RGS strengthens Senior Leadership Team further with Deputy Head appointments

RGS has made two new senior appointments, including one newly created Senior Leadership role.  

Mr Andrew McBride will join the school in April 2022 as Deputy Head (Co-curriculum), while Mr Chris Quayle has been appointed as Deputy Head (Academic).  

The creation of the new role of Deputy Head (Co-curriculum) signals the high priority placed on this aspect of life at the RGS. The breadth of Co-curricular activities available is already impressive and delivered by dedicated teaching and support staff.  Mr McBride will help to develop the Co-curricular programme further, ensuring that the opportunities available are of consistently outstanding quality and that participation is high. The school’s vision for its Co-curriculum is that every student should be encouraged to engage in activities that develop team and leadership skills and build confidence, allowing them to explore new hobbies and have fun with contemporaries.    

 Mr McBride grew up in the North East of England and is currently Deputy Principal at Westlake Boys High School in New Zealand, which has 2,400 pupils.  He has a degree in Sport, Health and Exercise from Durham University and a Master’s in Education from Northumbria. He also holds a consultancy role for FIFA for learning and innovation across the Oceania region and sits on the boards of The Sir Graeme Dingle Foundation (NZ’s largest youth mentoring charity) and New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Football Association. He led the International Boys’ Schools’ Coalition Action Research project on ‘Student Agency’ and has developed a ‘Pathway to US College Scholarship’ programme at Westlake. They now have students attending some of the best universities in the USA on full scholarships, owing as much to their Co-curricular involvement as to their academic results.   

"I am thrilled to be joining RGS in April and look forward to being a part of such a prestigious school," said Mr McBride.  

"After ten fantastic years in New Zealand, working at one of the best schools in the country, it is exciting to be returning ‘home’ with my family.  RGS has a superb reputation both within the UK and overseas; it will be an absolute honour to become part of the school’s senior leadership.

"I am particularly keen to establish pathways for every RGS student to practice and develop their leadership skills, in whatever areas of Co-curricular they choose to contribute.  I hope to make a positive and lasting contribution for the RGS community in this new and exciting stage of the school’s development." 

Mr Quayle will take up his new employment as Deputy Head (Academic) in September 2022, following Mr Loxley stepping down from the role next summer to teach Economics part time within the RGS.  

Mr Quayle is currently Head of Middle School at Ardingly College where, amongst other things, he has also served as Head of Geography and he has previously taught at Worth School and then KCS Wimbledon. He also grew up in the North of England and has close family in Newcastle.    

Mr Quayle will inherit strong academic foundations as shown by the Sunday Times awarding the school the accolade of ‘North East Independent School of the Decade’ and the ‘Excellent’ outcome of the recent educational quality inspection from ISI. The school is immensely proud of the academic achievements of its community which outstrip Independent and State schools in the region and are testament to the students' commitment and teachers' dedication.    

He joins the RGS as an innovative and energetic senior leader of teaching and learning and curriculum, with an additional area of focus being the effective use of technology to support learning. Mr Quayle will also work closely with Mrs Clappison, the Junior School Assistant Head (Academic), and Mrs McGough, Head of Sixth Form, to ensure a strong academic transition throughout the school.    

"I am delighted to be joining RGS, it is an incredible honour to be offered this important role in the life of the school," said Mr Quayle. 

"The passion, commitment and talents of the student and staff body have been clear to see during my visits and background research. My vision for the role is one that focuses on ensuring that all students are inspired with a love of learning and aspire to succeed to the fullest of their potential. I am particularly looking forward to the development of digital learning at the school, building upon the experience that has been gained during the past couple of academic years."

Speaking about the appointments, Head, Mr Stanford said: "I am delighted that we have made these two new senior appointments to the school, both of which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the lives of all our students."  

"We had a strong field of candidates for both of these key roles, and I am delighted that these new colleagues will be joining our talented Senior Leadership Team to help take the RGS forward."  

These exciting appointments come on the back of the school being awarded the highest possible rating– excellent - on all aspects of a recent Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection.