Category: News and Announcements

We are delighted to have supported King’s Bruton with the appointment of Matt Radley as their new Headmaster from September 2025. Matt was appointed from and extremely strong field of over 40 candidates. Matt is currently Second Master at Blundell’s School in Devon, a premier co-ed boarding and day school in Devon, with an outstanding reputation for its pastoral care and academic standards. 

Prior to Blundell’s, Matt was at Haileybury where he gained valuable experience, initially as Head of Department and then as a Housemaster. Matt is a graduate of Modern History from Lincoln College Oxford, has a Master’s in Education from Cambridge, and spent 6 years in banking before moving into the education sector. Matt is also a talented sportsman and a keen coach who loves to develop pupils’ talents in rugby, athletics and hockey.

Senior Warden, Stephen Edlmann said of the appointment, “Matt stood out due to his passion for the welfare and education of children and his clear alignment with the values and ethos which lie at the heart of King’s.”

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

Following a rigorous and competitive recruitment process, led by RSAcademics, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Holman, currently Headmaster of Wellingborough School, as the new Head of Nottingham High School. 

Andrew is a Maths graduate, having studied at Cambridge University, and also holds a Master’s in Education. He began his teaching career 30 years ago at the King’s School, Chester, before moving to Nottingham High in 1998, where he stayed for seven years as a Maths teacher and Head of Year 7. Further moves took him to QEGS Blackburn as Head of Maths, and then onto Deputy Headship at Hymers College in Hull.

Following the appointment, Nottingham High’s Chair of Governors, Steve Banks, said “We are absolutely delighted that we have been able to appoint Andrew as our new Head. He greatly impressed the panel of Governors, and we believe that he is absolutely the right person to lead the School into its next phase.”

We would like to wish Andrew all the best in his new role.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Daniel Gabriele, Deputy Principal of Caterham School, as the new Head of Colfe’s. Daniel’s appointment follows a robust recruitment process, led by RSAcademics. 

Dan will take up the position from September 2025 following the retirement of the current Head, Richard Russell.

Dan read History and English at Oxford before going on to teach at Latymer Upper, Eton and Brighton College, first as Head of English and then as Director of Sixth Form. Dan is currently Principal Deputy Head of Caterham School.

As well as teaching English, Dan has been involved in a wide range of school activity beyond the classroom, particularly directing plays, leading cultural trips overseas and taking cricket and football sides. His current role at Caterham has seen him lead on academic and post-18 strategy, pastoral care and the co-curricular offer.

Dan is married to Izzy, who is a drama teacher, and has two sons – George, who is thirteen, and Bert, who is three. Commenting on his appointment Dan Gabriele said:

“I am thrilled at the prospect of leading Colfe’s at this exciting time in its progress. The school was founded to transform the lives of local children, and that core purpose remains as important now as ever, embracing academic and co-curricular experience and achievement alongside the skills young people will need to flourish not just at university but in the wider world beyond.”

Matthew Pellereau, Chair of Governors said “The Governing Board was determined to find an outstanding successor to build upon Richard Russell’s excellent legacy. We believe that Dan is firmly aligned with the ethos, values, and culture of Colfe’s and his significant strategic and professional experience is best placed to lead us through the next exciting phase in our development.”

We would like to wish Dan all the best in his new role.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Matthew Judd as the Head of Christ’s Hospital from September 2025. Matthew’s appointment follows a robust recruitment process, led by RSAcademics. 

The role generated a lot of interest and the appointment panel was able to select from a field of very strong candidates. Matthew has been Head of Leighton Park since 2018 and was previously Second Master and Head of the Prep and Pre-Prep Schools at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School and Principal at Mander Portman Woodward.  He has a BA in Geography from the University of Wales, Swansea and a PGCE from Queen’s College, Cambridge. 

Speaking on the announcement of his appointment, Matthew said: “I am honoured and thrilled to be appointed as Head of Christ’s Hospital. I first visited the school as a local boy from Crawley around 30 years ago; its mission has always resonated with me both professionally and personally.  The wealth of opportunity and the deep sense of pride in being part of such a diverse and vibrant school community was very obvious to me when I visited before my interview. I am delighted and inspired to be invited to lead a school with such a proud history and contemporary outlook.

Looking to the future, I will be moving onsite with my husband Ian over the summer holiday in 2025 and look forward to getting to know the staff, students, parents, governors and Old Blues in the months that follow.” 

 We wish Matthew every success in his new role.  

We are delighted to announce the appointment of  Dominic Oliver as the Head of Oundle School from September 2025. Dominic was an outstanding candidate from an extremely strong field of applicants and has a wealth of strategic leadership and boarding experience.  

 Dominic has been Head Master of Lancing College, a co-educational boarding and day school in West Sussex, since 2014. Before joining the Lancing Family of Schools, he spent four years as Managing Head of Bedales School, prior to which he was Head of English and Head of Academic Development at Malvern College. He holds an MPhil in English from St Peter’s College Oxford, where he became a Lecturer and member of the University of Oxford English Faculty, with a specialism in Shakespeare. He is married to Lydia and together they have two children, both of whom are now undergraduates at university. 

Dominic shared these reflections on his appointment: “Oundle is a byword for all that is excellent in boarding education. I have long been an admirer of the School and it is a huge honour to be selected to take up the role of Head from September 2025. Oundle’s special combination of determined aspiration, the warmth of its community and complete commitment to enabling each pupil to thrive is an exhilarating prospect. I am delighted that I have been given the opportunity to lead the school into its next phase.” 

 We wish Dominic every success in his new role.  

Following a rigorous recruitment process, led by RSAcademics, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Alex Battison as next Head of Wellington School.

Alex has been Senior Deputy Head at the prestigious Lord Wandsworth College in Hampshire since 2018 and has extensive strategic development experience, as well as an impressive academic and pastoral leadership background.

Alex has a BSc (Hons) and PGCE from the University of Wales, Cardiff, a Masters from Oxford University in Learning and Teaching and is currently working towards the latter stages of his Doctorate in Leadership, Learning and Policy at Bristol University which he will complete this Summer.

Prior to Lord Wandsworth, Alex led the teaching and learning as Assistant Head at Wells Cathedral School and previously as Director of Learning and Innovation, as well as Assistant Houseparent and Head of Sports Science at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex. He also has over 15 years experience in boarding houses.

Anna Govey, Chair of Governors of Wellington School, stated: “I am confident that we have found an outstanding leader with exceptional experience, breadth of knowledge and an impressive academic pedigree who will take Wellington School successfully into the future. Alex showed an immediate affinity with our culture and ethos as well as enormous energy and passion for the possibilities that being part of the Wellington community will offer him.”

Alex said: “I am thrilled to have been entrusted to help lead such a wonderful community in the next stage of its journey and build on the many successes and achievements in recent years. I am particularly looking forward to getting to know students, staff, parents and alumni over the months ahead, and collaborate to further inspire the remarkable education that goes on here. My family and I are also very much looking forward to returning to the South West and settling in this Summer”.

Alex will be taking up his position in September 2024 and we wish him every success with his new role. 

Following a long and challenging process, with an excellent list of interested candidates, we are delighted to announce that Andrew Ward has been appointed as the new Head of Halstead St Andrew’s.

Andrew is currently Head of Merstham Park School near Reigate, where he has been in post for 4 years. He has held leadership positions for 16 years.

Andrew will take up post in September 2024 and we wish him every success in his new role.

We are delighted to have supported schools, both UK and internationally, with recruitment to the following posts for 2023/2024 starts. We wish the schools and the new postholders every success with their new appointments.

View all of our recent appointments. 

Find out more about our appointments services.

We are pleased to have supported The Stephen Perse Foundation with the appointment of their Chair of Governors, Michael Windmill.

Michael is founder and director of Kaze Consulting. He previously held senior strategy and operational positions with multiple FTSE 250 organisations, Central Government departments and defence industry. Michael is an alumnus of The University of Edinburgh and Imperial College London.

Johan Jensen, Director of All-in Education, recently led a webinar for newly appointed Heads considering launching their school’s EDI journey.

Key insights from the webinar included:

• How is inclusion created?
• How to launch your School’s EDI journey
• How All-in Education can support your School​​​​​​

You can watch a short video of these insights below.