Brushing up on his Italian skills has become a priority for former Head of Co-Curricular, Denley Jones, who left St Andrew’s College in August to take up a position as Head of Sport at the International School of Florence. “Although I’ll be speaking English in my role, I am learning Italian. I’m looking forward to the challenge, living in a new culture, and also seeing more of my family in Wales,” he said.

The ‘Welsh Kiwi’ joined the staff at St Andrew’s in July 2006 and said he enjoyed seeing some incredible sportspeople come through the College’s highly regarded Sport programme. “There have also been some amazing performers who have gone on to do great things on the stage and screen.”

Denley enjoyed being involved in the cultural side of life at St Andrew’s. “The assemblies have been a real highlight for me, where the phenomenal talents of our students have always blown me away.” Maintaining participation rates of close to 90 per cent in sport and cultural activities and co-ordinating the requirement for all teachers to coach or manage a sport or cultural activity, is something of which Denley was particularly proud.

In his busy role at St Andrew’s, Denley was also a tutor, PE teacher, and a coach of rugby, football, cricket and athletics. He managed basketball teams, and at times was the co-ordinator of basketball, tennis, and First XI hockey, as well as being a passionate sideline supporter. He said he would miss the College, “a great school, with soul and a sense of belonging.”

His parting message to students was to ‘back yourself’. “I’ve always told the students if you believe, you can achieve.”