Head of Ampleforth College announces retirement

Fr Gabriel Everitt

Fr Gabriel Everitt, headmaster of Ampleforth College has announced that he plans to retire from the post, after ten highly successful years, reflected in an excellent ISI report in January of this year and 20 years on the College staff.

In a statement, the College said today: "Following discussions with the monastic community and with the Trustees of the St Laurence Education Trust about how to appoint the best possible replacement, the College will be looking to recruit its first lay Head.

"This conclusion has not been arrived at lightly, but given both the nature and commitments of the monastic community and the needs of the school for the best possible leadership, this has been decided upon as the appropriate course of action.

"The recruitment of a professional and experienced lay head, who will work in partnership with the monastic community, shows the community's commitment to both the school's Benedictine character and its consistently high standards in all aspects its life.

"The community will remain actively involved in the governance of the College in the lay-monastic partnership of the St Laurence Education Trust, through the work of monk-priest chaplains and some monk teachers.

Once appointed, the new Head will be expected to take over between September 2014 and January 2015. Fr Gabriel will continue as Head until his successor is in place.

For more information see: www.ampleforth.org.uk