A KEEN sportsman is preparing to take up the post of headmaster at Wellington School by completing a leadership course.

Eugene Du Toit will replace the current head, Henry Price, who is moving to Oakham School next September after five years.

Mr Du Toit has been senior deputy head at Trinity School of John Whitgift, Croydon, since 2014.

He has extensive strategic development experience and an impressive academic and pastoral leadership background.

He is a graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and has an MA in educational leadership from the Institute of Education, at the University of London.

He is currently studying for an MBA (Master of Business Administration) in educational leadership (international), which he will complete next summer.

Mr Du Toit, who has two young daughters with his wife, Angela, began his teaching career at King Edward VII School, Johannesburg, before moving to England to teach economics and maths at St Paul’s School, where he was undermaster (assistant head) and head of house.

He said: "It is an honour to have been invited to serve as the next head of Wellington School – a happy, ambitious and successful community.

"I am committed to ensuring that Wellington continues to provide an outstanding all-round education, where academic excellence, co-curricular opportunities and personal development sit comfortably alongside one another and look forward to working with everyone within the Wellington community in shaping the school’s exciting future.

"My wife and I have been struck by the warmth of the relationships at Wellington, and we are looking forward to our family move to Somerset."

Mr Du Toit has played representative rugby and coached rugby, water polo and athletics.

He has also travelled extensively, been a governor at two prep schools and swum the length of Lake Windermere, as well as a relay Channel swim.

Anna Govey, chairman of governors, said: "I am confident that we have found an ambitious leader with high personal standards and expectations, who will take Wellington School successfully into the future.

"Eugene showed enormous energy, passion for the possibilities that being part of the Wellington community will offer him, as well as an immediate affinity with our culture and ethos."

She added: "We are very much looking forward to working with Eugene to take Wellington onto the next chapter."