 He rose to be head boy of the school, but after a dispute with the headmaster during which Henson expressed "with more passion than respect" his opinion of the head, he ran away from the school in 1879.He gained employment as an assistant master at Brigg Grammar School in Lincolnshire; the headmaster there recognised his talent and recommended that he should apply for admission to the University of Oxford.Thomas Henson was against the idea, partly because his financial means had declined, but was talked round by his wife and gave his consent.