Glenalmond College appoints Mortimer as warden
Image from Glenalmond College’s Twitter page
Glenalmond College, a co-educational independent boarding school in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, has appointed Mark Mortimer as warden, taking over from Dr Michael Alderson.
Previously headmaster of two independent co-educational boarding schools in the south of England, Bryanston and Warminster, Mortimer has more than 20 years’ experience of the education sector. He started his teaching career at Giggleswick in the Yorkshire Dales, where he was head of history, an assistant housemaster and coach of the 1st XV rugby team, before moving onto Hampton School and then to St John’s, Leatherhead as deputy head. Before moving into teaching, he spent eight years as an army officer and then had a brief career as a management consultant.
A keen historian, sportsman and saxophonist, Mortimer has twice rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, taken part in the Marathon des Sables across the Sahara and more recently cycled across the Arctic Circle. He will be joined at Glenalmond by his French wife, Anna, and their three young children.
Mortimer said: “Glenalmond is quite clearly a wonderful school, with a philosophy and approach that put it at the forefront of a 21st century education. Its location and facilities are first-rate, but schools are first and foremost about people and relationships, and I look forward to working with an outstanding group of staff, pupils and parents in order to help lead the college on the next stage of its development.”
Glenalmond College Council’s chairman Ian Gray, commented: “We are preparing young people for the challenges of a changing world in a wonderful setting combining our heritage of 175 years with a modern outlook. We are thrilled to welcome Mark whose experience and personality makes him a great fit with the ethos of the college, to build on the recent progress and to engage with the local community and staff.
“We would like to thank Michael for instigating a programme of reform and modernisation which places the college on an exciting course for the future. He provided us with a strong focus on improving academic standards and critically steered the school through the difficult lockdown caused by Covid.”
Alderson said: “The last three years have been incredibly challenging but rewarding, serving this remarkable school. It has been a pleasure to be part of a wonderful community, with its strong academic ethos, caring staff and exceptional pupils, who together make this school such a special place.”