Loughborough Grammar School
Dr Daniel Koch has been appointed as the next headmaster of Loughborough Grammar School, starting in the autumn term of 2022. He will take over the role from Dr Christopher Barnett, who has been serving as interim head since September 2021. A keen sportsman, author and University of Oxford alumnus, Koch will be leaving the role of senior deputy head (vice-master) at Bedford School. Earlier in his career Koch was head of sixth form at South Hampstead High School and head of history at Worth School.
Ashville Prep School
Asa Firth has been appointed as the next head of Ashville Prep School in Harrogate. He is currently head of prep at JESS in Dubai and will be returning to his Yorkshire roots in April 2022. Firth has spent the last 14 years at international schools in the UAE. He was previously deputy head at Wellington International School in Dubai. Before developing his career in the Middle East, Firth was a class teacher in East Morton Primary School. “Ashville Prep School has so much potential. It’s already a good school, but my aim is to make it a great school,” said Firth.
Concord College
Concord College welcomed new principal, Dr Michael Truss, in September 2021. He studied as a theobald scholar in physics at Balliol College, Oxford, and went on to a PhD in theoretical astrophysics at the University of Leicester and a postdoctoral fellowship in astrophysics at the University of St Andrews. He was previously head of mathematics and head of academic enrichment at Bedales School, and deputy head (academic) at Barnard Castle School. There he was responsible for all aspects of academic life and oversaw a redevelopment of the academic curriculum.
Horris Hill School
Horris Hill School has welcomed new headmaster Dr Steve Bailey, who joins the preparatory school from his role as headmaster (interim) at Westminster Under School. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Bailey came to England aged nine to attend boarding school. He was previously headmaster at Twyford School. Prior to this, Bailey taught at Winchester College, where he was senior housemaster, taught history to A-level, English to GCSE and was a head of department. He is chair of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Association, a member of the executive committee of the Boarding Schools’ Association and a school governor.
St Mary’s School
St Mary’s School in Cambridge promoted Robin Griffiths to head of sixth form in September 2021. He has worked at the school for two years, as a physics teacher and a year 9 and 10 form tutor, though he has worked in education for more than a decade overall. A graduate of Imperial College, and a fellow of the Institute of Physics, Griffiths started teaching at Saffron Walden County High School in 2007, progressing from classroom teacher to head of physics. He taught there until 2017, when he then spent two years working for the Institute of Physics as the head of their teacher support programme.
Bablake and King Henry VIII School
Bablake and King Henry VIII School have announced the appointment of Ian Dunn as chair of governors. Dunn has worked at Coventry University since 1992 and is provost and chief academic officer. He also serves on national and international HE advisory boards. Dunn has more than 20 years’ experience on the governing boards of local schools and currently serves on several multi-academy trusts in Coventry, Warwickshire and Birmingham. He is also a trustee of Relate Coventry and Warwickshire. Chris Staley will join the school in September 2022 as principal.
Read more: Staff appointments November 2021
