Category: News and Announcements

We are pleased to announce that, following a robust recruitment process supported by RSAcademics, Gayhurst School have announced the appointment of their first female head. 

Amanda McKnight will join the Gayhurst Community in September 2026. 

We would like to wish Amanda and the School every success with the appointment. 

Following a successful search process led by RSAcademics, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Benjamin Evans as the new Head at King’s College. Benjamin will start his role in September 2026.

Benjamin is currently Deputy Head (Academic) at Wellington College and brings with him a wealth of experience, including six years in Australia as Director of Teaching and Learning at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide. 

Benjamin gained his degree from Durham and a PGCE from Cambridge and has previously taught at Oundle, Shrewsbury, and Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School

We would like to wish Benjamin and the School every success. 

We are pleased to have supported the Governors of Ballard School with the successful appointment of their new Head. Following a rigorous recruitment process, Stuart Turner has been appointed as the new Head of Ballard School, with effect from 15th April 2026.

Stuart is currently Deputy Head at Emanuel School in South London.

You can read more about the appointment on the Ballard website.

We are pleased to have supported the Governors of Talbot Heath School with the appointment of Ross Cameron as their new Headteacher. Ross will join the school at the start of the 2026 summer term.

We are thrilled to have supported Worth School with the appointment of Ben Pennington as their new Head from September 2026. Ben is currently Head of the Senior School at St Andrew’s, Turi, in Kenya.

Ben’s appointment follows an extensive search and robust recruitment process. 

He has led St Andrew’s Senior School through a period of strategic renewal and operational improvement, contributing to excellent ISI outcomes and strong enrolment. He is recognised for building outstanding professional teams, enhancing curriculum design and deepening a culture of safeguarding and care.

Previously, as Senior Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead at King’s Ely, Ben oversaw safeguarding and chaired the Child Protection and Safeguarding Committee. Earlier leadership and teaching roles included Ampleforth College, where he was Housemaster and Assistant Head (Academic Middle School), and Sherborne Prep.

Before entering education, Mr Pennington served as an officer in the British Army and played professional rugby in both the UK and Australia. 

We would like to wish Ben and Worth School all the best for this new appointment. 

We are delighted to have supported the successful appointment of Jo Ogden as Chief Finance and Operations Officer (Bursar) at Bishop’s Stortford College. 

The position attracted over 30 applicants from both educational and commercial backgrounds. A rigorous process, consisting of three stages of interviews and two visits to the College, ensured that all candidates could fully understand the College and articulate its impact, while also allowing us to narrow the field to a select group of talented individuals.

Jo graduated with a degree in Geography and a Master’s in International Marketing before joining the Royal Air Force. Over a successful 22-year military career, Jo obtained a CMI Post-Graduate Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership, as well as a further Master’s in Defence Studies from King’s College London. In 2016, Jo joined the independent school education sector as Bursar at St Piran’s School in Maidenhead, later being appointed to her current role at Claremont in 2021.

Jo will start her new post in October 2025, and we would like to wish Jo and Bishop’s Stortford every success with the appointment. 

We’d like to share news about a future leadership transition for our UK Appointments Practice.

Claire Oulton has decided to step down as Head of UK Leadership Appointments at the end of July 2026. Claire has been at the heart of this part of our business for over a decade, after a distinguished leadership career within leading UK schools and her impact has been profound. She has supported hundreds of schools and candidates in securing successful leadership appointments and her contribution to RSAcademics, and to the sector more widely, has been truly outstanding. 

We’re delighted that Claire will continue to work with us as a Senior Advisor, remaining closely involved in client work. 

In preparation for this change, Richard Backhouse will be joining RSAcademics in April 2026 and will assume leadership of the UK Appointments Practice from August 2026. He and Claire will work together between April and July to ensure continuity for our clients and team. 

Richard brings significant experience in school leadership, most recently as Principal of the Berkhamsted Schools Group. Prior to that, he was Principal of Monkton Combe. His early career included positions at Bradfield and Oundle, where he had responsibility for pastoral and extracurricular areas of school life. He was also Chair of HMC in 2021/22. Known for his strategic thinking and calm, considered leadership, Richard is well placed to take on this role and to guide the next phase of our appointments work. 

Richard has already begun connecting with members of the team and will be present at selected sector events in the months ahead. 

Claire, Richard and I feel very confident that this transition will continue the ongoing development of our appointments practice and our commitment to supporting schools with care, insight and professionalism. Since 2009, we’ve worked in close partnership with schools to support more than 600 senior appointments in the UK and internationally. Our approach remains rooted in a deep understanding of the sector, thoughtful processes, and a clear focus on each school’s values and needs. 

We look forward to this next chapter and to continuing to support schools with experience, clarity and care. 

Heather Styche-Patel 
CEO, RSAcademics