John Dunston

After a degree at Cambridge, John began his teaching career in Germany before taking up posts at Cheltenham Grammar School and Bancroft’s School. He served as Head of two independent schools for over 20 years: Leighton Park School (HMC) in Reading from 1996 to 2010 and, before that, Sibford School (Society of Heads) in Oxfordshire from 1990 to 1996. During that time, he was also a member of the HMC Inspections Committee, contributed to the Dearing 16 – 19 Review, and chaired the Society of Heads Education Committee, becoming Chairman of the Society itself in 1999.

John has been a Reporting Inspector for ISI since 2000, having led 50 school inspections in the past 15 years. John is currently a trainer of ISI inspectors, most recently preparing them for the new regulatory compliance inspections. John is regularly invited to lead consultancies on governance, leadership and management in independent schools and has also led a number of inspections and consultancies overseas in recent years, including assignments in Europe, Asia, Africa, Central America and the Middle East.

Among the other educational organisations of which John has been Chairman are the Quaker Heads’ Conference and the Association of Educational Guardians for International Students. He has been Chairman of Governors of two GSA Schools and is currently a Governor of an HMC school, having in the past also been a Governor of IAPS and Society of Heads schools. He acts as Tutor for the Farmington Institute at Harris Manchester College, Oxford. John also serves as Mentor for new Heads in independent and maintained schools.