Westminster headteacher tell students during assembly he’s banning the use of ‘Sir’ and ‘Miss’

A leading London headteacher has introduced a ban on students using the term ‘Sir’ or ‘Miss’ to address teachers, calling it ‘cultural misogyny’.

James Handscombe, Executive Principal of Harris Westminster Sixth Form and Harris Clapham Sixth Form, shared an assembly on his Twitter account that he’d given to students, asking them to use full names when speaking to teachers. 

The assembly, titled ‘no more Sir, no more Miss’, has now been viewed more than 120,000 times. 

In 2021, the headteacher hit the headlines for calling Taylor Swift a philosopher and he’s clearly still a fan – five song titles appear in the assembly given this week.

In it, Mr Handscombe tells pupils: ‘We are changing the way that students refer to staff at Harris Westminster. 

‘No longer will it be acceptable to call us “Sir” or “Miss”. We would prefer you to call us by our names.’

He explained that the decision showed ‘our continued commitment to a better and more equal world’ saying that while the term ‘Sir’ was associated with powerful men, ‘Miss’ was ‘how you refer to a small girl, or an Edwardian shop assistant.’

Many schools have ditched the traditional addresses in recent years, favouring terms such as Ms, Ma’am or Madam instead. 

Mr Handscombe’s post was widely praised by teachers – with many female teachers saying they hated being addressed as ‘Miss’ – especially by colleagues.  

One wrote: ‘I absolutely loathe when another teacher calls me Miss. I’m 55 years old and I didn’t really know quite why it made my skin crawl. Cultural misogyny – thanks James that was quite brilliant.’

Harris Westminster Sixth Form; students are encouraged to call teachers by their full names

Another said: ‘This is so very needed. I hope it works. I once had a senior deputy who called me “Miss” rather than my name and it grated every time.’

Mr Handscombe said of the decision: ‘It’s one of those things that is obviously wrong but nobody’s fault (particularly not students, who I think use the two terms as equal forms of respect) and difficult to shift. We’ll see how we get on.’

However, one teacher said what she’s called in the classroom is the least of her worries, writing: ‘Ffs, the way behaviour is at the moment I don’t give a damn what I’m called I just want the b****** to work. I’ve been ‘Miss’ for 35 years, and I’ll be that until I retire.’

Two years ago, Mr Handscombe hit the headlines for telling pupils that pop star Taylor Swift was one of life’s philosophers – and there were five song references to the star in the latest assembly. 

He discusses the words of wisdom found in her lyrics in his new book, A School Built On Ethos, revealing that he believes her songs teach his pupils valuable life lessons. (Pictured: Harris Westminster school)

In 2021, Mr Handscombe, who was introduced to Swift’s music through his teenage daughters, believes that the star deserves to take her place in the canon of great philosophers.

He discusses the words of wisdom found in her lyrics in his new book, A School Built On Ethos, revealing that he believes her songs teach his pupils valuable life lessons.   

Her country song Mean is a ‘spirited defiance’ in standing up to bullies, Welcome to New York is a wonderful lesson on ‘shaping your own future’ and Shake It Off teaches listeners to ‘do your own thing’.  

He said: ‘It always gets a laugh when the headteacher knows anything about pop culture, and it’s great fun quoting a pop lyric completely straight under the guise of philosophy and watching the nudges move round the room, “hang on”, “did he just say?”, “I think I recognise this”.’

The educator, who took degrees at Oxford and Harvard in maths, said: ‘Her songwriting is telling her own stories and that they are gloriously the stories of a young woman negotiating the 21st century, is a great example for our young people.’

Harris Westminster opened in 2014 with the help of neighbouring Westminster School and the Harris Federation, a not-for-profit charity.

It gives priority to disadvantaged teenagers from around London and last year, 44 of its students received offers from Oxbridge.