Jonathan Shaw

Ellesmere College in Shropshire has appointed Jonathan Shaw as its next headteacher from September next year, the Oswestry and Border Counties Advertizer has reported.

Ellesmere College is a co-educational boarding school for children aged three to 18 owned by the Woodard Trust.

Shaw is currently head of the senior school of 600 pupils at King’s Ely in Cambridgeshire. He was previously a housemaster at Woodard Trust-owned Ardingly College Prep School in Haywards Health in West Sussex. He was also vice-principal of pastoral at Elizabeth College in Guernsey and head of boarding at St Andrew’s, Turi in Kenya, where he was also chairman of marketing. Before that, he was head of history at Gordon’s School in Surrey and a history teacher at Royal Grammar School (RGS) Worcester. He has also worked as an inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Ellesmere College’s headmaster for the past 27 years Brendan Wignall died in January from cancer. Vicky Pritt-Roberts will continue as acting head of until Shaw takes up his post.

Shaw said: “During my recent visits to Ellesmere, I was particularly impressed by the school’s care for the individual, the importance of the community and the sense of ambition for the future.

“It will be a huge privilege to build upon the legacy of Brendan Wignall who led the school with such humility, kindness and wisdom.

“My wife, Katherine, and I are looking forward to moving to Ellesmere with our family next summer and being part of a very special community.”

Charles Lillis, chairman of governors at Ellesmere College, commented: ‘’During a rigorous selection process involving governors, staff and pupils, Mr Shaw shone out as an exceptional candidate, and was the clear and unanimous choice of the selection panel.

“Our new headmaster ably demonstrated that he understands the holistic ethos and values of Ellesmere College and he will undoubtedly bring vision, energy, dynamism and a wealth of experience to the role.

“With such a strong appointment I and my fellow governors continue to be extremely optimistic about the future of Ellesmere College.’’