New Headmaster At Ryde School

Ryde School with Upper Chine has announced the appointment of Mr William Turner as the next Headmaster, from September 2022.

Mr Turner will join Ryde from Duino, Trieste, Italy, where he is Head of UWC Adriatic, an integral member of the United World Colleges movement.

He also has extensive experience of the UK independent sector. After graduating from the University of Exeter in French and Italian, which included a year studying at the Università degli Studi di Pisa, he began his teaching career at Sherborne School, Dorset, teaching languages and the IB.

Following that, he moved to Harrow School in 2011 where he held positions as an Assistant House Master, Head of Universities and Head of Modern Languages. In 2016, he moved to St John's School, Leatherhead as Deputy Head (Academic).

The school said:

"He will bring wide-ranging strategic and people leadership experience to Ryde, as well as a deep understanding of pastoral care, having spent his entire teaching career in boarding schools. Throughout, he has been involved in coaching sports, directing plays and even giving the occasional music performance. He has also been a school inspector and a governor of a prep school.

"He has a wide range of interests, including global politics, history, travel, cooking, music, theatre, sport and the environment. He is a keen sportsman with a particular interest in cricket having played for the MCC, including against Ryde School."

William is married to Annabel, also a teacher, and they have a 16-month-old daughter, Stella. They will be visiting Ryde prior to his joining next summer and will work closely in the meantime with current Headmaster, Mark Waldron who will remain in post until then.

Mr Turner said of his appointment:

"I am delighted to have been appointed as the next Head of Ryde School with Upper Chine. When I visited Ryde it was clear that it is an excellent school with a strong sense of community. Mark Waldron has made an enormous contribution in developing the School in his time as Head, and it will be exciting to work with pupils, staff, parents and governors to build upon his successes and to lead the School through the next chapter of its history. My family and I look forward to moving to Ryde in the summer of 2022 to begin island life."

Mr Waldron said:

"I am delighted that Will is soon to take over the helm at Ryde. Having known Will as a pupil when I taught at The Leys in Cambridge, it has been a privilege to see a bright and talented student develop into a principled and effective educational leader over the years. Always his own man, he has the drive and vision to take Ryde to the next stage."

Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, Chair of the Selection Committee, added:

“I am delighted that Will is joining us as the new Head of Ryde School. The field of applicants was exceptionally strong, including a number of serving heads. After a rigorous selection process, the Board unanimously endorsed the selection committee’s recommendation. I am excited about Will joining the community that is Ryde and building on the work of the current Head.”

Professor Christoph Lees MD FRCOG, Chair of Governors, said:

“On behalf of the Governing body and all at Ryde School I look forward very much to welcoming Will to lead the School. His appointment comes in the School’s Centenary year, at a time of considerable growth and the opening of two magnificent new Boarding Houses under Mr Waldron’s very successful leadership.”