Paul Taylor
Headmaster
Paul Taylor joined the College as Headmaster in 2009 from The King’s School, Canterbury, where he had been Lower Master (Deputy Head). Paul also worked for 13 years at Tonbridge School, where he taught History at all levels, was a boarding Housemaster, Director of Sport and Master i/c Cricket. Prior to his career in teaching, Paul played professional cricket (for Surrey CCC) and he also worked for several years in the advertising industry. He is married to Amanda and they have four children: Florence, Maisie, Violet and Ralph.
Susan Wessels
Senior Deputy Head
Susan Wessels joined the College as Senior Deputy Head in 2011 from The King’s School, Canterbury, where she had been a teacher of Physical Education and Geography and a Housemistress. Prior to this, Susan was an international hockey player and represented South Africa 148 times and played in two Olympic Games, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 where she captained the team. Having recently returned from maternity leave, Susan's spare time away from School is much busier looking after her baby boy, who was born in July 2018.
David Ashton
Deputy Head (Academic)
David Ashton joined the College as Deputy Head (Academic) in 2013 from Bedford School where he had been Head of English. David also worked at Wesley College, Perth, where he was Head of English and also at Trinity Grammar School, Melbourne, where he taught English and Drama along with being Head of Debating. He is married to Anna and they have two children: Tommy and Florence.
Tom Caston
Deputy Head (Pastoral)
Tom Caston joined the College as Deputy Head Pastoral in 2015 from Ardingly College, where he was on the Senior Team as Head of Staff Development, while also running a boarding house. Tom has worked at a variety of schools, in a variety of roles: Head of Lower School, Day Housemaster, Head of Geography and coached 1st Team Cricket and Rugby, as well as Hockey and Football. Prior to teaching, Tom worked in the City as an investment banker.
Mark Robinson
Deputy Head (Co-Curricular)
Mark Robinson (pictured in 2011, preparing to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of Prince Albert ‘the Good’, with a glass of Black Velvet) has taught History at the College since 1990. He was made Head of History in 1993 and joined the SMT in 1999. Soon after Paul Taylor’s arrival as Headmaster, Mark’s role was redefined as Deputy Head (Co-curricular), giving him over-all responsibility for a whole swathe of activities outside the classroom, including Sport, Drama, Music, Duke of Edinburgh, CCF and a plethora of societies; this has enabled the College to exploit his broad hinterland in the major sports and in popular music in particular. In 2014 Mark co-authored a book celebrating the College’s 150 years, wittily entitled ‘On an eminence…’ – there are still a few copies available via College Reception!
Martin Myers-Allen
Development Director
Martin was educated at Trent College, Derbyshire, the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and later at the University of Bath. After a spell as a Stockbroker he first joined the College as a teacher and then became a Housemaster, the Senior Master and went on to become the Headmaster of the Prep School at Brandeston Hall from 2007-2016. He is now a member of the Senior Leadership Team at the College focusing mainly on development and the school's activities programme. Martin also runs the Combined Cadet Force and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at the College and has been leading trekking expeditions all over the world for more than twenty years. He is also a Governor at the Old School Henstead. His wife, Helen is a Housemistress at Framlingham and they have three sons.
Nick Chaplin
Finance Director
After studying Geography in Canterbury at the University of Kent, Nick returned to his birthplace to work for Eastern Electricity as a trainee accountant at their Headquarters in Ipswich. He qualified as an Accountant in 1994 and became Financial Planning Manager for the newly formed supply business. After a short spell as Management Accountant at Manganese Bronze he joined the College in 2001 as Finance Manager, quickly moving on to become Financial Controller and then Finance Director. He is married to Emma, a junior school teacher, and they now live in Kesgrave with their four children: Emily, Sam, Molly and Alice and their two Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Andrew Payn
Operations Director
Andrew Payn joined the College as the Business Development Director in September 2003 having previously been employed in a furniture manufacturing and retail company in East Anglia. He became the Operations Director in 2009. Prior to this, and for most of his working life, Andrew served on Ground Operations in the Royal Air Force providing facilities and personnel management on bases in the UK. He is married to Julia and has two daughters: Lucy and Katie.
