Headmaster’s Welcome
Empowering Pupils Through Warrior Learning
At Dunottar, we believe that education is about more than just academic achievement – it is about preparing our pupils to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Our mission is to help every pupil reach their fullest potential within a nurturing, family-oriented environment, while also developing the resilience, creativity and character they need to succeed in the future.
Over 20 years ago, I left the corporate world to pursue my passion for teaching, driven by a desire to give back to the community and to make a meaningful difference to the lives of young people. Today, as Headmaster of Dunottar, I am more convinced than ever that this was the right decision.
At Dunottar, we have embraced a forward-thinking approach to education that challenges traditional norms. Through our innovative “Warrior Learning” approach, we focus on developing the soft skills that are essential for success in an increasingly automated world. Our pupils learn to take risks, to make mistakes and to grow from those experiences. As the chess player, Emanuel Lasker, said “Without error there can be no brilliancy”.
Whether they are excelling in academics, competing in sports teams, taking centre stage in theatre productions, or testing themselves on our high ropes course, Dunottar pupils are always pushing beyond their comfort zones. Warrior Learning is embedded in everything we do, helping our pupils develop the independence, tenacity and collaborative spirit needed to become leaders in tomorrow’s unpredictable, non-linear workplace.
Our vibrant school community is built on the values of empathy and collaboration, where staff, pupils and parents work together to make a real impact both within the school community and beyond. Together, we encourage every pupil to embrace challenges, grow in confidence and contribute positively to the world around them.
As my wife, Romey, and I reflect on our time at Dunottar, we could not feel more at home. The decision to disrupt traditional education in favour of a holistic, character-focused approach has proven not just successful, but transformative.
I hope you will join us at Dunottar, where we empower every pupil to achieve, grow and lead with courage and purpose.
Mr Mark Tottman
TEDx: A Headmaster’s Philosophy of Education Reform
About Mr Tottman
Mark has a degree in Modern History from Oxford University and an MBA from Edinburgh Business School. Before training to be a teacher, Mark worked for seven years in marketing and operations in the UK service sector, and for eight years as an international management consultant specialising in strategy and change for companies and sports organisations. Prior to becoming Headmaster of Dunottar, Mark was Deputy Head Academic at Dean Close School, Cheltenham, and Group Marketing Director for Dean Close Foundation. Besides his love of teaching Business and Economics, he has been a Head of Department, a Boarding Housemaster and a Head of Rugby. Mark is married to Romey and they have two children. In his spare time, he enjoys travelling, a range of sports, riding his road bike around Surrey and playing chess. Mark is known for his innovative and disruptive approach, encouraging a more transformative approach to education. He is focused on inspiring pupils to become “Warrior Learners”, developing characteristics that will future-proof their lives in a fast-paced and complex world.
