Eton College appoints Alastair Chirnside as 72nd headmaster

The appointment marks a return to Eton for Mr Chirnside, an Old Etonian and former King’s Scholar who began his teaching career at the school in 2004.

His selection comes at a particularly high-profile time for the Berkshire-based all-boys boarding school, with Prince George expected to begin his studies there this autumn.

Mr Chirnside has built a varied career across both finance and education. Before entering teaching, he worked as a fund manager at Schroders. He is currently Warden of St Edward’s School, Oxford, where he has attracted attention for measures including restrictions on weekday mobile phone use and the reintroduction of landline telephones.

Raised in Oxford, Mr Chirnside attended the Dragon School before studying Classics and French at Merton College, University of Oxford, where he achieved a Congratulatory First.

After joining Eton in 2004, he taught Classics, coached J16 rowing and later became Head of Classics and a house master.

He left Eton in 2016 to join Harrow School as Director of Studies and was appointed Deputy Head Master in 2019. In September 2021, he became Warden of St Edward’s School.

Mr Chirnside will now return to Eton to lead the college through its next chapter when he succeeds Mr Henderson in 2027.