Edward Gould, the new chairman of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, is tall, broad and patrician. A former Oxford rugby blue and Great Britain rower, he towers over most of his pupils.

Mr Gould, who has a reputation as a decisive man who gets things done, will be hoping to make sure independent schools influence the big debate of the year, the 14-19 curriculum.

Past achievements suggest that he might manage it. When he took over at Marlborough in 1993 it had suffered a series of sex and drugs scandals, including the expulsions of pupils found half-naked together. Those in the know say that the same problems were being faced by many other private schools but the media coverage of Marlborough’s woes damaged its reputation.

Now, thanks to Mr Gould, the school is back on top. Friends say a new feeling of confidence flowed through the school on his arrival. His energy enabled him to impose his authority on the school and its pupils very quickly.

His prime educational objective, he says, is to produce “someone who is capable of making a sound individual judgment by the time they are in their early 20s”.

Academic prowess is just a part of this, he believes. Tolerance, consideration and a set of reasonable values are also important, and boarding schools can help to produce some of the latter qualities.

In fact another of Mr Gould’s successes was the Boarding Education Alliance, a campaigning group of which he was a founder. Again, colleagues say, this was effective - although it probably got a little help from Harry Potter.

Mr Gould is unlikely to enjoy the PR aspect of being chair of the HMC. He is said to dislike dealing with the media and, chooses his words very carefully. So he may well opt to influence the debate behind the scenes, rather than seeking the glare of publicity.

Other appointments in the private sector include the first woman to chair the Society of Headmasters and Headmistresses of Independent Schools. Sue Freestone, who takes the role for 2002, is head of Sibford School, Oxfordshire.

Carole Evans, headmistress of Birkenhead High School, is the new president of the Girls’ Schools Association, while James Wilding, principal of Claires Court Senior School, becomes chairman of the Independent Schools Association.

Letters, 22-23

EDWARD GOULD’S CV

Born October 31, 1943 in Lewes. Attended St Edward’s School, Oxford

In 1963 went up to St Edmund Hall, Oxford, to study geography

Started a teaching career at Harrow in 1967; stayed for 15 years, becoming head of department and housemaster

Became headmaster of Felsted School, Essex, in 1983

Moved to become master of Marlborough College in 1993

Married with two daughters