Toby Seth, Head, Whitgift School
I first became aware of RSAcademics around 15 years ago when I was exploring my first headship. Since then, I have continued to follow your work and built up an appreciation of your reputation within the sector.
When the time came to recruit a new Chief Operating Officer at Whitgift School, we felt it was important to work with an executive search firm. The appointment was particularly significant, and there was reputational value in conducting the search through a specialist recruiter with genuine knowledge of the independent school sector. At the same time, both my Senior Deputy Head and I were relatively new in post, so we valued having an experienced external adviser guiding us through the process.
There were also practical considerations. Our internal team was already managing a significant workload, and we did not want to place additional pressure on them. We wanted to ensure that the search reached the widest possible market and attracted candidates from a range of backgrounds. This was not a traditional school leadership appointment; we were keen to identify exceptional talent both within and beyond the education sector, and we needed a partner who could help us cast the net much wider.
I would describe working with RSAcademics as highly collaborative. Throughout the process, our Senior Advisor, demonstrated a strong understanding of both our organisation and the role we were seeking to fill. Importantly, she was candid when she felt it was needed. Her advice was always practical, relevant and rooted in experience.
In the past, I have worked with other recruiters where the process felt less straightforward, with more barriers between the consultant and the school. With RSAcademics, the interface was seamless. Our Senior Advisor worked closely with us at every stage, advising on the recruitment process, interview structure, assessment activities and interview questions. Her expertise helped us design a process that was both rigorous and effective.
One of the most valuable aspects of the partnership was the quality of candidate insight provided. We had two particularly strong finalists, and the additional perspective offered by RSAcademics helped us make a well-informed decision with confidence. The quality of that insight went far beyond simply presenting candidates; it genuinely added value to our decision-making.
RSAcademics was also competitively priced, which is always an important consideration. However, what stood out most was not the commercial aspect but the organisation’s ability to listen carefully, understand who we are as a school and identify exactly what we were looking for. Some recruitment firms can feel more corporate in their approach. For us, the real strength of RSAcademics was its ability to understand both the client and the candidate and then bring the right people together.
Our Senior Advisor was outstanding throughout. She was always available, responsive and supportive, and the level of service we received was excellent from beginning to end. We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the appointment.
I would have no hesitation in recommending RSAcademics. The team managed the process professionally, understood the sector exceptionally well and delivered a result that has made a real difference to our school.