Leading Cotswolds independent school appoints new head of college

Cirencester's co-educational day and boarding school, Rendcomb College, announces the appointment of an experienced senior educator to become its tenth headmaster from September 2025.

By Jake Chown  |  Published
A keen sportsman and cross country runner, Rendcomb College's next headmaster Andy Murphy says he can't wait to immerse himself and his family into life in the Cotswolds.

Gloucestershire independent day and boarding school Rendcomb College announces the appointment of its next headmaster, this December 2024.

Experienced senior educator Andy Murphy will join Rendcomb as its new head of college in September 2025, taking over from outgoing headmaster Rob Jones, who has held the position since 2015.

Andy joins the college from Stamford School in Lincolnshire, where he has worked since 2014, most recently as senior deputy head.

Having grown up in Scotland, Andy studied biology at the University of Edinburgh, before heading south to attain his master's in science at the University of Oxford, where he also attained his PGCE teaching qualification.

He then went on to work in marketing, for Guinness and then Heineken, before moving into education 18 years ago, at Felsted School in Essex, Stowe School in Buckinghamshire and Stamford.

Andy said: 'I am absolutely delighted to be joining Rendcomb College in September 2025. I genuinely enjoyed the rigorous interview process, and it was an honour to meet so many students, staff, parents and governors throughout.

'I walked away feeling very confident that this is a great school and the perfect size to get to know everyone in the school community.

'The Cotswolds is an idyllic place to live and I cannot wait to fully immerse myself and my family into life here.'

Andy's appointment comes with Rob Jones set to leave Rendcomb in 2025 after 10 'amazing' years there as headmaster, having decided that now is the right time to focus on his family and other priorities, leaving the college in a strong place for his successor.

Rob says he will not be retiring following his departure, with he and his wife Pippa exploring a number of different work-focused and personal options for the future.

Chairman of governors Nicholas Ford, commented: 'We are delighted to have selected Andy Murphy as the next Head of College at Rendcomb.

'He brings with him a wealth of experience in the independent schools’ sector and has all the skills necessary to lead the college into its next chapter, building on the great work of his predecessor Rob Jones.

'We look forward to welcoming Andy to Rendcomb College in September and introducing him to our wonderful school community'.

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