Gatwick Free School appoints new head

Mark Roessler will take over as head of school from Simon Ruscoe-Price, who led the school during its first two years and who has accepted a position with Wellington College in Shanghai, China.

Mr Roessler is currently deputy head at Oasis Academy, in Croydon, which has an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating.

He is an Ofsted inspector and will bring 19 years of teaching and school improvement experience to his new role.

Paul Reilly, executive headteacher at the Gatwick School, said: “I am delighted that Mark will be joining my senior leadership team as head of school.

“When we opened in September 2014 we promised our parents and students that we would only employ the most able and qualified teachers and leaders – Mark’s track record speaks for itself and I know that the whole school community will be thrilled that we have kept our promise to them.”

Tim McCarthy, chief executive officer of Crawley Free School Trust, added: “Mark’s appointment is great news for the whole community at The Gatwick School – we had over 20 full applications for the post, which is almost unheard of for a headship in modern times, and we shortlisted a very high calibre field of applicants.

“By appointing Mark we believe we have appointed somebody who will help propel The Gatwick School to greatness.”

Mr Roessler, who is married, with 12-year-old twin girls, said: “I am very excited to be joining The Gatwick School and to leading it through its next important stage of development.

“I hope to bring with me a wealth of strategic and operational leadership and I want to ensure that every child makes accelerated progress which will make all of them equally prepared for success either at University or in employment after they leave us”.

The Gatwick School opened in 2014 with only 44 children but will have more than 300 in September.

A school spokesman said work would begin after Easter on the next phase of the building development, which will see more classrooms being constructed plus the addition of some specialist science and technology laboratories, a music room and practice rooms, and a specialist drama area.

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