The successor to Brentwood School head teacher John Kelsall has promised to continue his work and build on its "reputation for excellence."

Ian Davies is currently head teacher at St Dunstan's College, a co-educational Head Masters' Conference (HMC) accredited school in south London, and will take up his new post when Mr Kelsall retires in September 2004.

The 44-year-old said: "Brentwood is a well known prestigious HMC school with a national reputation for excellence. It has thrived under the stewardship of Mr Kelsall and I intend to take up his mantle and lead the school from strength to strength. I also intend to work closely with governors, staff, parents and Old Brentwoodians, to ensure the very best for all current and future pupils."

Mr Davies is an Oxford Theology graduate and has held the head teacher's post at St Dunstan's for the past six years. Before this he was Head of Lower School at Latymer Upper School in West London.

He works as an inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and a Boarding Headmaster with the Admiralty Interview Board which helps to select Naval Officers for training at Dartmouth.

It is hoped that Mr Davies will fit in quickly to his new position as St Dunstan's approach to education is very similar to Brentwood.

Chairman of Governors at Brentwood School, Colin Finch, said: "Like Brentwood, great emphasis is placed on combining the best of traditions with modern approaches and a wide-ranging, co-curricular programme, encourages the pursuit of high level performance in all areas and the participation of as many pupils as possible."

Mr Davies said: "On both a professional and personal level, I am delighted to be coming to Brentwood and look forward with anticipation to taking up challenges of the job and, with my wife Sara, to meeting everyone involved with school."

By next summer Mr Kelsall will have completed 11 years as head teacher at the fee paying school. He joined Brentwood after headships at Bournemouth School and Arnold School in Blackpool.

During his time at the school he has overseen more than £10 million worth of investment in improving facilities.

He has stated that he is determined to ensure standards are maintained and further improved in the coming year.

Published Monday, May 26, 2003

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