A new headteacher has been appointed to lead St Bees School.
Olly Wells will take up the post from September 2026 and the school said he brought with him a formidable breadth of experience across both British and international education.
He will begin working with the St Bees team remotely from next month to ensure a smooth transition.
Mr Wells is widely recognised for his commitment to academic excellence, strategic leadership and a deep understanding of how to build well-rounded, forward-thinking schools.
A specialist in computer science and a respected advisor on university admissions, he has led some of the UK’s most respected British international schools overseas, including Wycombe Abbey in Changzhou and Sedbergh in Fuzhou.
Mr Wells is currently headmaster at Harrow in Haikou. He has also served as a lead improvement partner with the Council of British International Schools and as a Governor of Wellington Shanghai, one of China’s top bilingual schools.
Mr Wells began his career in UK state education and previously served as associate principal at Westminster Academy in London, as well as holding public office as a councillor and primary school governor.
He is married to Emily, a lawyer and is the father of two boys who will also join the school. The family is making a long-term commitment to join the St Bees community and looks forward to relocating to West Cumbria.
Until Mr Wells formally takes up the post, Laurence Gribble will serve as interim headmaster. Mr Gribble is already a well-known and highly respected leader within the St Bees community, and was a student at the school for seven years.
He is director of Full Circle Education Group.
