Ex-singer to be head of Chets

Ex-singer to be head of Chets

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norman lebrecht

December 12, 2015

The troubled Manchester music school has a new head. Are we impressed?

 

chethams-school-of-music

Dear Students,

The School is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Alun Jones as the new Head of Chetham’s School of Music.  Mr Jones will take up his post from 1st September 2016, following the retirement of Mrs Claire Moreland after 17 years’ exceptional service to the School.

Mr Jones has been the Head of St. Gabriel’s School, Newbury since 2001 and is the current President of the Girls’ Schools Association,  representing the heads of many of the top performing day and boarding schools in the UK independent schools sector.  A former Choral Scholar, freelance singer and ad-hoc member of BBC Singers, Mr Jones began his teaching career at The Cathedral School, Llandaff and The United College of the Atlantic, St Donats Castle.  Following positions as a Music Master & Choirmaster, Director of Studies and Deputy Headmaster in GSA boarding and day schools, Mr Jones was appointed Principal at St Gabriel’s, Newbury in 2001.  Alongside headship, Mr Jones has been a Team Inspector for the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI) since 2002 and is a Director on the ISI Board.

Mr Jones said “I am looking forward tremendously to joining Chetham’s School of Music in September and was thrilled to be appointed to the rôle.  It will be a privilege to join a school with such a fine reputation nationally and internationally and I relish the challenges that the job will bring.”

Dame Sandra Burslem, the Chair of Governors, said “Our recruitment process was extensive and thorough and the School has appointed an outstanding Head to lead Chetham’s through the next stages of the School’s exciting developments.  I know that the whole School community will join with me in welcoming Mr Jones.”

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

chethams 3

Mrs Sarah Newman

Bursar

Comments

  • Ex Teacher says:

    This is the very same man who was shortlisted 2 years ago for the Headship of the Purcell Music school, and was the preferred choice of all the teaching staff, and those pupils he was allowed to meet.

    Unfortunately, the hapless foolish Governors chose axeman David Thomas, the least favourite of the shortlist, – a dull and cold choice instead, in contrast to the warm, friendly, professional, and modest Alun Jones – the complete opposite of managerial ‘suit’, Mr Thomas.

    If he had have been appointed, and the arrogant Governing Body had listened to those who actually would have been working with him at the school, then maybe the extraordinarily bizarre deletion of the key post of Director of Music at this former school of musical excellence wouldn’t have happened, and the school’s credibility might still be intact….

    As it is, it is clear that Purcell Governors deliberately brought a ‘hatchet’ man in to delete the post of DoM (with the charade of saving money now they appointed a former DoM as their new HeadMaster) – particularly as once the foolish deed of removing a DoM with extemplary service of 25 years serving the school had taken place, Mr David ‘Hatchet’ Thomas, leaves to go and returns back to teaching music at Winchester School (college), having only been at The Purcell helm for a mere 2 years?…
    That’s job done, and clear why Thomas was brought in to take over from exciled Head, Peter Crook, who left without reason following two investigations by Herts Police and Social services over suggested paedophile behaviour with sixth form boys.

    The Purcell School Governors loss of not appointing the best and preferred candidate when they had the chance is Chets gain.
    Good luck to him.
    With their recent paedophile track record, he has a very tough task ahead.

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