L-R: Sean Skehan, Simon Marshall and Duncan Byrne

Three more headmaster appointments for 2016

Barrow Hills, Loughborough Grammar School and Bancroft's to welcome new leadership next year

Posted by Stephanie Broad | December 02, 2015 | People, policy, politics

• #appointments
• #headmaster
• #barrow-hills-school
• #loughborough-grammar-school
• #bancrofts
• #independent-schools
• #education

Barrow Hills School is appointing a new Head, effective from 1 September 2016.  Mr Sean Skehan will take up the position following the current Headmaster’s, Mr Matthew Unsworth, family emigration to his wife’s homeland Australia, at the end of this term. 

The Governors of Barrow Hills selected Mr Skehan from a strong field of candidates. Mr Skehan, a committed Roman Catholic has been in the education sector for the last 25 years, most recently working as a Head at St Andrew’s School in Bedford (independent co-educational Nursery and Junior School / girls’ Senior School) and Deputy Head (Academic) at Mayfield School in East Sussex (independent Catholic boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18). 

The new head will take up residence in the summer of 2016, although he will be regularly attending key events at Barrow Hills in the run up to his official tenure, commencing with the end of term Carol Service.

Justine Voisin, Chair of Governors, commented: “We have made the selection from an extensive and strong field of candidates, several of whom would have made an excellent Head. By selecting Mr Skehan we have chosen the candidate who, more than any other, we believe can build best on the strengths and leading reputation of Barrow Hills School.” 

Duncan Byrne has been appointed as the new Headmaster of Loughborough Grammar School. The current Second Master of Cheltenham College will take up his appointment at the independent boys’ school at the start of the summer term. 

He succeeds Paul Fisher, who is retiring having led the school since 1998.

Duncan was educated at Dulwich College and graduated in 1995 with Honours in Modern and Medieval Languages from Trinity College Cambridge, where he was a Choral Scholar. He will bring with him wide ranging experience in independent schools, including boys’, mixed and boarding environments, from his current position and previous posts at Colfe's School, Whitgift School, and Haberdashers’ Aske's Boys’ School where he was Assistant Head.

Bancroft’s School, in Essex, is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Simon Marshall MA, PGCE (Cantab), MA, M.Phil (Oxon) as Head of Bancroft’s School with effect from 1 September 2016.

Simon is currently Headmaster of The English College in Prague. He was previously Deputy Head (Academic) at University College School, London (2007-2013) and Head of English at King’s College School, Wimbledon (2001-2007).  He will replace the outgoing Head Mrs Mary Ireland, who is retiring after eight successful years as Head of Bancroft’s.

Educated at Merchant Taylors’ School, Crosby, Simon graduated in Classics in 1988 from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge where he was a Choral Exhibitioner. He also gained his Postgraduate Certificate in General Education from Cambridge. He subsequently graduated in 1995 in English Language and Literature from Trinity College, Oxford and took an M.Phil there in Eighteenth Century Studies in 1997. 

A keen mountaineer and runner, Simon also enjoys gardening, music and theatre. He and his wife Eleanor are very much looking forward to joining the Bancroft’s community.  He says, “I am honoured and delighted to have been appointed to lead such a flourishing and successful school. When visiting the School I was struck by the friendly and purposeful atmosphere and by the great affection felt for Bancroft’s by everyone I met. I very much look forward to joining the Bancroft’s community next year and working with pupils, staff, governors and parents to build on the superb legacy of Mary Ireland.”