Sir Mike Rake, Vice-President of Wellington College, announced today to families and staff that Julian Thomas will succeed Sir Anthony Seldon to be the 14th Master of Wellington College from 1 September 2015.
Sir Mike said: “We have selected from several quite exceptional candidates, any one of whom would have made an excellent Master; in our final choice we have selected the candidate who, more than any other, we believe can best build on the strengths and reputation of the College, continuing its path to be one of the leading and most socially progressive co-educational schools in the world.”
Following an early career in ICT in the banking sector and a degree in Computer Science from King’s College, London, Julian taught Maths at Forest School and St. Dunstan’s College, co-authoring several maths text books. He then moved to Portsmouth Grammar as Director of Studies. Following four years as Second Master at Hampton School, during which time he completed an MBA in Educational Leadership (International), Julian was appointed Head at Caterham School in Surrey in 2007. Under his leadership, Caterham has developed into one of the UK’s leading day and boarding co-educational schools. In particular, Julian has driven the academic and all round achievement of the school, resulting in the school gaining national recognition for its innovative approach to learning, outstanding co-curricular provision and over 20 Oxbridge places this year. Julian’s experience as part of the United Learning group, of which Caterham is a part, means he is also well placed to lead across the Wellington family of schools. Caterham was also one of the founding schools of the London Academy of Excellence, where Julian is a Governor.
Outside of the classroom, Julian was a junior county cricketer, won a rugby league half-blue while completing his PGCE at Cambridge and, in later life, has developed a passion for outdoors trekking and climbing; he has climbed Mont Blanc and Gran Paradiso, as well as trekking the Chemin de la Liberte across the Pyrenees. In November 2014 he will begin an expedition aiming to trek from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole.
Julian, who is 47, will take up residence in the Master’s Lodge in the summer of 2015 with his wife, Julia, and their two sons.