Announcement – New Headmaster

We are delighted to announce that Mr Stephen McKernan has been appointed the new Head of Castle Park School. He will take up his duties in August 2021, on the retirement of Mr Denis Mc Sweeney. Castle Park has a history of stability and Stephen will be the sixth head in the school’s 120-year history.

Whilst we shall all be very sad to say goodbye to Denis, we are confident that Stephen will bring both experience and expertise which will build on the great work done by Denis during the past seventeen years and will guarantee Castle Park’s continued status as a world-class school.

Stephen is currently Head of St Edward’s Preparatory School in Cheltenham, England. He has been a Head for over sixteen years both in the Maintained and Independent sectors in Northern Ireland and England. Building upon his primary degree in Education from the University of Ulster, Stephen holds both a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and the UK National Professional Qualification in Headship. He is an Inspector for ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) and is National Chair of the ISA Inspections Committee in the UK.

Stephen’s private research interests are in the area of ‘personal leadership skills for young people’. He enjoys leading regular group sessions with pupils to build their personal confidence and resilience. At St. Edward’s, Stephen leads a regular farming club and he comes with many exciting and progressive ideas for Castle Park School.

We will also welcome Stephen’s youngest daughter to the Castle Park School community. It has been challenging to carry out such an important recruitment given the current restrictions, but we are delighted with the outcome and look forward to welcoming Stephen and his family to Castle Park School and indeed back home to their native Ireland.

At this time, the Board wishes to acknowledge the significant commitment, hard work and dedication that Denis has demonstrated over his 17 years of leadership in developing and maintaining world-class standards at our school. We hope that circumstances in 2021 will allow us all to celebrate his legacy and to wish him well in his forthcoming retirement.

The Board of Directors, Castle Park School.