Walter Cha, Chair of Governors is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr David Wickes to the position of Head of The Portsmouth Grammar School to succeed Dr Anne Cotton at the start of the next academic year.  Mr Wickes is currently in his fourth year as Headmaster at Merchant Taylors’ School in Crosby, one of the leading academic day schools in the North West of England.

On announcing the appointment, Mr Cha explained that “David brings with him a wealth of experience leading large city day schools that, like PGS, successfully combine generations of history with a forward-looking approach to education.”

After reading Modern History at St Edmund Hall, at the University of Oxford, David completed an MA in War Studies at King’s College London. He began his teaching career at Dulwich College, before moving to Abingdon School to hold the role of Deputy Head Pastoral, then to Warwick School as Senior Deputy Head, before joining Merchant Taylors’ as Headmaster.

“With David’s extensive knowledge, skills and experience,” adds Mr Cha, “he is expertly equipped to lead The Portsmouth Grammar School; to continue the excellent work started by Dr Anne Cotton, and to successfully deliver the School’s strategic plan.”

David is delighted to have been chosen to lead the School into the next planned phase of its development and says "I feel privileged to be appointed as the next Head of PGS - a school that deservedly has a national reputation. My visits to the School confirmed to me that it is a wonderful community in which people work very hard, determined to do the best that they can for the children in their care.”

Following a structured handover during this academic year, David will take up the reigns next September. “I am looking forward immensely to working with Dr Anne Cotton over the next year, ready to continue the work that is already taking place, and getting to know more people, especially the children."

The Governors look forward to welcoming David and his wife to Portsmouth at the start of the 2022 academic year.