John Richardson was appointed in 2004. He was born in Lancashire and educated at Rossall School and Selwyn College, Cambridge where, as an ICI Industrial Scholar, he took a degree in Engineering, followed by a PGCE.

His first teaching post was at Dean Close, Cheltenham. As well as teaching Mathematics he was also given responsibility for the RAF section of the CCF and took up a housemastership. He also coached all three major games and ran the Mathematics Society and the Christian Union.

In 1984 he moved to teach Mathematics at Eton. This gave him the opportunity to return to rowing as the senior coach at Under 16 level, and to become closely involved with the running of the Chapel. He also took up a House List, but in 1992 was appointed Headmaster of Culford, a rural East Anglian boarding and day school. Mr Richardson is married to Ruth and they have three children.

Mr Richardson says:

“I teach because of Christian vocation. The belief that the task of educating young people in the broadest sense is of enormous importance and value both for the young people themselves and for society in general.”

Cheltenham College is special because of:

The College’s ethos: the strength of the College’s Christian community; its inclusiveness and the quality of relationships between staff and pupils and between the pupils themselves

Outstanding boarding: a particular strength recognised in the recent inspection

Pastoral care: the personal knowledge of pupils centred on the Houses

Excellent teaching: innovative and forward looking coupled with setting the highest standards

Sport: one of the strongest schools regionally and nationally in a wide cross-section of sports

The extent of the extra- and co- curricular programmes: opportunities for pupils to develop their wider talents and interests [eg music, drama, outdoor pursuits]

To advertise the headteacher of your school on the Meet The Heads Page please contact

Claire Heeks on 01242 271860

or email claire.heeks@glosmedia.co.uk