APPOINTMENT OF NEW HEAD AT WALHAMPTON SCHOOL

The Board of Governors is delighted to announce that the School has appointed Jonathan Timms as the new Headmaster of Walhampton School from January 2021. Jonny is currently Senior Deputy Head at Caldicott Preparatory School (a leading boys’ day and boarding prep school in South Buckinghamshire) where, alongside his roles in the senior leadership team and in teaching, including development of the curriculum, he is the designated safeguarding lead and leader of all aspects of the pastoral provision for pupils and staff. Jonny will be joined at Walhampton by his wife, Sophie, who is looking forward to playing an active role in school life, alongside her own career in international development. They have two children - Artie (2) and Teddy (1) who will both join the Nursery School in due course. 

Jonny brings relevant academic experience and intellectual depth to Walhampton. Since graduating from Edinburgh and Toronto Universities with a first-class degree in English and History, Jonny has devoted his career to educating young people (in the broadest sense). He began teaching through the Teach First scheme at the Harris Academy in Peckham, and after two years moved to Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh in 2010 where he taught English through to A level, and ran a boarding house. He has completed an MA in Educational Leadership, and is an ISI Boarding and Team Inspector. 

Having worked in both Senior and Prep schools, Jonny is well positioned to understand and advise on pupils’ educational journey from the Early Years through to their entry into Senior schools. Jonny said, “Sophie and I are very much looking forward to joining the Walhampton family in January 2021. From our first visit to the school, we were instantly struck by the extremely warm and friendly welcome, and the potential for the continued development of the school based on its ethos and spectacular location. Walhampton is distinctively different, and we are determined to build on the outstanding all-round education it offers, and are honoured to be at the centre of its exciting future.” This appointment concludes a detailed and thorough process, which included taking into account the views of parents, pupils and staff, and which involved a strong field of candidates all of whom engaged with the School with commitment and enthusiasm. The Board is very grateful to all who were involved in this. At Christmas this year we will bid farewell to Titus and Jemima and will thank them for their significant contribution to the school’s work over the last eight years. Jonny will then take up the baton and lead Walhampton through its next exciting chapter. We are looking forward to introducing Jonny and Sophie to the children and parents of the Walhampton community when they visit during the Autumn Term. 

Yours sincerely,

IAIN RAWLINSON
Chair of Governors