New Head begins leadership at Stonyhurst College

Mr Doherty with pupils

Source: Jesuit Media

Stonyhurst College has welcomed Mr William Doherty as its new Head, who began his leadership of the College on Friday 1 May 2026.

Mr Doherty joins Stonyhurst from Xavier College Melbourne, Australia, bringing more than 30 years' experience in education, including significant leadership roles within Jesuit schools. His appointment marks an important moment in the life of Stonyhurst College as it continues to grow and develop its distinctive mission within the global Jesuit tradition.

Speaking on his appointment, Mr Doherty said: "I am truly honoured to be appointed as Head of Stonyhurst. I look forward to joining this remarkable community and to building upon its strong foundations, guided by the Jesuit ethos of cura personalis - care for the whole person."

Founded in 1593 as an English Jesuit college in exile, Stonyhurst is the oldest continuously active Jesuit school in the world and is part of a worldwide network of Jesuit education. Within the British Province, Jesuit schools include St Aloysius College Glasgow, Wimbledon College and St Ignatius College Enfield, all sharing a common mission inspired by Ignatius of Loyola: to form young people of faith, compassion and discernment for life, committed to serving others.

Jesuit education is rooted in the formation of the whole person-intellectual, spiritual, emotional and moral-encouraging young people to become "men and women for others", attentive to the needs of the world around them. You can find out more about the Jesuit approach to education on the Jesuit Institute website here.

At Stonyhurst, this vision is expressed through a rich heritage alongside a forward-looking outlook. The College now welcomes pupils from 38 countries and offers both A-Level and International Baccalaureate pathways.

Welcoming the appointment, the Chair of Governors noted Mr Doherty's extensive experience in Jesuit education and his understanding of the values that underpin Stonyhurst's mission. The Governors expressed confidence in his leadership, and in his commitment to the formation and flourishing of every pupil.

Mr Doherty added: "At Stonyhurst, we balance tradition with an appetite for innovation, offering a truly global education within the Jesuit tradition. Ultimately, we don't just prepare our pupils as a score, but rather, we prepare our pupils for life, forming principled, outward-looking individuals ready to make a meaningful difference in the world."

For more information about Stonyhurst College visit: www.stonyhurst.ac.uk/