A former Richmond schoolboy with experience setting up new schools will be the founding headmaster for a new Teddington free school.
Turing House School proposers, the Russell Education Trust and a parent steering group, appointed Colin Mackinlay, who has seven years of headship under his belt and experience as an Ofsted inspector.
The former pupil of Chase Bridge, St John the Baptist, Grey Court School and Richmond College started teaching after graduating from Cambridge University, where he read natural and electrical sciences.
As a senior adviser at the Russell Education Trust, Mr Mackinlay worked with the parent proposers for Turing House since they first envisioned the school in 2012.
He said: “Turing House will be a school that develops all students as confident individuals ready for the opportunities of today’s society.
“The blend of emphasis on science, technology and music with the development of critical thinking as an essential skill will be central to students' experiences at the school.
“This is a unique opportunity to create an inspirational new school for the Richmond community, and I’m looking forward to bringing our proposals to life and welcoming our first students in 2014.”
Mr Mackinlay was head of sixth form at Ravens Wood School in Bromley, deputy head of Feltham Community College and headmaster at Coulsdon High School in Croydon.
At Coulsdon he was praise by Ofsted for his vision, leadership and commitment and the impact he had on school improvement.
When the school converted to a faith academy he moved to the London Challenge programme to lead another school in transition before becoming a senior school improvement adviser with Education London.
He was also principal education adviser for Bristol Free School and Becket Keys Church of England School.
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