Caption: The new headmaster of Lucton School is Andrew Allman, pictured with his wife, Sarah, and children Phoebe and Jacob who will both be joining the school in September.
Picture by Mandy Jones Photography.
The new headmaster of a well-known Herefordshire private school has a track record of success at one of the UK’s newest independent schools.
Andrew Allman, from Shrewsbury, who will take over as headmaster at historic Lucton School, founded in 1708, in September, has seen pupil numbers more than double at co-educational Myddelton College, in Denbigh, in North Wales since he took over in 2019.
He had joined Myddelton College, which only opened in 2016, two years earlier as Deputy Headmaster, but he leaves a school with over 360 students including 96 boarders from Europe, Africa, South America, China and India.
The 44-year-old father of two has led the school through the Covid pandemic, overseen the opening of a new prep school on the school campus, introduced an extensive outdoor learning programme and seen Myddelton College pick up prestigious awards at the annual Independent Schools Awards.
Andrew went to Shrewsbury School, one of the country’s leading private schools, which has produced Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine and Monty Python star and travel show presenter Michael Palin.
He went on to Durham University where he gained a BA in Theology and a Masters in Education before joining the staff of Barnard Castle School in County Durham.
He then joined Myddelton College which had re-opened in 2016 in the buildings formerly occupied by Howell’s School for Girls which had closed in 2013.
Myddelton gained plaudits for the way it negotiated the difficulties of lockdown with the school providing a full programme of online lessons for its students, many of them living abroad during lockdown and including lessons for the junior school pupils.
It was widely praised by parents including Ruth Hogan, from Anglesey, whose son Thomas was then in the prep school and she said: “He hasn’t missed a day and that’s been brilliant and we’ve had peace of mind that Thomas hasn’t missed out on any of his studies.
“The teaching has been amazing and very supportive and they have kept the children engaged which I would think must have been very difficult and every day he’s been so keen to get on-line on time.”
Their Learning in the Outdoors which takes all pupils out for a day has also been praised, while the school has also re-opened the Equestrian Centre and tennis courts and started work on a £1.7 million upgrade of facilities including a new sixth form centre and a refurbishment of the boarding accommodation.
They were double winners at the 2021 Independent Schools Association Awards when they picked up prizes for Outstanding International Involvement for their creation of a network of schools in the USA, Russia, France Italy and for Outstanding Sport at a Small School.
The school has also been a finalist for the Co-educational School of the Year Independent Schools Award for the past two years.
Andrew said: “I don’t believe a school should be an exam factory – my aim is always to provide a well-rounded education and give all pupils a breadth of opportunities, indoors and outdoors, including the chance to work with and form bonds with people and countries all over the world.
“My aim at Myddelton College was to develop a calm, kind, happy school where pupils have mutual respect and can thrive and reach their goals and that will be my ambition for Lucton School.
“Lucton is a well-known school with a history that goes back to 1708 and it has its own exciting international connections as well as a commitment to the Armed Forces which it shares with Myddelton College.
“I would like to develop the existing academic and sporting provision at Lucton in the way we have done at Myddelton and also to build on the great work that is under way at the school.
“It is an exciting challenge to take up and I and my family are very much looking forward to taking up my post in September while at the same time committing fully to Myddelton College which has meant so much to us and which will always have a special place in our hearts.”
Andrew Allman is to attend the Lucton School Open Day at the school Monday, May 6. For information e-mail admissions@luctonschool.org and for more about Lucton School go to https://www.luctonschool.org/
