Deneal Smith has been appointed head at Bootham School in York, from September 2023.
The current head, Chris Jeffery, will retire at the end of the summer term 2023, following seven years of service and as the school celebrates its bicentenary.
A statement from Bootham School said Deneal Smith brings “a wealth of leadership experience across all areas of school life: academic, boarding, pastoral and enrichment which made him the outstanding candidate in an exceptionally strong field.”
Originally from the north west, Deneal Smith was educated in Blackpool and received a BA in Natural Science and a PhD in astronomy from the University of Cambridge.
He began his science teaching career at Winchester College where he also worked as an assistant housemaster before moving to Magdalen College School, Oxford as head of sixth form and later director of studies.
From there he moved to Westminster School as under master and designated safeguarding lead. He later served as headmaster of Warwick School and is currently interim headmaster of Bablake School, a co-educational independent school in Coventry.
Outside the classroom, Deneal has been responsible for football and coached cricket and hockey as well as producing a number of school plays. He enjoys playing the guitar and participating in triathlons.
