We are delighted to announce that James Diver has been appointed as the new Head of School at St George’s College (Quilmes). This position is to become effective in February 2021 as a planned succession to Mr Tate who will be retiring next December after 30 years of service to our school. Transition discussions between Messrs Tate and Diver have already begun.
This appointment is the result of a selection process that started in late 2019 and attracted 37 applicants from around the world.
James Belmonte-Diver is currently Deputy Head at St Paul’s School in São Paulo, Brazil, a leading British school of over 1,100 pupils aged 3 to 18.
Born in 1973 in the UK and educated at a state school in Wimbledon, James studied at Cardiff University, then obtained an MA at University College London and an Associate Diploma from Trinity College London.
James started his teaching career in 2001 at The London Oratory School, where he was Housemaster, introduced new subjects to the school curriculum and ran the Summer School. In 2010 he moved to Brazil to take up a senior leadership post at The British School (TBS) in Rio and oversaw the development of the senior school at the new Barra site. In 2014 he moved to St Paul’s as Assistant Head Academic and, in 2016, was appointed to his current role of Deputy Head.
Througout his career in education, James has taught a wide variety of subjects, including History, Physical Education, Latin, Music, Information Technology, Geography, and Global Perspectives.
He is married to Ana Carolina Belmonte (Carol), also a teacher and senior leader at St Paul´s, and has a 13-year old step daughter, Talitha. Carol and Talitha are Brazilian.
James commented “I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed as the next Head of St George’s Quilmes. Throughout the selection process I felt a constant affinity with the school; its focus on developing the whole child, the importance placed on the wider curriculum and the commitment to further development of the whole school community. It is a privilege to be invited to lead the school in the next phase of this development. I look forward to getting to know the school’s staff, parents, Old Georgians and, above all, the pupils.”
The Search Committee of the Board of St George’s highlighted James’s experience at TBS and St Paul’s, widely regarded as outstanding schools in our region, where he developed strong expertise in aligning policies with values, driving academic improvements, and delivering results while focusing on the wellbeing of students. James´s teaching and senior leadership experiences, combined with his skills, style and deep appreciation of South America, are expected to create the basis for a resourceful and effective Headship at St George’s.
Please join us in welcoming James, Carol and Talitha to the St George’s community.
On behalf of the Board of Governors St George’s College,
Francisco R. Follett
Chairman
