TAUNTON School has announced that Ed Burnett has been appointed deputy headmaster.

It will mark a return to the county town for Mr Burnett, who taught for a year at King’s College in Taunton, and his wife Valerie, a teacher Taunton School during the same period.

Mr Burnett, who has also taught in Hong Kong, has been at Cranleigh School in Surrey for the past ten years.

He is now a housemaster, having previously been Head of Economics and Business Studies and Head of Rugby.

Mr Lee Glaser, Headmaster, said:  “I am thrilled that we will have a man of Ed's capability and experience playing a key role at Taunton School. He is an outstanding educator.”

Mr Burnett, 39, added: “We’re really looking forward to coming back to Taunton.

“This is renowned as a friendly school with a real bond between the staff and students.

“I feel passionately that a school is about more than just academic grades – it is also about developing the character of individuals.

“Taunton does this very well and I’m looking forward to helping move that forward with the support of the Common Room and a new Headmaster.”

Mr Burnett – a coach in cricket, rugby and netball – is a keen cricketer and also enjoys long-distance outdoor swimming.

He and his wife have an eight-year-old son Jack, who will be attending Taunton Prep School.