New head appointed at Old Buckenham Hall School near Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury
The new head of an independent school has said he and his family were looking forward to immersing themselves in the hustle and bustle of school life.
Old Buckenham Hall School (OBH) at Brettenham Park, near Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Stowmarket, has announced the appointment of James Large as the new head with effect from September 2023, taking over from the current headmaster David Griffiths.
Mr Large said: "It is with great pleasure that I write to introduce myself, having accepted the role of head from September 2023. OBH is a school I have long held in high regard.
"My recent visits have only served to confirm that its reputation as one of the country’s premier prep schools is very well-deserved.
"I am excited to begin a new chapter at Brettenham Park with my wife, Harriet, and our son, Albie, who will turn two in February.
"We share a genuine love of boarding schools and are very much looking forward to immersing ourselves in the hustle and bustle of life at OBH.
"We shall arrive in September having enjoyed 13 years in Norwich, during which time I have held various roles at Norwich School and Harriet at Norwich High School and Beeston Hall.
"I grew up in Suffolk before reading zoology at the University of Southampton and completed my teacher training at the University of East Anglia.
"I was fortunate to grow up with parents who value education very highly. My father was a marine biologist and my mother a primary school teacher, musician and artist.
"Their influence has remained with me throughout life, and it is likely due to them that I developed a broad interest in all areas of school life.
"Alongside my passion for the biological world, I love sport in all its forms having represented Great Britain as a sailor from a young age and, more recently, represented England in Touch Rugby. I also have a deep appreciation for the creative arts.
"I believe that schools should provide children with the opportunity to try new things and to discover what they are good at, but crucially, they must create an environment where children have the confidence to do so.
"Above all, I believe that relationships are at the core of every successful school. Not only is this true with our pupils and parents, who put so much trust in us as educators, but also within our organisations.
"OBH already delivers an outstanding education for its families, and my family and I are very much looking forward to joining the special community that has made this possible."
Over the coming months, Mr Large will be working closely with current head and staff not only to ensure a smooth transition but also to ensure OBH continues to go from strength to strength.
