A NEW headmaster has taken over at a 600-year-old private school.

Kieran McLaughlin has started work at Durham School, succeeding Martin George who left after five-and-a-half years in the post to become headteacher of Epsom College Malaysia.

Mr McLaughlin, 41, was previously deputy headteacher (academic) at the world-renowned Rugby School.

He said he was very pleased to be appointed to Durham, which he described as a fantastic school, and said he was looking forward to building on its successes of the last few years.

“It’s a school with an amazing history and it is very successful,” he said.

“I haven’t come in with any pre-conceived ideas. I want to build on the success of the last few years.”

The school currently has around 600 pupils aged three to 18, 120 of whom are boarders.

It has a strong track record in sport and is looking to open branches overseas, first in Dubai and then possibly elsewhere.

Last week, it scored record-breaking A-level results.

Mr McLaughlin became more aware of the school through its rugby matches against Rugby School.

He has moved north with his wife Kathryn and children Robert, eight, William, six, and James, three.

The Liverpool-born teacher said Durham’s finances and pupil numbers were strong and he wanted to focus on quality and attracting the best quality boarders.

Earlier this year the school was rocked by the disappearance of its deputy head, Mark Bushnell, whose body was later discovered on an east coast beach.

Mr McLaughlin, who never met Mr Bushnell, said he had been struck by the strength of the school community and its supportive environment.