Senior deputy head of Shebbear College Charlie Jenkins will take over the reins as headteacher from this coming September.

Charlie, who was selected from a strong field by a panel of Shebbear Governors, Methodist Independent School Trustees and leaders, will take over from the current head, Caroline Kirby, who announced earlier this year that she would be standing down at the end of the 2021-2022 academic year to relocate to the Cotswolds with her husband and three children.

With more than a decade of senior school leadership, coupled with extensive teaching and pastoral care experience, Mr Jenkins joined Shebbear College in September 2020 from Licensed Victuallers’ School in Ascot where he was the deputy head (academic and co-curricular). Before that he worked at Pangbourne College, Berkshire, where he was head of geography and assistant boarding housemaster.

Since being at Shebbear he has worked alongside Mrs Kirby and the rest of the senior leadership team in implementing the school’s five-year Strategic Development Plan as well as being a key player in achieving the recent outstanding Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) report, which concluded that the quality of pupils’ academic achievements and pupils’ personal development were excellent .

‘I feel extremely honoured to be leading Shebbear College into its next chapter.’ he said. ‘The foundations laid by Caroline are extremely strong and I know the school is in an excellent place to continue to move forward with characteristic Shebbear courage and compassion! We have a fantastic team of staff and pupils here and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue working with them as the next head, developing the further success of our wonderful school, whilst also preserving all that we know is so special about it.’

Mr Jenkins graduated from Exeter University with a BA (Hons) in Geography and moved back to Devon when he accepted the senior deputy head role at Shebbear College. In his free time he can be found enjoying the outdoors, dog walking, running and learning to kite surf.

Chairman of Governors Mike Saltmarsh said: ‘We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Mr Jenkins, who has been through a demanding recruitment process. He thoroughly deserves this opportunity and we look forward to welcoming him officially into the role in September. We are confident that this appointment will ensure stability and continuity, whilst building on the school’s future plans, which have been firmly put in place and developed by Mrs Kirby over the last three years.’

‘I am really happy that Charlie has been appointed as my successor,’ said outgoing head Caroline Kirby. ‘I know that he will continue to drive Shebbear forward as a 21st century school, with the added advantage of knowing it inside out already. Since Charlie joined our school, he has gained the respect of pupils, staff and parents alike, as well as being a huge support to me during my tenure as head. I have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Charlie and wish him the best of luck in the future.’