Phil Ward

Phil Ward joined RS Academics as a Senior Adviser after a distinguished career in the independent sector, embracing prep and secondary, boarding and day schools.

After a degree at Exeter University, Phil taught History and PE at Uppingham, becoming Director of Sport and a boarding housemaster and subsequently serving on the Senior Leadership Team as the Senior Housemaster.

He made a successful transition to prep school headship, leading two schools over a twenty-one year period. As the Headmaster of Feltonfleet from 2000-2012 he led the move to full co-education and fostered a significant growth in pupil numbers. His leadership of Thomas’s Clapham was innovative and forward thinking and a period of considerable success for the school community. When he stepped down from headship in 2021 he agreed to remain with the Thomas’s London Day Schools for a further year as the Director of Education, supporting the group during a period of significant strategic development.

Phil has a passion for excellent all-round education and a deep interest in transformational school leadership. He is a governor of an all-through co-educational day and boarding independent school