Category: News and Announcements

Free webinar with Grant Thornton: Thursday 1 May 12.00 – 12.45pm

We are delighted to invite you to the third webinar in our highly successful series in partnership with Grant Thornton. Our previous webinars have been well attended and received excellent feedback for their practical advice and insightful content. This upcoming session promises to be equally valuable. This webinar will delve into specific VAT considerations, including the first VAT year-end accounting and Capital Goods Scheme claims.

In addition to VAT-related topics, we will also explore ways to reduce costs. Our work with schools over the course of the last few months highlights that this is a pressing concern for many, and we aim to provide actionable advice and answers to the questions you may have.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and practical guidance from experts in the field. Book your place now. 

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 delighted to share the news that our founder, Russell Speirs, has chosen to sell RSAcademics to our CEO, Heather Styche-Patel. This strategic transition marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for RSAcademics, as we continue to deliver exceptional service and innovation under familiar and trusted leadership.

Commenting on the sale, Russell Speirs said, “It has been a tremendous privilege to lead and grow RSAcademics since its beginnings in 2002. After many fulfilling years at the helm of RSAcademics, with the company strong and well set up for the future, I have decided that now is the time to step away. I am confident that choosing to entrust RSAcademics to Heather ensures continuity and a strong future. Heather has been a brilliant member of the leadership team for 10 years and an outstanding CEO for the last 18 months, making this transition a natural step. I am excited to see how the company continues to thrive under her leadership.”

Expressing confidence about the future, Heather Styche-Patel stated,

“I am honoured to take on the ownership of RSAcademics. Having been part of the leadership team for many years, I have seen the incredible dedication of our team, the loyalty of our clients and the impact of our work in schools and educational organisations worldwide. My focus will remain on delivering excellence, fostering innovation, and maintaining the strong relationships we have built. I look forward to leading RSAcademics into this next phase of growth and success.

RSAcademics will continue to provide the same high-quality services our clients have come to expect. There will be no immediate changes to our operations, and our commitment to our clients remains steadfast. RSAcademics is dedicated to advising schools worldwide by providing expert guidance in leadership appointments, strategic planning, marketing, admissions, and stakeholder research. We are excited about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead in continuing to support schools to achieve their goals.

On behalf of everyone at RSAcademics, we extend our deepest gratitude to Russell for his vision and dedication. His contributions have laid a strong foundation for the company and his impact has been significant across the sector. Everyone at RSAcademics wishes him well as he moves on to new endeavours.”

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.