School welcomes Adrian Ballard as Director of the Tonbridge Society

Adrian Ballard has been appointed Director of the Tonbridge Society, with effect from November 2022.

Following an extensive recruitment process in the summer, Adrian will be succeeding Andy Whittall, who is stepping down from his role after nearly two decades with the School.

Adrian, pictured, is currently Head of the Sherborne School Foundation, where he has been involved for more than 20 years. He is a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) UK Cabinet, and is passionate about education and the importance of providing opportunities for a world-class learning experience.

James Priory, Tonbridge’s Headmaster, said: “Adrian is excited by the opportunity to become part of the Tonbridge community, especially as we prepare to celebrate our 475th anniversary in 2028. He is looking forward to meeting everyone associated with the Old Tonbridgian Society, the Parents’ Arts Society and the Tonbridge School Foundation, as well as the boys and staff, and discovering more about the life and vision of the School.”

He added: “Andy has decided that the time has come to focus his energies on supporting a group of schools he has successfully founded in Zambia. He looks forward, however, to staying closely in touch with Tonbridge as an active friend and supporter.”

Andy joined Tonbridge in 2004 as Director of Sport and was involved in the development of the Tonbridge School Centre, which has transformed the School’s facilities and the opportunities available locally for sport and leisure.

He served as Housemaster of Ferox Hall before becoming Director of the newly-constituted Tonbridge Society, which oversees the work of the Tonbridge School Foundation and supports its wider community of current and former parents, alumni and friends of the School.

In this role, Andy led the first phase of the Excellence for All Campaign (2015-2019) and, more recently, has been involved in overseeing the expansion of the Foundation Awards programme with the launch of the highly successful, School-wide Giving Day.

“We look forward to celebrating all that Andy has contributed to Tonbridge – not least, the development of the Tonbridge Society itself – and to welcoming Adrian in the weeks ahead,” James Priory said.

Pictured below: Adrian with James Priory.