International leadership appointments with real impact.

Every international school is different. Geography, external environment, size and complexity, ownership and governance, student demographic – all these influence international schools and the leadership they need. 

That’s why we take such care in helping you find the right leader to help shape your school’s culture, strategy and long-term success. 

Whether you’re looking for help with your CEO, Principal or Head of School recruitment, you’re appointing other members of your senior leadership, or you need a team to lead a new school, we bring insight, proven processes and deep sector knowledge to help you make the right choice.

Trusted by schools at critical moments

It doesn’t matter if you are a board, an owner, a school group or a company – appointing your school’s senior leadership is one of the highest-stakes decisions you will make. The challenge is not just finding qualified candidates, it’s identifying those who will work well in your environment and cultural context, align with your vision and aspirations and have the temperament and resilience to lead confidently in complex, changing times.

We help you:

• Attract exceptional candidates – including those not actively looking.
• Assess each individual thoroughly, with specialised interview techniques and processes.
• Make a well-informed, confident decision that’s right for your school.

You’ll benefit from the wisdom of experienced school leaders, the skill of professional search consultants and the support of a team that’s made well over 600 successful leadership appointments in the UK and globally.

A personal and proven approach

Every appointment is one-of-a-kind, which is why we begin by getting to know your school and what’s at stake. Then we tailor a structured, evidence-based process that aims to find a school leader who is right for your situation and will make a lasting impact.

We offer a variety of services, but our full service typically involves:

From first conversations to the final offer, we stay by your side. And we keep in close contact with your candidates throughout the process, which can be especially important when candidates are considering a significant international move or taking up a position in a very different type of school.

We have outlined some of the features of our full service, but we have a flexible approach that allows us to put together a service that works best for you. And when you need a faster turnaround, we offer agile services that help you meet those tight deadlines.

Who we help

We’ve helped with leadership appointments in every type of international school, including many of the leading schools globally. That experience has given us a deep understanding of the nuances of recruiting in different national and cultural contexts, working with different curricula, and operating in different governance arrangements.

We’re your experienced partners for appointing roles, including:

• Heads and Principals
• CEOs and Executive Leaders
• Deputy Heads and Vice Principals
• Directors of Education 
• Heads  of Secondary, Primary and Prep 

FAQs

What types of educational leadership roles do you appoint?
We support the appointment of CEOs, Heads/Principals, Deputy Heads/Vice Principals and Division/Section Heads. Our expertise also extends to non-academic leadership roles in international schools, ensuring we can support you, whatever your leadership requirements. 

What is different about RSAcademics’ recruitment process?
We offer a consultancy-driven approach based on extensive experience in the education sector. Our leadership recruitment processes include in-depth consultations, specialised search strategies and comprehensive support throughout the appointment journey, ensuring a tailored fit for your school’s unique needs. Those who lead on our assignments are experienced international school leaders and professional recruiters, which helps us to truly understand your needs and provide you with a range of strong candidates. 

Do you work all over the world?

We are truly global. We’ve appointed heads from Havana to Hong Kong and from Southern Africa to Northern Europe.

Do you specialise in any type of curriculum?

No. The market means that the majority of our client schools are IB or UK curriculum or a mix of the two, but we’ve also worked with plenty of American curriculum schools. Reflecting much of the recent growth in the international sector, we frequently work with schools that combine national and international curricula – and we love working with schools with their own bespoke curricula.

I am a school owner, can you help me?

We work across all ownership and governance arrangements, reflecting the great diversity of international school models. We work with individual owners, school groups, non-profits and schools owned by companies. 

Do you have experience with founding appointments?

We consider founding assignments something of a speciality. We have worked with new schools all over the world. Founding opportunities bring particular challenges and candidates will be mindful of the risks, but there is also the excitement of working on something new. 

Where are your candidates from?

All over the world. The fact that RSAcademics has such a strong presence in the UK means that we have many British candidates on our books, but we work with candidates who come from – as well as work in – every part of the world.

Let’s find your next leader

Looking for help with a senior leadership appointment? Get in touch and let’s talk about what you’re looking for.

Let’s start the conversation