THE head of Malvern College is marking his departure from the post with the launch of a scholarship scheme to enable poorer students to attend the school.

Antony Clark is on the move after 11 years as head to return to his native South Africa where he will take up the headship of Michaelhouse in KwaZulu-Natal, a boys’ boarding school dubbed the Eton of South Africa.

He said: ““I am really excited by my leaving present, the Clark Scholarships, which are means-tested awards for sixth-form entry to Malvern College, being launched this spring.

“They’ll provide between 60 per cent and 100 per cent of the fees for young people who couldn’t otherwise attend the school but are outstanding academically and in other areas too; perhaps sport, the arts or leadership.

“The first Clark scholars, who could be from Britain, the Commonwealth countries or elsewhere, will join the school in September 2019 and I know just how life-changing the opportunity to study here will be.

Through winning a Douglas Smith scholarship, which enabled him to attend Downing College, Cambridge, in his early 20s, Mr Clark, a modern historian, knows first-hand the transformative effect of academic or sports awards on promising youngsters from cash-strapped families.

During his time at the college, it has moved steadily up the academic league tables, and opened four international schools.

Mr Clark has also overseen an ambitious building programme, partly funded by the income from these overseas schools, including a new sports centre, two new boarding houses and a thoroughly refurbished science centre and theatre.

He said: “I’m proud of how, during my time, Malvern has enhanced its reputation as an International Baccalaureate school and boosted its national and international profile.

“We run the IB alongside the A level programme and, these days, half our sixth form pupils do each, but there are some distinct advantages with the IB which is more stretching academically. “Our students are drawn from 27 different countries including the Cayman Islands and Australia, and pupil numbers are rising, up by 80 this year, to 650.

For details on how to apply for the Clark Scholarship contact giles.vosper-brown@malverncollege.org.uk.