Robert Milne

Dulwich College has appointed Robert Milne as its next master from September next year, succeeding Dr Joe Spence.

Dulwich College is a private, day and boarding school for boys aged two to 10 located in Southeast London.

Milne has experience as a teacher, head of department and senior leader. He is headmaster of Emanuel School, a private, co-educational day school in Battersea, Southwest London. He was previously deputy head at King’s College School, Wimbledon, head of English at Magdalen College School, Oxford, and head of house at King Edward’s School, Birmingham.

A pupil at Pocklington School in Yorkshire, Milne is an English graduate with degrees from Leicester University and King’s College London. After his PGCE, he joined Oundle School in Northamptonshire as an English teacher and housemaster. From September this year, he will be the chair of HMC’s pastoral committee.

Milne said: “I am delighted to be joining Dulwich College after several extremely happy years at Emanuel School. During conversations with governors, Dr Joe Spence and the leadership team, it became clear that my own professional and personal values very much align with those of the college. I look forward to officially starting at Dulwich in the late summer of 2025.”

Spence added: “I have enjoyed spending time with and talking to Rob and know that I will be leaving Dulwich in highly capable hands. Rob has an understanding of the college’s ethos and purpose, and he will lead its staff and pupils with intelligence and integrity. I’m greatly looking forward to making sure Rob and his family’s arrival in Dulwich is as smooth and happy as possible.’

Dr Adrian Carr, chair of governors said: “Over the next year we will celebrate Joe’s outstanding educational legacy which is clearly seen in Dulwich’s academic, pastoral and co-curricular excellence, and in the college’s extensive educational partnerships programme and commitment to initial teacher training. Under Joe’s leadership the number of college bursaries has grown to 214 and his concept of free learning has blossomed into an unrivalled holistic offer, securing Dulwich’s position as one of the top independent schools in the country.”