Deputy High Court Judge John Bowers will be swapping a wig for a mortar board next year as head of an Oxford College. The QC, who specialises in human rights and employment law, has just been elected as principal of Brasenose.

Mr Bowers is a trustee of the Kessler Foundation, the JC's majority shareholder.

Henry Zeffman, who represented students in the selection, said they liked his "commitment to widening access for the best students whatever their backgrounds. We think that John will be a personable and progressive principal."