Antony Clark

Malvern College is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Head. Antony Clark, MA (Cantab), currently Head of Gresham’s School in East Anglia, will take over in September 2008 from the Acting Head Dr Sarah Welch.

Antony, 50, brings significant experience of leading renowned private schools to Malvern and will build on the school’s tradition of distinction in both academic and non-academic fields.

Lord MacLaurin, Chairman of Malvern College Council, said:

“Malvern College has long enjoyed an enviable international reputation of excellence in both its pupils and its staff, and I’m delighted to have someone of Antony Clark’s eminent capabilities taking us forward to even greater achievements."

“Antony joins us with fifteen years’ Headship experience, including five years at Gresham’s School and nearly nine at St Andrew’s College, a leading boys’ independent school in South Africa. His compelling vision of how a school should be run, together with his understanding of operating a dual syllabus offering both A Levels and the International Baccalaureate, and his record of achieving all-round excellence in pupils makes him a perfect fit for Malvern."

“Dr Sarah Welch will continue to lead Malvern as Acting Head for the remainder of the academic year before resuming a Deputy Head role. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of Malvern College Council to thank her for her continuing support of the College and her tremendous work in the role.”

At Gresham’s School, an HMC co-educational boarding school in Norfolk with 450 pupils in the Senior School and 350 pupils in the Preparatory School, Antony introduced a dual A Level and International Baccalaureate syllabus and significantly raised academic standards.

Prior to that, Antony was, at 35, the youngest ever Head of a leading South African school when he joined his alma mater St Andrew’s College following two years as head at St Joseph’s College in Cape Town.

After graduating from Cambridge University, where he won the Douglas Smith scholarship to Downing College, he returned to his native South Africa to undertake his national service before joining Westerford High School and becoming Head of History. He then had a short spell at Liberty Life, an insurance company, but resumed teaching when he was offered the exciting opportunity to become Head of St Joseph’s College.

Commenting on his appointment at Malvern College, Antony said:

“I am delighted to be joining a school with such an outstanding academic and sporting reputation. Although I was very happy at Gresham’s, the lure of leading a premier school such as Malvern with its beautiful grounds and location, exciting development strategy and opportunities for pupils was irresistible. What is more, the people at Malvern College have been extremely kind and thoughtful, which I believe is a reflection of the Malvern community as a whole."

“Malvern caters for all-round excellence, encouraging a wide range of academic abilities as well as non-academic achievements which I believe is vital. Sports, drama, art, music and the Duke of Edinburgh scheme are all extremely important in moulding individuals who are engaging and confident. Not only is the College developing sophisticated facilities, it also believes in creating a family environment and developing personal relationships across all levels and ages, which is of the utmost importance. I would like any school I’m leading to inspire the very brightest in the community and the world, encouraging pupils to extend themselves to achieve at the highest levels of any field.”

“I am hoping to continue teaching history as I get to know the College as Head, and I and my family are very much looking forward to me taking up the role in September 2008.”

Antony, who is from Grahamstown in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, is married to Brigitte, a legal academic, and they have three children, Andrew (18), Francie (15) and Katherine (10). He is a keen sportsman, enjoying rugby, squash and cricket since playing them at County level at school.


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