Senior Management Team

Justin is an old boy of King's College where he was Head Boy and a very successful games player. He had his first teaching experience as a GAP student at the Dragon School, Oxford (where he had boarded as a boy from eight) and he went on to join the full-time staff as a maths teacher, 1st XV rugby coach and Assistant Housemaster. During the next 14 years he met Claire, they married and ran a boarding house of their own before moving to Salisbury where Justin became Deputy Head at Chafyn Grove School for four years. Now they live on-site with their three children and play a very full part in the life of the school.

A teacher of 11 years standing, he has previously worked at Marlborough College, Malaysia (Head of Year 3 and 4) and St Paul’s Juniors, London (Head of Year 3 and 4, and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead).

Born in South Africa but raised in New Zealand from the age of nine, Steve studied history and English at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand before completing his teacher training. After teaching for two years in Wellington, Steve arrived in the UK in 1996 and taught for five years in a state primary school in Surrey. He joined Fulham Prep in 2002 and fulfilled a number of roles in his time there. These included Head of Year 4 and 7, Head of English, Senior Master and finally Deputy Head. Steve enjoys teaching all ages in the prep environment as well as tackling the wide variety of challenges a day holds. He loves history as well as all sports, and he still manages to get to the cricket crease or golf course when time allows. He enjoys camping and being outdoors with his two sons who attend King's College Prep School.

Our Director of Admissions and Marketing, Kate Rippin, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to King’s. Having graduated from the Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts in London, Kate gained her equity card and spent a number of years working in musical theatre and media arts. Following this career, Kate took a more corporate path, working as an Executive Personal Assistant across a number of sales and marketing roles in London. Relocation to the South West saw a move into the education sector and more specifically independent schools, whilst raising her three children, Olivia, Megan and Isaac. Kate joined King’s College as Registrar in 2014 and became Director of Admissions and Marketing across both schools in 2017. Kate relaxes away from work through her continued passion for theatre and dance whilst spending time with her family and two dogs.

Claire graduated from the University of Plymouth in 1997 and began her teaching career in a large infant school in Hampshire where she stayed for four years. However, she longed to return to her Somerset roots and in 2001 began her teaching career at King's College Prep School. During her time at the school, she has predominantly taught Year 1 but spend a couple of years in the Prep department teaching Year 4. She was appointed to Head of Pre-Prep in 2011, although was reluctant to leave the classroom so combines this role with being a Year 1 class teacher. Claire enjoys the challenge of long hikes across all terrains and has a passion singing in her local choir.

Simon is a graduate in international relations with subsidiary mathematics and has an Open University MBA. He is a former Infantry Major and worked for the Directorate of Strategic Plans for the Ministry of Defence in London. During his time in the army he served in numerous locations including Iraq, Kosovo, Macedonia, Germany, Northern Ireland. He joined Prestfelde School in Shrewsbury (part of the Woodard family) in 2011 and became Director of Finance and Operations at King’s in January 2018. Simon and his wife Rose have two children who are both at King’s. Simon’s interests include spending time with his family and taming the garden.

Alistair studied Sports and Coaching at Oxford Brookes University followed by a PE PGCE at The University of Exeter. Upon receiving the Tedd Wragg award (for most outstanding student teacher), Alistair joined Wallingford School. He taught there for four years as PE and a Head of Year. For the following four years after that, he worked as Director of Sport at Marlborough College Malaysia and alongside his wife, was heavily involved in boarding. Alistair returned to the UK and took up the role as Director of Sport before joining the SMT group as Assistant Head Co-Curricular.