the school’s history that the girls’ 1st XI had beaten Norwich.” Mr Chandler felt immensely proud of the determination, resilience and togetherness that the team showed that evening, it is a memory he will cherish forever. Ranking among his favourite moments in both his teaching and coaching career.
Alongside that, Mr Chandler feels it has been incredibly rewarding to help build a fantastic culture and identity within hockey at RHS. “Seeing both the boys’ and girls’ programmes embrace a recognisable RHS style of play, with teams playing with confidence, courage and togetherness, has been something I have taken immense pride in.” Other highlights for him include reaching the last 16 of the U19 Independent Schools Hockey Cup for the first time after an unforgettable penalty shuffle victory over Worth School, seeing the Boys’ U14A team crowned County Champions in the 2026 season, and taking the senior girls on their first pre-season tour to Cardiff Met for the annual invitational.
”None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of the hockey coaching team. Their commitment, enthusiasm and countless hours behind the scenes have played a huge part in everything we’ve achieved together. More than any result, though, it has been a privilege to work with such fantastic pupils, colleagues and coaches, and to watch young people grow in confidence, develop as teammates and create memories that will stay with them long after they leave RHS.”

An insight into Mr Chandler’s next adventure:

In September, Mr Chandler will be joining Mount Kelly as Head of Hockey. An exciting opportunity to return to Devon, where he grew up, and to lead another ambitious hockey programme. He looks forward to building on everything he’s learnt during his time at RHS while embracing a new challenge both professionally and personally. “Although I am excited for what lies ahead, leaving the pupils, colleagues and wider RHS community will undoubtedly be the hardest part. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have been given over the last three years and will always look back on my time here with great pride.”

What do you hope or think you will be most remembered for?

“I hope I’ll be remembered for my enthusiasm and bubbly personality, and for bringing energy and positivity to every lesson, training session and fixture. Building strong relationships with pupils has always been incredibly important to me, so I hope I’ll be remembered as someone who was approachable, caring and genuinely invested in helping every pupil enjoy sport and develop in their own way. Whether it was supporting those taking their first steps on the hockey pitch or challenging experienced players to reach the next level, I always wanted every pupil to feel valued and to enjoy representing RHS.”

”And finally… I imagine I’ll also be remembered as the teacher who wore shorts all year round, whatever the weather! Some traditions are just too hard to break.”

Mr Chandler’s time at RHS has clearly been an adventure, one to never forget. As he moves on, he simply turns the page into a new chapter in his journey, whilst his time at RHS comes to a close, the memories he leaves behind will remain a part of many pupils’ stories, alongside our RHS story. We all wish him every success as he discovers what lies ahead, continuing to turn countless pages.

“It has been a privilege to be part of the RHS community, working alongside fantastic colleagues and coaching so many talented young people. RHS will always hold a special place in my heart, and I look forward to following the continued success of the hockey programme in the years to come.” – Mr Chandler, Head Of Hockey.

Keep your eyes pealed for more ‘Turning the Page’ features to find out about another staff member departing RHS.