Message from the New Principal - John Walmsley
17th January 2012
I finally arrived at Atlantic College some 9 months after being appointed and it is fantastic to be here with my family absorbing as much as I can of college life and discovering that the place is really as unique as everyone said it would be. I spent nearly fourteen, very happy years at Sidcot and I can say quite genuinely that this is the only academic institution that I would have left that lovely place for. My children are settling into their new schools and my wife, Barbara, who is an English teacher and a stone mason, is busy unpacking boxes!
Atlantic College is special as you all know. Some of the buildings are getting past their best and the castle needs much love and attention but the United World College mission shines through and its message is even more relevant in the complex world of today than it was 50 years ago when the college was founded. I am finding a huge amount of passion for these ideals among the staff and the students are a delight and want to be involved in everything being much more proactive than any other school I know. I feel very privileged to be leading the college at such an exciting time and one of my main tasks is to raise the profile of the college so that it becomes the reference point for global education and more young people can benefit from the values based education that Atlantic College offers.
I hope to meet as many alumni as possible in this important anniversary year and find out more of the lives that alumni have led after leaving the college. In the meantime can I wish you all a very happy new year and extend a warm welcome for those of you who can find the time to visit us here at St.Donat’s.
