Category: News and Announcements

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 

We are delighted to have supported Shiplake College with the successful appointment of their new COO, Philip Arnold, who has joined the College ahead of the start of the 2025-2026 academic year.

Philip joins Shiplake following a distinguished career in the Royal Air Force, which he joined in 1992 after graduating from university. With over three decades of service, he has held a wide range of leadership and operational roles, both in the UK and overseas, including postings in Kenya, Germany, the Falkland Islands, and the USA. 

Philip brings extensive staff expertise, having led large teams and managed complex operations and programmes. His experience includes strategic planning roles at the Ministry of Defence and Cabinet Office, where he contributed to major Defence and cross-government initiatives. 

He holds an MBA from the Open University and a Master’s degree in the Operational Art and Science of War from the United States Air Force’s Air University, where he graduated top of his class. He has also completed the Major Project Leadership Academy at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. 

We would like to wish Philip and Shiplake College every success with this appointment. 

 

We are delighted to have supported Cheltenham College with the successful appointment of their new Head, Chris Townsend.

Currently Head at Felsted School, Chris will be joining the Cheltenham College community as the new Head of College from April 2026.

On accepting the Headship at Cheltenham College, Chris said, “It is a real honour to have been given the chance to build on the excellent work of Nicola Huggett as the next Head at Cheltenham College, and I look forward to getting to know everyone in the community in the coming weeks and months.” 

We are delighted to have supported The Effingham Schools Trust with the appointment of Rachel Owens as their new Chief Executive Officer. Rachel will join the Trust in August 2026. 

Rachel read History at Somerville College, Oxford and began her teaching career at Bury Grammar School in 1992. In 2011, she was appointed Headmistress of St George’s School, Ascot, and since 2016 has been Headmistress of St George’s Weybridge. Rachel is currently vice-Chair of the HMC Sports Committee, and Chair of HMC Projects – a charity bringing able students from Eastern Europe to study at British boarding schools. 

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

We are delighted to announce that, following a rigorous recruitment process supported by RSAcademics, Matthew Foster has been appointed as the new Head of City Junior School, starting September 2025.

Matthew is currently Deputy Head at Bute House Preparatory School in Hammersmith, where he is responsible for school and curriculum development and has designed and delivered an ambitious and exciting academic programme. He brings great enthusiasm for junior school education and a wealth of expertise, knowledge and ideas acquired in both the UK and California. 

Speaking on his appointment, he said:

“I am delighted to be joining City Junior School as Head in September. I am inspired by the school’s values of community, joy and scholarship, and look forward to building on the excellent work of Rachel Thompson. I am excited to get to know the pupils, staff and families, and to work together to ensure the school continues to thrive as a joyful, inclusive and innovative learning community.”

We wish Matthew every success in his new role. 

We are pleased to have supported Holme Grange School with the successful appointment of Pippa Adams as their new Headteacher from September. 

Pippa joins Holme Grange from Farlington School, Horsham, where she has been Deputy Head for the past four years, leading significant strategic change and working to expand opportunities for all pupils. 

We would like to wish Pippa all the best for her exciting new role. 

We are pleased to announce we have supported the 1729 Maths School with the successful appointment of their Founding Head, Nick Hamshaw. 

Nick  is an experienced mathematics educator and school leader who joins 1729 from his role as Senior Deputy Head at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School. After studying Mathematics at the University of Oxford, he first taught at Aylesbury Grammar and was a boarding sub-tutor at Radley College. He was later Head of Maths at Oundle and Haberdashers’ Boys’ and was Academic Deputy Head at St Albans High School for Girls. 

The 1729 Maths School is the UK’s first specialist maths school for ages 11-18, located within the Belmont and Mill Hill School campus. 

Speaking on his appointment, Nick said “I am thrilled to be the Founding Head of 1729, a school unlike any other, purpose-built for children with exceptional mathematical potential.”

We wish Nick every success with his new appointment. 

We are thrilled to have supported Ackworth School with the appointment of Elizabeth Bowey as Deputy Head (Curriculum) and Tom Norris as Deputy Head (Pastoral and Boarding). 

Elizabeth Bowey joins Ackworth from City of London Freemen’s School, where she is currently Head of Teacher Training and Head of Art. Her experience spans the full age range of an all-through school, from Year 3 to Upper Sixth, and she brings a particular passion for developing creativity and curiosity in students. 

Tom Norris is currently Director of Studies at Tranby in East Yorkshire, and brings extensive experience in both independent and state education, with previous roles including Head of Year, Head of Physics, and Assistant Head for Curriculum. He also serves as an ISI Team Inspector and is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. 

Welcoming the new appointments, Martyn Beer, Head of Ackworth School, said: 

“We are thrilled to welcome Elizabeth and Tom to Ackworth’s senior leadership team. Elizabeth brings a deep understanding of curriculum and a heartfelt commitment to the values we hold dear, while Tom’s breadth of leadership experience and pastoral insight will be invaluable as we continue to support and inspire every student. Their expertise and vision will help shape an exciting future for our school community.” 

We’s like to wish Elizabeth and Tom every success with their new roles. 

We are delighted to have supported Beechwood Park School with the appointment of their new Senior Deputy Head, Charis Wightman, and their new Head of Prep, Emily Boyd.

Charis is currently founding Headteacher of the Durham School in Dubai and Emily is currently Head of Teaching at Shore, a leading boys’ school in Sydney, Australia. 

We wish Charis and Emily every success in their exciting new roles.