A search was carried out in September to find a worthy successor and there were over 80 applications for the post. Interviews were held in London at the beginning of November and a shortlist of seven candidates was drawn up, all of whom are currently successful heads of important schools.

The interest in the post is testimony to the high regard in which King's College Madrid is held in educational circles in the UK, Spain and internationally.

The selection Committee of four people reached a unanimous conclusion at the end of the interviews, and decided to appoint Elaine Blaus, Head of the British School of Alicante, which is a member of King's College Group.

Ms Blaus is the founding Head of our school in Alicante and has led it with enormous success, during the past twelve years, from its initiation to its current situation with 800 students and expansion plans to grow to 1,100. Ms. Blaus knows the school well and is ready and keen to take on the challenge of further developing King's College Madrid, both in terms of the quality of the education we provide, as well as in improving the facilities in Soto de Viñuelas through the ambitious development programme which is about to start.

Ms. Blaus is married and has two children, one at university in England, and one still in school in Alicante. She will move to Madrid in the summer to take up her post for the next school year.