Wellington poaches Rugby School head for Kenya post

Gareth Parker-Jones will leave Rugby next year to take up a role with its rival, as competition between private international school groups continues to intensify

2nd October 2026, 11:11am

Dan Worth

Wellington College has appointed the headmaster of Rugby School in the UK as the founding master of its Wellington College International Kenya school from September 2027.

Gareth Parker-Jones (pictured), who has led Rugby since September 2020, having joined in 2015 as deputy head for academics, will start his new post a full year before the school opens to pupils in September 2028.

Wellington also confirmed that his wife, Amanda Parker-Jones, currently head of philosophy and theology at Rugby, has been appointed head of teacher development for the new school.

The moves are especially notable as Rugby has several of its own international schools, including in Nigeria, as well as in Dubai, Thailand and Japan.

Wellington College International Kenya is situated in Tatu City, a suburb to the north of the capital Nairobi, and is being developed in partnership with Rendeavour, a major real-estate developer working across the country and in other nations in Africa including Ghana and Nigeria.

It will offer both day and boarding provision for pupils aged 3-18, following the English national curriculum.

‘Transformational impact’

Speaking about his appointment, Mr Parker-Jones said he “could not be prouder” to take on the role and the opportunity it represented.

“Wellington College International Kenya delivers a genuinely world-class education in arguably the most beautiful environment on earth, carrying the full weight of the Wellington name.”

James Dahl, 15th master of Wellington College, said he was delighted by the appointment too.

“Gareth is one of the UK’s leading heads and has had a transformational impact at Rugby School, raising standards, developing a vibrant and growing family of schools in England and around the world,” he said.

“I have known Gareth for many years and have the deepest respect for him both personally and professionally; Wellington College International Kenya could not be in better hands”.

The school in Kenya will be the second in Africa for Wellington, with a school in Lagos, Nigeria set to open in September 2027.

Wellington turned heads earlier this year when it was confirmed it would take over two schools in Kazakhstan run by Haileybury, a move some said was “just not cricket” when it came to how private schools should operate with one another internationally.