Wellington School is the only independent school in Ayrshire and it has provided a first class education in the town of Ayr since 1849. This is an all-through, coeducational school with pupils aged 3-18 and a current school roll of approximately 400. The Governors are seeking to recruit an exceptional individual to succeed Simon Johnson, who retires in June 2026 after 11 years of dedicated and inspiring service.
Wellington occupies a beautiful site in Ayr consisting of three substantial Victorian buildings adjacent to the beach, overlooking the Clyde and the Isle of Arran. A separate sports campus is located a short distance away close to the historic Brig O’Doon. Originally a boarding school for girls, the school transformed 30 years ago into the co-educational day school that it is today, attracting pupils from a large catchment area extending as far as Largs, the south side of Glasgow and Stranraer.
Additional information can be found in the ‘Appointment of Head’ candidate brief.
See also the school website: www.wellingtonschool.org
Appointment Process
Applicants must either be registered with GTC Scotland, or eligible for registration. All appointments are subject to clearance through the Disclosure Scotland Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme.
Applicants should complete the school’s Job Application Form and provide a covering letter, both of which should be sent by email to vacancies@wellingtonschool.org. A CV is optional and may also be included.
The salary for this post will be competitive and depend on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.
The post is available from August 2026.
The closing date for applications is Monday 24 November.
First round interviews will take place in Ayr during the week beginning 1 December.
Anybody with questions regarding the post or the process is invited to contact the current Head, sjohnson@wellingtonschool.org