Dr Kowenicki announced as Shrewsbury's new Director of Education

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Richard Kowenicki to the new role of Director of Education from 1 September 2025. 

Reporting to the Headmaster, as a member of the Leadership Team, the Director of Education is responsible for the successful, efficient and harmonious alignment of educational strategy and delivery across the Shrewsbury School family in the UK and around the world. 

Dr Kowenicki is currently in his fourth year as Deputy Head (Academic) at Shrewsbury School.  He has a First Class Degree and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Cambridge.  He was previously Head of Chemistry, and then a boarding Housemaster, at Westminster School.  Before that he taught at Tonbridge School.      

The Director of Education will support the thriving of the Shrewsbury School family by implementing our strategic vision and providing dynamic direction for the educational delivery in our prep schools and expert educational input to support our international activity. 

Leo Winkley, Headmaster of Shrewsbury School, said: “We are thrilled that Dr Richard Kowenicki is moving into this exciting new role at a time of great opportunity for Shrewsbury School, both at home in the UK and on the global educational stage.  Richard combines a rare blend of academic and pastoral leadership in excellent schools with a deep appreciation of the distinctive whole person education we offer at Shrewsbury School.”

Dr Kowenicki has three children who attend Packwood, part of the Shrewsbury School family.  He is a Governor at Moor Park, an independent prep school in Ludlow.  A marathon runner (with an impressive PB of 2 hours 32 minutes) and keen footballer, Richard enjoys outdoor adventure and spending time with his family.

On his appointment, Dr Kowenicki commented: “I'm thrilled to be taking on this exciting role and am greatly honoured to be entrusted with a new set of strategic responsibilities across the family of Shrewsbury schools. I am hugely looking forward to developing my experience in an educational setting that I love and has done so much for my family."

With the addition of this significant leadership role, Shrewsbury will continue to advance its educational mission nationally and around the world.