Bredon School bade farewell to its Principal, David Keyte, who is retiring this summer after a successful decade at the helm.

Mr Keyte first joined the school near Tewkesbury in January 2000 as Bursar. Promoted to General Manager a few months later, he bought the school in April 2002 at a time when pupil numbers were low. Since then, the roll has increased to around 240 as Mr Keyte has invested in new buildings and IT facilities.

Last year, the Spanish-British education group Colegios Laude bought the school near Tewkesbury from Mr Keyte, but asked him to stay on as Principal until his retirement.

Mr Keyte, who recently became Chairman of Hereford United FC, will continue to work for the school and Colegios Laude part-time as a Director, but from September Bredon School will be led by new Headmaster John Hewitt.

At the independent school’s traditional Founder’s Day ceremony on the last day of term, there were fulsome tributes to Mr Keyte from teacher Doug Sharp (the son of the late Lt Col A K Sharp, who founded the school in 1962) and from Paul Albrecht, Chief Executive of Colegios Laude.

Mr Sharp, Bredon’s Admissions and Development Manager, praised Mr Keyte for the stability he had brought to Bredon, which is particularly known for helping children who have struggled at other schools. “There have been pressures to change the fundamental ethos, but David has continued to champion the vision of 1962.”

Mr Albrecht said Mr Keyte was somebody “who really cares about people” and added: “I have found him to be an honest, transparent partner; a no-nonsense and hard-working businessman.”

In his own Principal’s speech, Mr Keyte thanked his colleagues, wished the school leavers well and said proudly: “I can report that today we have a thriving, successful school that will only go from strength to strength under John Hewitt.”

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Bredon School by Edge Media

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