Head – Cheltenham College

The President and Council of Cheltenham College invite applications for the role of Head following eight years of first-class leadership by Mrs Nicola Huggett.

The post falls vacant in April 2026 but a September 2026 start will be considered.

Cheltenham College is one of the foremost independent co-educational boarding schools in the country. Educating more than 1150 pupils aged 3-18 (over 700 in College and 440 in Prep and Nursery) the schools sit in the heart of this culturally vibrant spa town. College provides an exciting education which offers breadth as well as depth. The school promotes genuine personal enquiry and intellectual appetite, nurtures individual talents through the curriculum and co-curriculum and fosters a culture of respect for others. Within its beautiful setting, the school brings together a strong sense of tradition and a culture of innovation, underpinned by a warm, caring and inclusive community spirit.

The Council seeks an outstanding Head with the vision, warmth and energy to take the school forward into the next stage of development. The successful candidate will be an inspirational, inclusive and experienced senior educationalist with a proven track record of success, excellence in all leadership skills, a commitment to co-education, business awareness, and a true appreciation of the myriad of opportunities offered by life in a boarding school community.

Interested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics to arrange a confidential discussion with one of the consultants handling this appointment:

Sarah Glencross: sarahglencross@rsacademics.com or

Michael Spens: michaelspens@rsacademics.com or

Claire Oulton: claireoulton@rsacademics.com

Deadline for applications: 10.00am UK time on Monday 28^th April 2025

Applications should be made electronically to RSAcademics. To submit your application, please click on “Apply Now” on the right side of this webpage and upload your documents according to the instructions provided.

You should submit the following (both in PDF format):

• a completed application form 
• a covering letter addressed to the President of Council, Mr William Straker-Nesbit.  The letter should explain your reasons for applying.

If you have any questions about uploading your application documents, please contact Jonathan Barnes, Head of Operations (Leadership Appointments) at applications@rsacademics.com. Jonathan can also be reached by calling our Head Office on +44 (0)1858 383163.

• Cheltenham College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.
• This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
• The safeguarding responsibilities of this post are detailed in the candidate information brochure.
• RSAcademics is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to promoting diversity and inclusion in schools.