KING Edward’s School, Witley has appointed new staff members who have started this term.

Steve Gardner is the new head of lower school and houseparent for Queen Mary House (QMH), for up to 40 boys and girls who board, in addition to 40 day pupils.

Mr Gardner, the former director of boarding at The Harefield Academy, joins King Edward’s having worked in a variety of schools, including four years as head of sixth form at Bedales and a one-year stint at Dubai College in the United Arab Emirates.

As a houseparent, Mr Gardner will be living in QMH with his wife Kitty, who is also a houseparent and their two children Amelia aged six and Alfie aged five, who will both attend Barrow Hills School.

Thomas Campbell is the new head of geography. He joined King Edward’s from Langley Park School for Boys, in Kent, where he worked for the last six years.

In addition to his responsibilities as head of department at King Edward’s, Mr Campbell has also accepted a new pastoral role as assistant housemaster of Wakefield House, a senior boys house where he will work with the housemaster and matron to share responsibility for 33 boarding and 16 day boys.

Mr Campbell said: “I am passionate about geography and committed to demonstrating its wide ranging application to not just explaining our past but also predicting the future.

“Of course, I am slightly biased but I genuinely believe the subject is unique and should be recognised as a field which truly enables students to make sense of the ever changing world around them.

“The new term represents a trio of challenges for me, firstly further enhancing the profile of geography within the school and planning more trips for pupils, as well as starting my distance learning MA qualification, while at the same time applying my skills and experience to an assistant housemaster role.

“It’s an exciting time for me and I have been eager to get started.”

Matthew Bennett, an experienced head of history, joins King Edward’s to take up a similar role.

Mr Bennett is the former head of department at Eastbourne College and Rydal Penrhos co-educational independent boarding schools – and has been teaching history for seven years.

Lauren Harris-Jones has been appointed head of religious education and philosophy.

Mrs Harris-Jones joins the school having spent the last 10 years at Alton College as curriculum manager for humanities and social sciences.

Marc-Antony Eysele has been appointed the new director of sport, joining King Edward’s from Ryde School with Upper Chine, an independent boarding and day school for children 11-18 on the Isle of Wight, where he was a housemaster and teacher of sport, science and head of hockey.

Mr Eysele (below right), who is recently married, is living at the school with his wife, who has been appointed an assistant house mistress.