Mr Christopher Burch, who is currently Deputy Head of Great Walstead Preparatory School in West Sussex, will take up the post as the new Head of Birkdale Preparatory School on 1 January 2009. He joins Birkdale with his wife, Pip and four boys.
He is successor to Mr Alan Jones who is leaving Birkdale Preparatory School at the end of this term in order to take up the post of Head of Divinity and Lay Chaplain at Papplewick School in Berkshire. Papplewick is a highly regarded preparatory school in Ascot.
Mr Burch is aged 36 and also has experience of a variety of Prep Schools in Winchester, York and Sevenoaks. He was educated at The Skinners School, Tunbridge Wells, obtaining a degree in Social Policy and Administration at Goldsmiths College, University of London, followed by a PGCE at the University of East Anglia. Chris and Pip have been Heads of Boarding at Great Walstead School. Chris has been a Years 5 and 7 Form Tutor teaching Maths, English and RE. Chris was Lay Chaplain at The New Beacon, Sevenoaks and is an active member of a local church. He is a keen cricketer and golfer and has coached teams in a variety of sports.
Mr Burch said: “I am delighted to join the Birkdale community and I look forward to the challenge of my new role as Prep School Head . Birkdale is a school with many strengths and I am excited at the prospect of building on these strong foundations.”
