Wellington School is delighted to announce the appointment of Alex Battison as its next Head, replacing Eugene du Toit who will move to Haileybury School in September 2024 after five years at the helm.
Alex has been Senior Deputy Head at the prestigious Lord Wandsworth College in Hampshire since 2018 and has extensive strategic development experience, as well as an impressive academic and pastoral leadership background. He has been responsible for the day-to-day running of the school, the co-curriculum, safeguarding, character education, student voice and pastoral care as well as playing a key role in crafting its strategic journey.
He is Chair of Educational Futures as part of Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Programme, a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, and a Global Ambassador for HundrED, where he helps select the top 100 educational innovations in the world each year. Furthermore, as a Salzburg Global Fellow, he collaborated on material published for the United Nations Education Conference in New York, 2022.
Alex also consults for organisations such as The Premier League (football) on the leadership and management of high performing learning environments and is an international speaker and writer on leadership, futures and education.
Alex has a BSc (Hons) and PGCE from the University of Wales, Cardiff, a Masters from Oxford University in Learning and Teaching and is currently working towards the latter stages of his Doctorate in Leadership, Learning and Policy at Bristol University which he will complete this Summer.
Prior to Lord Wandsworth, Alex led the teaching and learning as Assistant Head at Wells Cathedral School and previously as Director of Learning and Innovation, as well as Assistant Houseparent and Head of Sports Science at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex. He also has over 15 years experience in boarding houses.
Anna Govey, Chair of Governors, stated: “I am confident that we have found an outstanding leader with exceptional experience, breadth of knowledge and an impressive academic pedigree who will take Wellington School successfully into the future. Alex showed an immediate affinity with our culture and ethos as well as enormous energy and passion for the possibilities that being part of the Wellington community will offer him.”
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Upon news of his appointment Alex said: “I am thrilled to have been entrusted to help lead such a wonderful community in the next stage of its journey and build on the many successes and achievements in recent years. I am particularly looking forward to getting to know students, staff, parents and alumni over the months ahead, and collaborate to further inspire the remarkable education that goes on here. My family and I are also very much looking forward to returning to the South West and settling in this Summer”.
Chair of Governors Anna Govey continued, “Alex impressed us with his warmth and integrity and his vision for education closely allies with Wellington’s ethos of collaborative learning with a focus on future skills. In particular, his values resonate with the kindness and sense of community that are so much a part of our culture. He is a very caring man who shares our passion for challenging, nurturing and inspiring young people to succeed in a global community.”
“The Governors are delighted that Alex has accepted the appointment and we very much look forward to working with him.” Anna Govey concluded.
Alex will be taking up his position in September 2024 along with his wife Pippa (a teacher, previously a Housemistress at Hurstpierpoint and Wells Cathedral School) and they have three sons: Charlie (6), Freddie (4) and Jack (2).
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Photo captions:
- Wellington School will be welcoming new Headmaster Alex Battison in September
- Alex Battison and his family will be moving to Wellington School for September 2024