I am very proud to be joining St John’s College as Head this year drawn by the very particular character of the school: its strong academic tradition, its warm sense of community, its Catholic foundation and its unique place as Choir School to St David’s Cathedral. It is a school with much to be proud of, and one with the confidence and energy to looking ahead with excitement about the future.

My aim is to ensure that every pupil is known, encouraged and challenged to do their best. Academic success matters greatly, but it must sit alongside kindness, curiosity, confidence and a proper sense of responsibility for others. I want St John’s to be a place where children are happy and hardworking, where they are supported when life is difficult and where they are given the opportunity to discover the things that will inspire them.

The school’s Catholic ethos is central to this. It should be visible not simply in what we say, but in how we treat one another: in the respect we show, the care we take and the sense that every child has an inherent dignity and worth. St John’s is proudly Catholic while warmly welcoming families of all faiths and none.

I am equally committed to maintaining the breadth of education that makes a school life memorable. Music, drama, sport, debating, service and the life of the Cathedral Choir are not extras; they are part of how young people grow in resilience, friendship, confidence and character. Alongside excellent teaching and high expectations, I want us to use new technologies thoughtfully and purposefully, always in ways that strengthen learning and human relationships rather than diminish them.

It is a privilege to lead St John’s at this exciting point in its history. I look forward to working with pupils, parents, staff, governors, alumni and the wider Cathedral community to help the school go from strength to strength.