Paul Henderson was initially brought up in the North-East of England but completed his secondary education at The Leys School in Cambridge, before going to University at Nottingham and then Cambridge. He moved from his first teaching post at Colchester Royal Grammar School to join the teaching staff at Norwich School in 1979 as Head of Classics and Master i/c Cricket. He eventually became Director of Studies here before moving in 1994 to St Albans School as Second Master (under Andrew Grant). In 2000 he was appointed Headmaster of Eltham College in South-east London, where he stayed until retirement in 2014. During his time as Headmaster, he was Secretary and then Chairman of the London Division of HMC, and a Governor at both Aldenham School and Reigate Grammar School.

In retirement he returned to Norwich with his wife Maryta, who had in their previous spell in Norfolk been Deputy Chief Sub-Editor on the the EDP and had subsequently gone on to work for the London Evening Standard and then The Times. 

Recently Paul has helped provide maternity cover for the Classics Departments at both Norwich School and Norwich High School.