KES Head of School appointment
Mr Tom Quayle has been appointed Head of School at King Edward’s School (KES), from September 2024.
Currently Deputy Head (Pastoral) at KES, a position he has held since April, Mr Quayle has previously been Assistant Head (Pastoral) and member of the senior team at Winchester College, having also been Head of Sixth Form and Director of Higher Education there. He started his teaching career as an English teacher at Magdalen College School, Oxford, later becoming Deputy Head of English and a Head of Year in the Sixth Form. Immediately after graduating, he spent some years working for asset management firm Ruffer LLP, looking after investments on behalf of institutions, charities and pension funds.
He holds a Masters in English from Keble College, Oxford, and a Masters degree in English from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and has represented both the University of Cambridge and University of Oxford Rugby Union Blues teams. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration and a Masters qualification in Investment Management, as well as the SACPA Advanced Certificate in Safeguarding.
Mrs Kirsty von Malaisé, Chief Master & Principal Designate of King Edward’s School (KES) and King Edward VI High School for Girls (KEHS), who will also take up her new role in September 2024, said: “It gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of Mr Tom Quayle as Head of School at KES, from September 2024. We had an exceptionally strong set of applications from school leaders right across the country, who were attracted to the prospect of working at KES because of the reputation of the school. The KES Head of School appointment is the first step in forming the school’s new leadership structure, which will be in place for September 2024. A parallel process is ongoing at KEHS, and an announcement about the KEHS Head of School is also being made today. Both schools will have their own Leadership Teams and there will also be some joint roles which will work across the two schools, as I will.”
Mr Quayle’s academic interests include 20th century Irish writing, the longer novels of Charles Dickens, autobiography and autofiction, and contemporary poetry. He also enjoys running, reading and baking, and has previously completed an Ironman Triathlon. He lives in Birmingham with his wife, newborn daughter and two labradors, who between them manage to keep things busy!
Mr Quayle said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Head of School of King Edward’s at such an exciting time in the school’s history. KES is a special place to be a part of, whether as a pupil, parent or as a member of staff. It is a proudly multicultural and diverse community, just like the city that surrounds it, which offers all of its pupils a broad, global and liberal education and the opportunity to flourish and achieve excellence, whatever their interests. I have enjoyed every day since arriving here in April and I feel privileged to be able to serve as Head of School.”
The Head of School is a vital role, being responsible for the day-to-day operation of KES, as well as contributing to its continuing development. Under the overarching strategic leadership that Mrs von Malaisé will provide in her role as Chief Master & Principal of KES and KEHS, Mr Quayle will be at the heart of the KES community and a key point of contact for pupils, staff, parents, Old Edwardians and others in the school’s wider community. He will work closely with the Head of School at KEHS, particularly where there are opportunities for greater alignment and parity of pupil and staff experience, and will also represent KES in Foundation-wide senior leaders’ forums.
