Mark J Beard joined University College School, Hampstead as Headmaster in September 2013, following seven years at Brighton College as Deputy Headmaster, including a period serving as Acting Head Master. He graduated from Corpus Christi College, Oxford with a First Class degree in Chemistry before beginning his teaching career at King Edward’s School, Birmingham. He later became Head of Chemistry at St Paul’s School, where he worked from 1999 to 2006. As well as a Postgraduate Certificate of Education from Oxford, Mark also holds a Master’s Degree in Education Management from King’s College London. In addition to his role at UCS, Mark is the Chair of the London Fee Assistance Consortium, serves as Chair of the North London Admissions Consortium and has been a Governor of Westminster Academy for twelve years.

In February 2026 he will join the Independent School Show panel discussion on the question: “How important is ethos?”