Mr Craig Christmas
Associate Assistant Principal - Head of Year 9, Cultural Capital, Experiences, Trips
Mr Christmas is Associate Assistant Principal at Harris Academy Falconwood, where he provides strategic leadership across the Academy while championing high-quality teaching, creativity and exceptional opportunities for every student. With almost twenty years of experience in education and over thirteen years within the Harris Federation, he is passionate about developing both students and staff and believes that education has the power to transform lives.
A specialist in Art and Design, Mr Christmas graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art and Art History from the University of Plymouth before completing his PGCE at the Institute of Education in 2007. During his degree, he studied in the United States, an experience that continues to influence both his artistic practice and educational philosophy. He has also successfully completed both the National Professional Qualification for Middle Leadership (NPQML) and the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL), further strengthening his expertise in educational leadership.
Mr Christmas joined the Harris Federation in 2012 as Head of Art and Design at Harris Academy Peckham before moving to Harris Academy Falconwood, where he has held a number of leadership roles and now serves as Associate Assistant Principal. He has led the development of the Expressive Arts faculty, embedding a culture of creativity, collaboration and excellence. Under his leadership, the Art Department received an Outstanding judgement during an Ofsted deep dive.
Passionate about enriching students' experiences beyond the classroom, Mr Christmas has organised visits to leading cultural institutions including Tate Modern, the National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Saatchi Gallery, as well as international educational visits to New York and Rome. He has also developed inclusive creative opportunities for students with SEND and SEMH, ensuring that every young person can engage with the arts.
Alongside his leadership role, Mr Christmas is a GCSE Art and Design Examiner and Moderator for WJEC/Eduqas and supports curriculum development and school improvement across the Harris Federation.
Mr Christmas is proud to serve Harris Academy Falconwood and remains committed to ensuring every student has access to an outstanding education, rich cultural experiences and the confidence to achieve their full potential.