Headmaster Appointment
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Andrew McBride as the next Head of Rossall. Andrew is currently Deputy Head, Co-Curricular of the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle. In that role for the past three years, he has been instrumental in taking RGS's co-curricular provision to a level which matches its enviably high academic one. Educated in the maintained sector in County Durham, he has a 2.1 in Sport, Health and Exercise from Durham University and an MA in Education from Northumbria University.
An outstanding youth footballer, playing in the Premier League Academy system from a young age. Andrew spent 11 years of his teaching career in New Zealand, where he had a fast rise through the ranks of a large Auckland school, Westlake Boys High School. There he oversaw the school’s large international pupil population. Combining his teaching and leadership roles at Westlake with coaching men’s and women’s teams at FIFA pinnacle events with New Zealand national football sides, he became Westlake's deputy head and one of the youngest school deputy heads in the country in 2018.
Andrew (40) is married to Ruth, who is an accountant. The McBrides have two children, Eleanor (7) and Arthur (4). They are very much looking forward to moving to Sunnyside and joining the Rossall community in August. Andrew will be working closely with Jeremy Quartermain, before Jeremy takes up his new appointment as Head of Bradfield College in September. He will also have the benefit of working with Dina Porovic, Catherine Stacker and the other members of the strong senior leadership executive during the Michaelmas term, before Dina leaves to take up her own headship in January 2026.
Reflecting on his appointment, Andrew said: “I am humbled and excited to be announced as the next Head of Rossall, it is such a special moment for myself and my family. The sense of belonging and community cohesion that the school has is inspiring and we are looking forward to becoming a part of that. Rossall is a special place that prides itself on inspiring excellence and educating the whole person, these are values that I hold dear as a teacher and as a person. Rossall has strong momentum, a generosity of spirit, fantastic leaders and highly committed teachers, coaches and operational colleagues that work tirelessly to make the school such a success. Mr Quartermain leaves an inspiring legacy that I am so appreciative to be able to build upon. I cannot wait to get to know our talented students, supportive families and wider community as I begin my journey as Head of Rossall School. Floreat Rossallia!”
Chair of Rossall Council, Mr Keith Budge said: “I believe that in Andrew McBride we have a man of sharp intellect, vision, humanity and high work rate who has a proven track record of inspiring young people and teachers to bring the very best out of all of them. He knows what excellence looks like. He will, I have no doubt, continue the School’s very strong current momentum.”
We look forward to welcoming Andrew and his family and will be arranging opportunities for parents to meet him in the summer term.
