Merchiston Castle School is delighted to welcome Mr Jonathan Anderson as headmaster from August 2018

Merchiston Castle School is delighted to welcome Mr Jonathan Anderson as headmaster from August 2018.

Jonathan grew up in Ulster and read geography at Queen’s Belfast, where he developed his appetite for teaching and subsequently completed his teaching qualification in 1997. The same year, he joined Christ’s Hospital as a Geography Teacher before being promoted in 1998 to Assistant Housemaster, and in 2003 to Housemaster in a boys’ boarding house. After almost 14 years at Christ’s Hospital, he was appointed as Senior Deputy Head at Worksop College, Nottinghamshire, where he has spent the last seven years.

In tandem with headhunters Odgers Berndtson, the Board of Governors conducted a rigorous selection process over the Autumn Term 2017, and Jonathan was the outstanding candidate within an excellent field of applicants.

On his appointment, the Chairman of Governors, Gareth Baird, said: ‘The Board of Governors is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Jonathan Anderson who will succeed Mr Andrew Hunter as Headmaster of Merchiston Castle School after 20 years of stellar service. Jonathan comes to us from his position as Senior Deputy Head at Worksop College and emerged from a very strong field of candidates. His considerable depth of experience and strong value set will bring much to Merchiston. We look forward to welcoming Jonathan and his family to Merchiston for the start of the 2018–19 academic session.’

Jonathan joins Merchiston at an exciting time as the school celebrates another successful year and the achievements of pupils, both in and out of the classroom.

A passionate believer in the benefits of a well-rounded education and providing opportunities for pupils to excel in all that they do, Jonathan says:

‘For me, it is a privilege to be able to lead a school like Merchiston as it is a wonderful community, both in terms of the physical surroundings and also the people that are part of it.

I was drawn to it because of its strong sense of community and its ethos, which are about supporting one another, along with the fact that the boys want to excel and be the best they can be, whether academically or on the sports field or through music or drama.

We are very proud of our academic performance, our strong pastoral care and that we are a tightly knit community. I truly believe that Merchiston is a remarkable place for boys to make lifelong friends while gaining a world-class education. We ensure that our pupils are excited about their promising futures and are ready to contribute to, and shape, the world of tomorrow.’