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SUSSEX’S newest Prep School has appointed a new headmaster.
Sebastian Rees (41) has been appointed by governors at Seaford College Prep School, near Petworth, with effect from September 2012. Mr Rees is currently Director of Studies of the highly-respected Junior Kings School, Canterbury, where he has taught for the past six years.
Prior to that, he was acting head of Northbourne Primary School, near Deal, and a teacher at nearby Sandwich Junior School, Kent.
London-born Mr Rees was educated at Cumnor House Preparatory School in South London and Cranleigh, before reading French and Italian at University College, London.
He spent three years from 1992 – 95 running a language school in Northern Spain, before returning to England to study for his PGCE at Christ Church College, Canterbury.
Mr Rees is married to Gillian and together they have four children – Tim (22), Luke (21), Jess (20) and Nicholas (13).
Of his new appointment, he said: “I am very excited to be joining the Seaford College Prep School at a time when it is growing and moving forward. I have been very impressed by the staff who are already in place and the happy atmosphere of the school, which is a very important factor in children’s education.”
Mr Rees coaches U8 and U9 football, rugby and cricket and, in his spare time, enjoys travelling and DIY.
Seaford College, founded on the Sussex Coast in 1854, moved to its present location at Lavington Park, Petworth, in 1946. Although Seaford has had a very successful 11+ entry since 1990 and has 50 – 60 pupils in both years 7 and 8, it only extended its age range to create the prep school in 2009 as a lifeline to pupils from St Margaret’s Convent School, Midhurst, which faced closure.
College Headmaster Toby Mullins said: “The appointment of Sebastian Rees is a very exciting step forward for us. We are ambitious and confident that, after three years of running Key Stage 2, we have the formula to become one of the strongest prep schools in the South of England.
“The College has invested heavily in recent years and we now have state-of-the-art maths and science facilities, superb sports facilities and the latest in ICT, including wireless access, eight computer suites and an excellent virtual learning environment (VLE).”
Seaford College Prep School benefits from being self-contained within the 400-acre Lavington Park estate, but shares all of the main school’s excellent facilities, including a purpose-built art and design department, magnificently-equipped music school and first-class sports facilities, including a golf course, all-weather hockey pitch and indoor swimming pool, due for completion in 2013.
Coincidentally, Mr Rees’ latest DIY project was the construction of a swimming pool at his parents’ house in France – but says he will be giving the school’s pool project a wide berth.
“I like a challenge and taking on big projects – but not that one!”
Mr Rees succeeds Richard Stather, and his wife Jane, who have built the junior school up from 40 pupils to 170. Mrs Stather is retiring but Mr Stather will stay on to teach history.