Stay up to date with the latest from RSAcademics. Here you’ll find school leadership news, sector updates and announcements about the people we’ve helped to appoint.
Warm congratulations to Doug Harper, who has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer at Kimbolton School. Our team was pleased to work with the school on this appointment.
Doug will join the school on 26 March 2026. Doug most recently served as COO at DMI, leading organisational transformation and global strategy delivery.
We would like to wish Doug and the School every success as he takes up his new role.
We are pleased to have supported St Andrew’s School, Turi with the successful appointment of Mark Waldron as their new Head of Senior School. Mark will join the School us at the start of the next academic year.
Mark has held senior leadership roles across outstanding boarding and international schools in the UK, Europe and Latin America.
Speaking on Mark’s appointment, Director-CEO Geert Simons said:
“A heartfelt thank you to RSAcademics for their professionalism, insight, and support throughout the search process. Their deep understanding of our school and its values played a key role in helping us find such an outstanding fit for Turi.”
We would like to wish Mark and the School every success with the appointment.
We are delighted to have supported Mayfield School with the successful appointment of their new Director of Development, Amba Shirfield.
Amba joins the School at a pivotal time as they embark on a new fundraising campaign to support bursaries and key capital projects.
Amba has worked in education, both in schools and universities, across the UK, USA and Australia for over 25 years, leading capital campaigns and raising significant funds for bursaries and scholarships.
We would like to send Amba and Mayfield our best wishes.
We are pleased to have supported the Board of Governors at The Royal Belfast Academical Institution with the successful appointment of Dr Craig Walker as their Principal.
Craig will take up the role in August 2026. He joins RBAI from Pitsford School in Northamptonshire, where he has been Head for eight years.
Speaking on his appointment, he said he was honoured to be selected as the next Principal of RBAI and expressed his commitment to working collaboratively with the School’s staff, Board of Governors, parent community, and alumni.
We would like to wish Craig and RBAI every success.
We are pleased to have supported Bosworth Independent School with the appointment of Olivia Powell as their new Deputy Head.
Olivia will join the School in Summer 2026. Olivia is a former pupil at Bosworth, having been awarded an academic scholarship to study her A-Levels.
Speaking on her appointment, Olivia said:
“This is a very special move for me. I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to lead such an experienced, dedicated and kind staff body. I know the community is filled with expertise, care and wonderful students, and I look forward to building on the school’s success together.”
We would like to wish Olivia and the School every success.
We are delighted to have supported Ravenscourt Park Prep with the appointment of their new Headteacher, Tim Smith.
Tim will join the school in September 2026 from Hampton Prep School, where he is currently Headmaster.
Speaking on his appointment, the School said:
“Mr Smith impressed directors and governors with his clear educational vision, strong alignment with the school’s ethos and his natural rapport with both pupils and staff.”
We would like to wish Tim and the School every success.
We are pleased to have supported St Mary’s Calne with the appointment of their new Chief Operating Officer, Colonel Ross Cleland.
Ross will join the school in Spring 2026 and will be responsible for key operational areas including finance, estates, HR, health and safety and commercial activities.
Speaking on his appointment, Ross said: ‘I am deeply honoured to have been selected by the Head and Board of Governors to be the Chief Operating Officer at St Mary’s Calne and St Margaret’s Prep. Visiting the schools and meeting the team through the selection process, it was clear why parents say Calne is such a special place and I was immediately drawn to the warm, inclusive, welcoming environment and the personal values-based approach to the development of pupils. I am genuinely excited to join such a high performing team and really looking forward to serving the pupils, parents, staff and Governors of Calne, and playing a part in the development of such brilliant young people.’
We would like to wish Ross and the school every success.
We are pleased to have supported The Girls’ Schools Association (GSA) with the successful appointment of Jeanette Cochrane as its next Chief Executive.
Jeanette was formerly a headteacher and executive leader, and she brings her wide-ranging education experience to the role.
Speaking on her appointment, Jeanette says: “It’s an honour to join the Girls’ Schools Association as its new CEO and to lead such an exceptional network of Heads who champion girls, every day. This position has given me the opportunity to focus entirely on what I care about most – empowering girls and young women, and supporting the educational leaders who help them rise. Having spent my whole career in education, I’m proud to be part of an Association that stands for opportunity, aspiration, and the enduring power of girls-only education. I am excited to build upon Donna’s strong legacy with energy, purpose, and optimism to shape an equally brilliant future.”
Jeanette will formally start in post at the start of 2026, taking over from outgoing Chief Executive, Donna Stevens, who has led the GSA for five years.
We are pleased to announce the programme for our upcoming Independent Schools Leadership Forum on Tuesday 24 February 2026 at Grant Thornton, Finsbury Circus
| Time | Session | Speakers |
| 9.30 - 10.00 | Arrival & Networking Coffee | |
| 10.00 - 10.10 | Welcome | RSAcademics: Heather Styche-Patel, CEO |
| 10.10 - 10.50 | Panel: The New Operating Reality for Independent Schools This opening panel will explore the current operating environment for independent schools, focusing on the financial, legal and structural realities shaping decision making today. Drawing on expertise in corporate finance, VAT, charity law and transactions, the session will consider how schools can respond to pressure with clarity, resilience and sound governance. | Grant Thornton: Andrew Frame, Partner, Corporate Finance Daniel Crumpton, Associate Director, Corporate Finance Robbie Smith, Senior Manager, Corporate Finance (M&A) Withers: Alison Paines, Consultant, Charities Team Phil Reed , Partner, Charities and Philanthropy Team RSAcademics: Richard Backhouse, Head Designate of UK Appointments Martin Collier, Senior Advisor |
| 10.55 - 11.25 | Breakout Sessions | |
| - Consolidation in the sector, including employment law implications Considering the law and best practice around school mergers and similar transactions, including from an employment point of view in light of recent legislative developments. | Withers: Chris Priestley , Partner, Charities and Philanthropy Team Hugh More, Partner, Employment Team |
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| - VAT and the Next Steps: Now that the changes in VAT have been in place for a year – what does this mean? This session will cover VAT issues that have arisen, particularly the Capital Goods Scheme and fee pre-payments as well as a look to the future with e-invoicing and how to become tech-enabled and cost saving. | Grant Thornton: Irena Scullion, Indirect Tax Director |
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| 11.30 - 11.50 | Coffee & Networking | |
| 11.50 - 12.30 | Keynote: Millennial Parents & The New Value Narrative: Drawing on RSAcademics’ research into Millennial Parents, this session will explore how parental expectations of independent schools are evolving. It will consider what this means in practice for school leadership, governance and engagement, and how schools can respond in ways that are both authentic and sustainable. | RSAcademics: Heather Styche-Patel, CEO |
| 12.30 - 13.30 | Lunch & Networking | |
| 13.30 - 14.00 | Keynote: Governance Under Pressure: Trustees’ duties, accountability and board effectiveness. | RSAcademics: Durell Barnes, Head of Governance Withers: Alison Paines, Consultant, Charities Team |
| 14.05 - 14.35 | Breakout Sessions | |
| - Funding the Mission – philanthropy, legacies and stewardship Exploring, from a legal perspective, how to maximise the flexibility and effectiveness of your donor fundraising. | Withers: Phil Reed, Partner, Charities and Philanthropy Team |
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| - Leadership in a Shifting Landscape Drawing on RSAcademics’ research into leadership across independent schools, this session will explore how the nature of leadership is evolving in response to financial pressure, changing expectations and increased complexity. It will consider what effective leadership looks like in practice today and how leaders can create clarity, resilience and shared responsibility across their organisations. | RSAcademics: Claire Oulton, Head of UK Leadership Appointments Richard Backhouse, Head Designate of UK Appointments |
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| 14.40 - 15.15 | Keynote: Beyond Cost Cutting: Strategic Restructuring for a Viable Future Independent schools face tough choices. From managing stakeholders and raising finance to site consolidation, mergers, asset realisation and even school sales - this session explores practical strategies to secure long term resilience. | Grant Thornton: Alistair Wardell, Partner, Restructuring RSAcademics: Kate Perceval Senior Advisor |
| 15.15 - 16.00 | Panel: The Futures Lab Setting the Priorities for 2026 to 2030 This final session will provide space to step back and reflect on the themes explored during the day. Through a guided discussion with panellists and delegates, the focus will be on exploring plausible developments and sensible planning assumptions, rather than predictions - helping leaders think calmly and constructively about the future. | Grant Thornton: Andrew Frame, Partner, Corporate Finance, Alistair Wardell, Partner, Restructuring Withers: Phil Reed, Partner, Charities and Philanthropy Team, Richard Cassell, Chair of Governors, St Paul's School, and Of Counsel at Withers RSAcademics: Martin Collier, Senior Advisor Durell Barnes, Head of Governance Heather Styche-Patel, CEO |
| 16.00 | Networking Drinks |
After a ‘rigorous and inspiring selection process’, we are delighted to have supported De La Salle College, Jersey with the successful appointment of Nick Belcher as their new Headteacher. Nick will take up the role in September 2026.
Nick will join the College at an exciting point as they move to a fully-integrated, 3-18 school.
Nick is currently Headteacher at The School at Park City, Kuala Lumpur and has previously worked at schools in Singapore, Bahrain, China and the UK.
We would like to wish Nick and the College every success.