Radley College has appointed one of the founding teachers of a high-profile state school famous for its strict discipline and academic progress as its new deputy head (academic).
Jonathan Porter, who started his teaching career through the Teach First programme, was a founding member of staff at the high-performing Michaela Community School in London. He will join Radley in September.
Michaela has been in the headlines since it was founded under the free schools programme in 2014 by the outspoken headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh. Criticised for its use of “silent corridors” and other strict approaches, it has been celebrated by politicians for its outstanding educational progress.
Mr Porter was educated at Oundle, where he was head boy, before studying theology at Cambridge and went on to become deputy head at Michaela, before leaving in 2021 for further study.
The appointment is part of a wider re-configuration of the senior management team by warden John Moule, prior to the retirement of academic director Steve Rathbone in August 2023 and sub-warden Ben Holden in August 24.
In addition, Niall Murphy has been appointed sub-warden from September 2024. In his new role, Niall will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the college and will act as the champion of its ethos amongst boys, staff, and the wider community. Mr Murphy, who is currently senior master (co-curricular), joined the school in September 1993 after studying history at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
The responsibility for the co-curricular programme will now sit with Harry Crump, who has been appointed deputy head (co-curricular) from September 2023. Harry read law at The University of Edinburgh and English Literature at The Open University. He came to Radley in 2004.
