Foundation Leadership Team

Following six years as Headmaster of Dover College, Gareth joined the King’s Foundation in September 2020 as the 36th Headmaster since its refoundation in 1541. Appointed to his first Headship at Milton Abbey aged 32, Gareth was educated at Eastbourne College, studied History at St Andrews University, and earned his teaching qualification through Cambridge. A national campaigner for holistic education and a fierce defender of the independent sector, Gareth began his career at Taunton School, before working as a Housemaster at Oakham School.

A member of HMC and the Society of Heads, Gareth is Chair Elect of the Society of Heads for 2025/25, Chair of HMC West and the Society of Heads Education Committee, and a committee member of the Choir Schools’ Association. As Headmaster, he teaches Year Nine pupils, has been a newspaper columnist, makes regular contributions to BBC Radio and TV, and has been a guest speaker at numerous conferences on the subject of leadership and education. Married to Jess, with two children who both attend King’s St Alban’s, in his free time Gareth is a political anorak and current affairs junkie who likes to cycle, run, cook, and listen to music ranging from David Guetta to William Byrd, as well as play the piano and emulate Les Dawson on the organ.

As Head of King’s St Alban’s, Richard leads by example and can often be seen around the school interacting with the children. Richard joined King’s St Alban’s in 2016 and brought a wealth of management experience with him having previously worked as Senior Deputy Head at King’s Worcester.

Alongside his role as Head, Richard also teaches Maths, PSHE, and Games. He is the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) at King’s St Alban’s. Richard is the coach of the U11 rugby team and enjoys sharing his love of, and expertise in, the game. He is passionate about our weekly Celebration Assemblies and enjoys hearing the whole school singing as one, especially in our lovely Chapel!

Tom joined King’s Hawford as Headmaster in November 2022, bringing a breadth of educational experience. He has held several senior posts in the UK as well as in Chile and Switzerland and joined us from his most recent role as Deputy Head at Bredon School near Tewkesbury; prior to that he was Director of Sport at Dover College.

Educated at The Judd School in Kent, he read Exercise and Sports Sciences at the University of Exeter, where he also studied for his PCGE. Tom is a keen sportsman, with a particular passion for rugby, having captained Kent at age group level, and mountain biking. He is passionate about the outdoors and enjoys travel and country pursuits, as well as adventure writing, particularly concerning mountaineering. He relishes being the custodian of King’s Hawford’s menagerie of animals.

In addition to his role as Headmaster, Tom is the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) at King’s Hawford.

Tom loves living on site at Hawford with his wife, Charlotte, herself a teacher and hockey enthusiast, and their children, Oliver and Amelia, along with Saffy, their lovable spaniel, and a flock of chickens.

Alison joined King’s in September 2018 as Deputy Head with particular responsibility for staff and our co-curricular education.

In September 2022, she became the Senior Deputy Head, responsible for the day-to-day running of the Senior School.

Having taught at international schools in Berlin and Brussels, as well as schools in both the UK independent and maintained sectors during her career, Alison joined King’s from St Swithun’s in Winchester where latterly she had been Director of Professional Practice and formerly Head of English.

Katie started her career in engineering for Smiths Industries and then in various management and strategic roles for British Airways.

When her youngest child started school, so did Katie and she returned to education to undertake a PGCE. Katie joined King’s in 2010 as a teacher of Mathematics, later becoming the Academic Challenge Co-ordinator, then taking up the role of Assistant Head – Pupil Development, and now Deputy Head – Academic.

Harriet joined King’s in January 2023 as Deputy Head (Pastoral). She has a special interest in young people’s mental health and well-being and the factors which can have an impact upon these.

She is a born and bred Brummie and taught first at King Edward’s High School for Girls and Elmhurst Ballet School as a French and Spanish teacher. She moved to London in 2015, where she joined Forest School, a large independent day school for children aged 4-18. She was subsequently promoted, first to Head of House and then Head of Middle School and was a member of Forest’s Senior Leadership Team, directly responsible for the academic progress, personal development and safeguarding of pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11.

She firmly believes that School, working in partnership with parents and carers, with pupil voice at the centre of that work, can have a hugely positive impact on every young person’s development.

Jon joined King’s in 2011 from Exeter School where he was Director of Science. He had previously taught at Nottingham High School and Sherborne School for Boys.

As the Foundation Director of Safeguarding and compliance, Jon is responsible for ensuring a consistent excellence in the provision of safeguarding across the Foundation as well as inspection preparation.

Georgina joined the King’s Foundation in 2021, following 8 years working as a Finance Director in the manufacturing sector.

After completing her Accountancy degree at Cardiff University, Georgina trained as a Chartered Accountant with RSM Robson Rhodes. She then made the decision to move into industry in 2008 as she wanted to influence the strategy of an organisation and make a difference!

Over the last 12 years, Georgina has worked for two multinational engineering groups, both giving her very different experiences and skills which she is very excited to now have the opportunity to put into use in an exciting new sector.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family; anything that gets them outdoors. You will often find them hiking up a mountain or exploring their local nature reserve regardless of the weather.

When she gets some time to herself Georgina enjoys running and perhaps more unusually sewing, where she is happy creating things for her young daughter and friends’ children.