Category: Appointments

Following a robust recruitment process, led by RSAcademics, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Andrew McBride as Head of Rossall. Andrew is currently Deputy Head, Co-Curricular of the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle where he has been instrumental in taking RGS’s co-curricular provision to a level which matches its enviably high academic one. Educated in the maintained sector in County Durham, he has a 2.1 in Sport, Health and Exercise from Durham University and an MA in Education from Northumbria University.

Reflecting on his appointment, Andrew said: “I am humbled and excited to be announced as the next Head of Rossall, it is such a special moment for myself and my family. The sense of belonging and community cohesion that the school has is inspiring and we are looking forward to becoming a part of that. Rossall is a special place that prides itself on inspiring excellence and educating the whole person, these are values that I hold dear as a teacher and as a person. Rossall has strong momentum, a generosity of spirit, fantastic leaders and highly committed teachers, coaches and operational colleagues that work tirelessly to make the school such a success. Mr Quartermain leaves an inspiring legacy that I am so appreciative to be able to build upon. I cannot wait to get to know our talented students, supportive families and wider community as I begin my journey as Head of Rossall School. Floreat Rossallia!”

We wish Andrew every success with his new appointment. 

We are delighted to announce we have supported the Governors of St Margaret’s Hampstead with the successful appointment of Sharron Shackell as their Head from September 2025. 

Sharron earned a first-class degree in History and Politics from the University of Manchester before completing her PGCE in History at the University of Cambridge. She previously served as Director of Sixth Form and is currently Deputy Head (Pastoral) at Immanuel College.

Speaking on her appointment, Sharron said “As an experienced educator with a deep commitment to fostering a positive learning environment, I am excited about the opportunity to lead and inspire both students and staff at St Margaret’s. The essence of a modern education is to empower the pupils to believe that they can achieve anything whilst being part of a happy, nurturing and ambitious school. A happy child who is in a secure environment thrives.” 

We would like to wish Sharron every success in her new role. 

 

We are delighted to have supported Charterhouse with the recent appointment of their new Principal Deputy Head, Sam Robinson. 

Sam initially pursued a career as a journalist before moving into education in 2011, teaching English at Churcher’s College. Sam moved to Portsmouth Grammar School in 2015 where her most recent role was Assistant Head with responsibility for whole school enrichment and the Sixth Form.

Since 2020, Sam has been working for Lift Schools Multi Academy Trust, collaborating with 57 different schools in a national leadership role. 

Speaking about the appointment, Charterhouse said:

“We were delighted with RSA’s attention to detail and support at every step of our recent Principal Deputy Head appointment process. The Team’s intimate knowledge of the sector, its senior leaders and individual school contexts is exceptional, and they were able to give us essential insights and detailed analysis of the candidates.”

We would like to wish Sam every success in her new appointment. 

We are delighted to have supported Ackworth School with the successful appointment of Amanda McShane as Head of their Junior School, Coram House from September 2025. 

Amanda joins the school from Cumnor House School in Croydon, where she has been Head for the past seven years, overseeing significant growth and success.

Commenting on her appointment, Amanda said: “I am delighted to be returning to the Ackworth family.  It is a privilege to join this wonderful community, and I look forward to building upon existing foundations while embracing the opportunities that lie ahead.  Having spent some time with pupils and staff, I can see that Coram House is a truly special place. I am excited to meet more of you in the coming months, and to work together to shape a bright future for the school.” 

You can read more on the Ackworth School website. 

We are pleased to have supported the search for the new Head of Cokethorpe School, resulting in the successful appointment of Dr Sarah Squire DPhil, MA, PGCE. Sarah will take up the role in September 2025, succeeding Damian Ettinger, who will retire after an exceptional 23 years of leadership.

She will become Cokethorpe’s eighth Head, and first Headmistress.  

On her appointment, Dr Squire said:
“I feel privileged and honoured to be building on Cokethorpe’s strong legacy and am very excited about leading the School into the next chapter of its history.”

You can read more about Sarah’s appointment on Cokethorpe’s website. 

We are delighted to have supported the Bedales School team with the successful appointment of Clare Kirkham as the new Head of Bedales Prep. Clare will join Bedales from 1 April 2025. 

Clare is currently Head of Junior School at Downsend, where she has been in post since 2017. 

Clare Kirkham said: “I am hugely excited to be joining Bedales as the new Head of Prep. I am excited to meet more members of the Bedales community this term, and to begin working in earnest in the Summer term to lead the Prep School with ‘head, hand and heart’.” 

Will Goldsmith, Head of Bedales, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Clare to Bedales as our new Head of Prep following such a rigorous recruitment process. We have been impressed by Clare’s deep affinity with the Bedales ethos and her enthusiasm for engaging with our community.  We look forward to working with Clare as we build on the strong legacy left by Colin Baty, whose leadership has been so valued, and we wish him all the best in his new headship.”   

We would like to wish Clare and the school every success with the new appointment. 

We are thrilled to have supported St Helen and St Katherine with the appointment of their new Head, Sarah Rollings. 

Sarah will join the school in Autumn 2025, following the retirement of Rebecca Dougall in Summer 2025. 

Sarah has been Headmistress of Heathfield School Ascot, a senior girls’ school in Berkshire, since 2021. She holds a first-class degree from Brunel University in Secondary Education with Geography and Physical Education as well as an MA in Educational Leadership and Management. She has also completed an Executive Leadership Programme at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. She previously served as Director of Sport at Helen and St Katharine from 2011–2017 and brings with her great experience and love of the School.

Chair of Governors, Sara Benbow commented that ‘St Helen and St Katharine has been extremely fortunate to have been led by a series of brilliant and inspiring women. We are delighted that in Sarah Rollings we have found not just a worthy successor to her illustrious predecessors, but someone with vision, dynamism and a passionate commitment to all aspects of girls’ education who will build on everything they achieved and take the School to even greater heights.’

We are delighted to announce, following a successful recruitment process supported by RSAcademics, Jonathan Anderson has been appointed as Head of Campbell College.

He will take up his post in September 2025, following the retirement of current Head, Robert Robinson who leaves Campbell at the end of this academic year.

Jonathan joins Campbell College from Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, where he has been Head for seven years. He brings a wealth of experience from a range of highly regarded schools, including Worksop College in Nottinghamshire and Christ’s Hospital School in West Sussex. 

Commenting on his appointment, Jonathan said:

“I am excited to build on the outstanding work of Robert Robinson and look forward to working with the staff, students and wider Campbell community to shape the next chapter in the School’s history.”

We would like to wish Jonathan every success in his new role. 

We are delighted to have supported Bradfield College in appointing Jeremy Quartermain as their next Head from September 2025.

Jeremy joins Bradfield from Rossall in Lancashire, where he has been Head since 2018. Jeremy has been an outstanding success in his current position, and the pupil roll has increased very significantly in recent years. Similarly, academic outcomes at Rossall have improved markedly during his tenure. Prior to Rossall, Jeremy was Deputy Head (Academic) at Brentwood School in Essex (2013-18) and Head of Sixth Form at Gresham’s in Norfolk (2010-13).

During a rigorous selection process, Bradfield College Council was extremely impressed by Jeremy’s passion for education and the range of skills and qualities he will bring to the position of Head of Bradfield. 

Speaking about his appointment, Jeremy said: ‘I am delighted to have been appointed the next Head of Bradfield, and I am committed to building upon Chris Stevens’ superb legacy. As a family, we are incredibly excited by the prospect of joining such an outstanding community. Bradfield is an extraordinary school, and it has been an absolute joy to see children thriving in all aspects of their lives. Everyone whom I met throughout the interview process expressed an enormous sense of pride in Bradfield. It is a vibrant and caring school with real ambition and heart.’

We would like to wish Jeremy every success in his new role. 

We are delighted to have supported Shrewsbury School with the appointment of Dr Nick Dodd as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Clerk to the Governors.

Nick is currently COO and Clerk to the Governors at Bryanston School, an all-through 3-18 independent boarding and day school in Dorset.  Before taking on this post nearly five years ago, Nick worked in retail and logistics, most recently in a senior role at John Lewis and Partners.  Prior to that, Nick worked in the Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool, whilst studying for his doctorate. 

He will join Shrewsbury School leadership team from the Summer Term 2025 and we would like to wish him every success with his new role.