Blundell’s School announces new head

The Board of Governors of Blundell’s School, have today 13th November, announced that Mr Bart Wielenga has been appointed as the new Head of this leading co-educational day and boarding school. Mr Wielenga will take up the position with effect from September 2018.

Mr Wielenga will become the thirtieth Head of Blundell’s School and will succeed Mrs Nicola Huggett when she leaves to become Head at Cheltenham College.

Mr Wielenga is currently Second Master at Blundell’s and has made a significant contribution to the growth and reputation of Blundell’s in recent years.

Commenting on this announcement, Mr Cedric Clapp, Chair of the Board of Governors said: "The opportunity to lead our school attracted an excellent field of candidates all of whom recognised Blundell’s as a first class school that is flourishing.

"As a result of a rigorous interview process we are delighted to have appointed Bart Wielenga as our new Head following on from Nicola Huggett.

"We believe that the strength of our school lies in its ethos, its traditions and the education it provides for its pupils. We know that Bart will build on the fantastic achievements made under Nicola's leadership and take the school forward to the next exciting chapter in its long history.

"The market for independent education remains challenging but Blundell’s is well placed and well-resourced to meet those challenges.”

Bart graduated from the University of Natal in South Africa in 1994 after majoring in Economics and from the Rand Afrikaans University in Johannesburg in 1996 with Post Graduate Honours majoring in Organisational Change.

Prior to joining Blundell’s, Bart taught at two leading schools - Michaelhouse in KwaZulu-Natal followed by nine years at Wellington College in Berkshire where he was a Housemaster and Head of Economics.

On his appointment Bart commented, “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead Blundell's in the next stage of its history.

"The school is in excellent health, with numbers at an all-time high, with boarding flourishing and with exceptional academic success at Oxbridge level.

"It will be a privilege to build on the strong foundations that Nicola Huggett has set down.

"We are fortunate to have a dynamic and ambitious common room and I feel immensely proud to work with them to continue to help young people thrive in our beautiful Devon school”.