Sidcot School is pleased to announce that Iain Kilpatrick, currently Head of Beaconhurst School at Bridge of Allan, has accepted their offer of appointment as Head of Sidcot and will take up the role on 1^st August 2012.

“I am delighted that Iain has accepted our offer – his track record of running a successful all-through school over the last six years, together with his earlier experience of boarding, make him an ideal Head of Sidcot at this stage of its development.  I look forward to working closely with him as we seek to move Sidcot forward.” Paul Whitehouse, Chair of Governors of Sidcot.

From a strong field of applicants, five candidates spent three days at Sidcot during which time they met students and staff; current members of the school’s senior management team; and underwent a comprehensive assessment centre overseen by the Board.  Following this exhaustive process, the Board was unanimously discerned that Iain was the ideal person to assume leadership of the school. We were impressed with his clear vision for Sidcot, his commitment to professional excellence and development, his understanding of the ethos which makes Sidcot special, and his comprehensive appreciation of the opportunities which a boarding environment offers its students. 

Gordon Murphy, Chair of Governors of Beaconhurst School said: “Whilst we are delighted that Mr Kilpatrick has accepted the post of Head at Sidcot School, we will be sorry to lose him at Beaconhurst.  In what will be almost eight years in post, Iain has developed the school significantly and become much respected by staff, pupils and parents alike.  We wish Iain and his family every success in their move to Somerset and feel that Sidcot will have gained a talented and capable Head.”

On accepting the offer, Iain Kilpatrick said: “I feel privileged at being given the opportunity of joining Sidcot as Head at such an exciting time in the school’s development.  It was a pleasure meeting members of the school community during the selection process and I look forward to this continuing in the months to come.  I was very struck by the quality of relationships that underpin Sidcot’s unique ethos and am excited at the prospect of bringing my family to this beautiful part of Somerset. ”

Sidcot look forward to welcoming Iain, his wife Katrina, and their two children to Sidcot.  Elizabeth Burgess, our experienced Deputy Head, will be Acting Head from the end of 2011 until Iain arrives.

Iain’s Background

Iain Kilpatrick was educated in England but moved to Scotland with his parents and worked in retail banking for five years before attending the University of Stirling where he obtained a BA in English.  Following Graduation he was awarded a PGCE at Edinburgh, and started teaching as a resident tutor at Strathallan, an HMC boarding school near Perth.

During his time there he was awarded a Master’s in Education at Stirling for a dissertation on the differences in achievement between boys and girls, and a Certificate in Professional Practice in Boarding by the University of Surrey.  He became a Housemaster and Head of Expressive Arts/Assistant Head of English before being appointed Head of Beaconhurst, an all-through independent day school at Bridge of Allan in January 2005.

Under his leadership Beaconhurst’s roll increased from 315 to 400 with waiting lists of pupils for many stages.  In its most recent Inspection by HMIe (November 2007) the school attained evaluations of ‘Excellent’ in six categories (including Overall Quality of Attainment, Pastoral Care and Partnerships with Parents and the Local Community) and ‘Very Good’ in a further fourteen categories.

For information about this appointment please call Paul Whitehouse, Chair of Governors at Sidcot.