South Croydon: Following a highly competitive recruitment process the Court of Governors of the John Whitgift Foundation and the Whitgift School Committee are delighted to have appointed Mr Toby Seth, MA as the new permanent Headmaster of Whitgift School. Mr Seth will take up his appointment in September 2025. For the 2024/25 academic year the school will be led by Andrew Halls, OBE, previously Head of KCS Wimbledon and Magdalen College.
This will be Mr Seth’s second Headship as he has been Head of The Pocklington School Foundation, an age 3-18 day and boarding school in Yorkshire since 2019. Mr Seth was educated at Dulwich College before graduating from Trinity College, Cambridge where he read Modern and Medieval
Languages. He went on to study for his PGCE at King’s College London, followed later by a Masters in
Leadership in Education at The Institute for Education. He started his teaching career at Dulwich College in 2002 teaching Spanish and French and then broadened his teaching experience through posts at Wellington College, The Godolphin and Latymer School and at The King’s School Macclesfield, prior to his move to Pocklington.
Throughout a highly successful Headship at Pocklington, during which time he led the school through and out of the challenging years of the pandemic, Mr Seth created a warm and thriving school with a strategic vision based around a strong set of educational values, a commitment to innovation and the prioritisation of high-quality pastoral care. In addition to a range of cultural interests, he is a keen sportsman and enjoys hockey, tennis, football, rugby and skiing.
On his appointment Mr Seth said:
“I am honoured and delighted to have been appointed to lead Whitgift School at a pivotal time in its history. Throughout the recruitment process, I was struck by Whitgift’s many strengths, including its commitment to excellence, the wealth of opportunities on offer to boys and the deep sense of pride at being part of such a diverse and strong community. I am looking forward to meeting more members of this community and working alongside Chris Ramsey and Andrew Halls to ensure a smooth and effective handover before getting down to work in September 2025.”
Christopher Houlding, Chair of the John Whitgift Foundation said:
“Toby Seth will be the 30th Headmaster of Whitgift School and we are delighted that he will bring his focus on academic excellence together with his understanding of how to develop boys’ characters so that they can succeed and thrive in the 21st century.”
Nick Edwards, Chair of the Whitgift School Committee said:
“Whitgift School is one of the largest and most successful boys’ schools in the country. Under Toby’s leadership it will continue to transform boys’ lives and shape the local community for the better. I am looking forward to working with him, parents, pupils and staff on developing the school’s strategic vision for the next phase in its long history.”
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Notes to editors
Attachments: Photograph of Mr Toby Seth
About Whitgift: Whitgift is an independent day and boarding school for 10-18 year old boys and is located in South London. The School was established in 1596 by John Whitgift, then Archbishop of Canterbury and in 2022 launched its own charity Whitgift For All to raise additional bursary funding in support of bright students from the local area. It is part of John Whitgift Foundation who have a charitable commitment to provide education for the young and care for the elderly in the Borough of Croydon. For more information please visit: www.whitgift.co.uk