Claire Oulton

Head of Leadership Appointments, UK

Claire leads the Leadership Appointments team at RSAcademics, supporting governing bodies across the UK to appoint Heads and senior leaders. With deep commitment and creative insight, she oversees every stage of the process, from defining briefs and designing candidate materials to search, assessment and onboarding.

Since joining RSAcademics in 2015 as Head of Leadership Appointments UK, Claire has guided numerous schools through complex and high-profile appointments. She is also Series Editor of RSAcademics’ Ten Trends reports, shaping sector-wide thinking on leadership and strategy and has contributed to the New Art of Headship.

Claire brings deep insight from her own leadership career. She was Head of St Catherine’s, Bramley, and subsequently Headmistress of Benenden, where she led the school for 14 years. Her experience spans day and boarding, all-through and senior settings, and includes founding a 3–19 academy in Kent. She read History at Oxford and did her PGCE at King’s College London. Claire is a member of the Governing Body at Westminster School and chairs its Education Committee.

At RSAcademics, Claire combines her leadership experience and research with a strategic, thoughtful approach to appointments, winning the trust and confidence of clients and candidates. The result is a multitude of very high-profile, hugely successful appointees from across the world.