Private School News

Two Heads are better than one!

As the final few weeks of term approach, Tony White’s headship of Downsend School in Leatherhead draws to a close after 40 years at the school. During this time the school has changed, almost beyond recognition and Tony has seen amongst many other things, the school double in size, the introduction of girls to create a thriving, co-educational community, the building of a new Sport and Swimming Complex and most recently the opening of an impressive, multi purpose ‘all weather’ pitch.

His successor, Floyd Steadman is currently headmaster of Salcombe Preparatory School and will be taking over in September. Floyd has an impressive sporting background. On the rugby field he played for the Barbarians, captained Middlesex and was club captain of Saracens RFC. Floyd’s sporting achievements have been recognised in his former appointments as National Squad Adviser for the RFU, Director of the Sports Aid Foundation and Chairman of the West London Performance Development Committee. He has lectured part-time in Rugby at the West London Institute of Higher Education. His teaching career began at Colet Court, the preparatory department of St Paul’s School in London where he became Head of PE and Games and Head of Juniors. Prior to becoming Head of Salcombe Preparatory School he was Deputy Head of Belmont, the Junior School of Mill Hill in London.

Mr Steadman said, ‘I am extremely proud to be taking over the headship of Downsend in September. Tony is handing over the reins of a dynamic and vibrant school and he leaves behind a legacy created by the devotion of all of his teaching life to the school. The school’s outstanding inspection report is a testimony to its success and fully supports its reputation as one of the finest co-educational preparatory schools in the country. He will be a hard act to follow but I am looking forward to the challenge. I wish Tony the happiest of retirements’.

Mr White said ‘It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work in the company of thousands of boys and girls, with their incessant chatter, joys, woes and mostly feeble jokes. I have also delighted in being able to work alongside some of the finest and most creative teachers in the profession and I know I am leaving the school in very capable hands.’