A HEADMASTER who has been leader at a Wellington school for the past ten years is set to leave to take on a new challenge overseas.

Adam Gibson has been headmaster at Wellington Prep School since September 2010, and was also educated at Wellington School as a child.

He is leaving at the end of the summer 2020 term to take up a new role as head of prep at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi.

“My time at the helm of the Prep School has been an absolute privilege and an opportunity that I could never have imagined when I left Wellington School as an 18 year-old,” comments Adam Gibson.

“To have found myself at my old school – a school for which I have a deep affection – has always meant more to me than any other comparable role could ever have done. During my time at Wellington School, it has been a privilege to help to deliver an outstanding prep education and to help shape the school’s ethos and values.”

Mr Gibson went to university at Southampton, Loughborough and Cambridge before becoming a teacher in his late 20s.

With his wife Amanda and their two children, the Gibson family have thrown themselves into Wellington School life, as the school describes them as 'valuable and lively' members of the community.

He added: “The school is a great community and can, rightly, be described as a family. Wellington, as a town and as a school, has been very good to us and we will be eternally grateful to everyone – children and adults, alike."

Wellington School's chairman of governors, Anna Govey, said: “Adam’s commitment to the Prep School has been outstanding over a decade. He has been instrumental in re-structuring the school, incorporating our transitional prep year into the school, and making the successful re-brand from Junior to Prep School. He has implemented some outstanding academic standards, launched the nursery school and overseen the purchase, development and success of our Forest School and Outdoor Learning programme.

Eugene du Toit, Headmaster of Wellington School, said: “Adam has served Wellington Prep School with great loyalty and dedication. He has set the highest of standards to both pupils and staff, but has led with compassion and empathy. We will miss Adam, but we congratulate him on his appointment and celebrate his success. The summer term will see the school community appropriately recognising Adam’s excellent service.

“The long-term strategy for the school includes further integrating the prep and senior schools into a single whole-school model. The board of governors and I have begun the process of searching for the next prep head and we anticipate confirming Adam’s replacement by the end of this term.”