A NEW face will be welcomed at Kelly College in Tavistock next year, after governors appointed the next head teacher from a particularly strong field of candidates.
Mark Semmence has been appointed head of Kelly College and principal of the Kelly College Foundation with effect from September and will be bringing with him a wealth of experience.
He will take on the role from Dr Graham Hawley who has been head for five years.
Mr Semmence will be moving to the area with his wife, Alison, and two young daughters from Rugby School, where he is currently assistant headmaster.
Mr Semmence said: 'I am honoured to have been appointed as the new head master of Kelly College.
'From our first visit, Alison and I were struck by the warmth and sense of community and we are thrilled to be joining the Kelly family.
'This is a great school in a fantastic part of the country and I look forward to building on the work of Dr Graham Hawley and the governors to deliver the next stage of the foundation's development.'
Mr Semmence grew up and was educated at Hurstpierpoint College and at Durham University, where he gained a BA and MBA, a PGCE? from London University and an MA from Warwick University.
He has a strong academic and teaching background from one of the best schools in the country.
After his undergraduate degree at Durham, Mr Semmence taught at Ludgrove Prep School.
He then spent nine years gaining business experience in the international sports marketing industry working in London, New York and Dubai with clients such as the IOC, IC, ATP and the cricket and rugby World Cup organising committees, before returning to teaching.
Cricket has always been a passion in Mr Semmence's life and he played for England Schools U19s and Durham University.
He is now a member of the MCC Youth Cricket Committee and is also the MCC mentor for Durham University Cricket Club.
Governors said Mr Semmence's blend of leadership, management, academic and business talent made him a first rate choice to drive forward the foundation and they looked forward to welcoming his whole family to Kelly College.