The deputy head of a prestigious independent school in Oxford has been named the new headteacher of Brighton College.

Richard Cairns, currently at Magdalen College School, Oxford, will start at the college in January when the present head, Anthony Seldon, leaves to become master of Wellington College, Berkshire.

Mr Cairns, 39, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Oxford school, which was The Sunday Times' Independent School of the Year and ranked 11th in the first division of the Daily Telegraph's league table.

His responsibilities included discipline, pastoral care and marketing in addition to his teaching duties. He is a historian with a special interest in the crusades. Before joining Magdalen College School, Mr Cairns was the head of history at Stewart's Melville College in Edinburgh and taught history at The Oratory School in Reading.

He said: "Building on the reputation Anthony Seldon has created for Brighton College gives me the challenge I have been looking for. It is a fantastic school with tremendous potential and I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead it."

Lord Skidelsky, the chairman of Brighton College board of governors, said: "We were fortunate to be able to select Mr Cairns from a genuinely outstanding field of candidates.

"Mr Cairns has a truly excellent track record and is the ideal person to take Brighton College forward.