St John's College

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Mr Stuart West

St John's College is delighted to welcome Mr Stuart West as its 16th Executive Headmaster.

Mr West is a highly experienced teacher and Head who joins us from Herschel Girls School, a top academic school in Cape Town. Mr West is excited to take the reins at St John's and is mindful of the proud legacy, tradition and history that lives in the hearts of all Johannians. He describes St John’s as an “iconic school perfectly suited to drive innovation and change in South African education.”

"I am passionate about boys' school education and love that the College is complemented by the young men and women in Sixth Form. Pastoral care and leadership in a school are very important to me, to be able to create the networks and structures where students feel they are nurtured, valued, acknowledged and belong at St John's College," he says. "St John's College prides itself in an exceptional and experienced academic staff. Together, we will create a syllabus that is modern and relevant and speaks to the needs of our young men and women, in the context of South Africa in 2020 and beyond."

Mr West brings to his new role decades of experience in the boys', girls' and co-ed education environments, and a proven record of driving transformation, diversity and social justice in the schools he has led.

He spent the first 19 years of his teaching career at Bishops Diocesan School in Cape Town where he taught history, was a boarding housemaster, coached the First XI Hockey team for 16 years and was a Deputy Principal. He then moved to Dainfern College, where he was Principal for seven years before heading up Herschel Girls’ in Cape Town. Mr West is an accomplished sportsman, having played and coached hockey at a provincial level.

Mr West was educated at Graeme College in Grahamstown, Rhodes University and UNISA. He holds a BA (Hons) in History and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. He is married to Joyanne, Head of Bluebird Pre-Primary in Hyde Park, and they have three adult children - Kristy, Shelley and Michael.