Following an extensive search, we are delighted to announce that Mr Luke Hartley has been appointed as the new Headmaster of Woodridge College, with effect from 1 January 2024. 

Hartley is an experienced and highly qualified educator, administrator, house master and sports coach, and the current Deputy Head of Administration and boarding at St Stithians Boys’ College in Johannesburg. He matriculated from Selborne College in East London in 1989 and did his tertiary education at Rhodes University, where he obtained a BA, majoring in Geography and Psychology, in 1994 and a HDE in Geography, Guidance Counselling and History a year later.  

Over the last 27 years, he has filled various leadership, administrative, sports and academic roles at St Stithians, and personally oversaw the communication from the school to its stakeholders, among other key achievements. Luke is relishing the prospect of a new environment in the tranquil surrounds of the Woodridge campus.  

“I am looking forward to working with the staff, parents, pupils and Woodridge alumni to continue providing a world-class education and to take Woodridge to new heights,” he said. 

“I have followed Woodridge for some time and have great respect for its capacity to provide a rounded education, appropriately known as ‘the experience’."

 “I feel the roles I have filled in almost three decades at St Stithians, which included being the director of boarding, will allow me to add significant value to the requirements of the post at Woodridge College.” 

Hartley takes over the reins from Derek Bradley, who was appointed in 2017 and was instrumental in resurrecting the school following the fire in June of that year. 

He will be joined at Woodridge by his wife, Deirdre, and boys, Josh and Connor, who will join the College and Prep in 2024. 

Woodridge Trust chairperson, Andrea Puggia, said they were delighted to welcome Hartley to the Woodridge family.  

“On behalf of the Woodridge Trust, and the wider community, we welcome Luke, his wife and boys to Woodridge,” he said. 

“We look forward to working closely with him as we build on a vision that started 87 years ago and one that has grown into a leading South African educational institution.”