ST PETER'S School today welcomes its new headmaster.

Jeremy Walker, previously Principal of King’s School, Rochester, takes up leadership of the school and its 1200 pupils from senior deputy headmaster, Dr Alastair Dunn, who has been acting headteacher since September.

Mr Walker was educated at the University of Oxford and has held a number of senior positions in co-educational boarding schools, including roles as headmaster of Berkhamsted Sixth and at Ardingly College where he was housemaster, head of religious studies and head of theory of knowledge.

He has also served as a governor of two Prep schools, sat on the HMC Committee and Universities Sub-Committee and has been a trustee of a charity supporting Chaplaincy in the independent and maintained sectors.

He said that he was very much looking forward to working with other headteachers across the city.

Mr Walker said:“My family and I were delighted to be able to move to York in time to celebrate Christmas. My wife, children and I have already enjoyed exploring the city, including one or two of its restaurants. It is a wonderful place to live and work and we intend to take full advantage of all that this great and beautiful city and region has to offer.

“There is something for everyone at St Peter’s. We have a wonderful programme of visiting speakers lined up this term as part of York Literature Festival. I value the great work the school has done with its partner schools in the York Independent State School Partnership in offering academic challenge and opportunities for the most able students across the city, wherever they attend school. I look forward to the masterclasses we will be hosting in March for hundreds of York pupils, and working with Headteachers across the city and others in the community to ensure that the School continues to deliver benefit for all.”

In November the school was awarded The North Independent School of the Year by The Sunday Times and last February the Pre-Preparatory School at St Peter’s, Clifton, won the national TES Prep and Pre-Prep School of the Year Award.