Gerry Holden, currently Headmaster of Rendcomb College in Gloucestershire, is to become the new Headmaster of Dover College from September 2011, the school has announced.

Mr Holden's 11 year headship at Rendcomb followed a variety of teaching posts including being Head of History at Forest School in London before heading a larger History Department at Millfield School in Somerset followed by Deputy Head and Director of Studies at Frensham Heights School in Surrey.

He has been a senior examiner in History for The Oxford and Cambridge Board and graduated in Mediaeval and Modern History from St Andrews. Having studied Education at Oxford University, Mr Holden started his teaching career at Wolverhampton Grammar School in 1980.

New Head, Gerry Holden

Making the announcement, Joe Sullivan, Chairman of Governors at Dover College, said: “The Board of Governors are delighted to appoint Gerry Holden to lead Dover College. Stephen Jones’s legacy will be conspicuous in the physical developments in music and drama for example, and in the impressive academic improvements and growing self-confidence of the pupils.

"Stephen has moulded a highly professional Common Room and Senior Management Team which will give a supportive foundation for Gerry who will be well placed to continue to develop the academic life of Dover College and lead the School on to even greater success and real continuity for the work that Stephen will have left.”

Gerry Holden said: “I am very much looking forward to leading Dover College into the next exciting stage of its development. It is a wonderful school with an excellent reputation for impressive pastoral care. I will be working very closely with staff and parents to maximise the full potential of all pupils.

"On my visits to the College I have been enormously impressed by the students’ enthusiasm for learning."

Stephen Jones, the current Headmaster at Dover College, said: “Being Headmaster at Dover College has been a real privilege. I have led an impressive, highly professional and hugely committed Common Room, and we have been fortunate to have been able to work together fully to develop the all-round capabilities of many super children at this school. I know that Gerry will be taking over a school in great heart and with a tremendous future; I know too that he will lead it with distinction.”