A former murder squad detective with the Metropolitan Police is heading a new team — but in a rather different field.

Marcus Peel has taken over as the new headmaster of Malsis School, Cross Hills.

Married with two grown-up children, he has been a schoolmaster for 20 years and moved to Malsis in 2005 to become joint head of boarding, with his wife, Louise. He became deputy head last year while his wife continues to run boarding at the school.

Describing himself as an “all-rounder”, Mr Peel is particularly keen on adventure activities, music and cookery.

And he says: “I wish to promote an environment that encourages the children in the school to have a sense of purpose in all they do, to lead a well-balanced life, to be charming in their dealings with others and to have a sense of modest style.”

From this term, Mr Peel is introducing a personal tutor system to focus on the progress of each child, both inside and outside the classroom, and a weekly two-hour protected activity time is being created during which youngsters will be taught such things as yoga and survival skills.

The new head also wants pupils to start growing their own produce in a field at the rear of the premises and for year seven and eight students to run this as a business.

“I dream of the school eating their own potatoes for lunch,” he said.

In addition, Mr Peel also hopes to promote Malsis as a centre of musical excellence and the recent appointment of James Ashworth as director of music has already started this process.

In 2010 the school will celebrate its 90th anniversary and so it will be working towards some special celebrations.