St Columba’s College in St Albans has announced a new Head. Following a rigorous and high-calibre application process the Board of Governors has appointed Karl Guest, currently Head of Alton School in Alton, Hampshire.
Karl will take up his duties at the co-educational independent Catholic school on 1 September 2023 but will be visiting and staying in touch throughout the next academic year.
Current Head David Buxton is stepping down from St Columba’s at the end of this academic year after 14 years at the helm. David Shannon-Little will serve as Interim Head from Friday 8 July when the current term concludes.
Chair of the Board of Governors, Kevin McGovern said: “I am delighted to announce Karl’s appointment, and we are fortunate to have in David Shannon-Little a hugely experienced and able Interim Head.”
Karl was born and brought up in South London and was educated by the De La Salle Brothers. He is married with two children, one who lives and works as a Physiotherapist and the other studying at University.
After more than a decade working in various school environments including overseas in Australia, Karl spent seven years as Deputy Head of Sydenham High School in London before taking up his first Headship at Alton School, Hampshire in April 2020. He is a keen follower of sport and enjoys cooking, music and travelling.
St Columba's College has recently been recognised as fully compliant and ‘Excellent’ in all areas in its latest Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) report, which has just been published.
The inspectors' key findings are that the quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements is Excellent. The quality of the pupils’ development is Excellent.
This judgement represents the highest possible outcome that any school can achieve.
Unlike OFSTED Inspection in maintained schools, ISI reports do not give an overall grading for a school. Instead, ISI make judgements on a four-point scale: Excellent, Good, Sound and Unsatisfactory.