Head

An outstanding opportunity for an experienced school leader to take on the headship of a very highly-regarded school.

From September 2024

IAPS, Day and flexi-boarding, 450 girls and boys aged 3-13

Floreat Saint Ronan’s – Let Saint Ronan’s Flourish

This exciting opportunity arises with the retirement of William Trelawny-Vernon after more than twenty years of exceptional leadership and dedicated service as the Headmaster of Saint Ronan’s. Under his leadership Saint Ronan’s has developed a unique identity and become one of the UK’s most successful prep schools, notable for its warmth, humour, family values and a determination to provide outstanding all-round education.

Saint Ronan’s is a co-educational day and flexi-boarding school for 450 children from 3-13, situated in 250 acres of beautiful grounds near the village of Hawkhurst in Kent. Saint Ronan’s has a distinguished history and an excellent academic record and is above all a family school. The children enjoy being at school, relish the opportunities offered and are inspired to work hard, to be kind, gentle, courteous and honest. Underlying everything that happens in the School is a collective determination to ‘Mind the Magic’, acknowledged recently by the Alice Rose Award, presented by Talk Education, which recognised Saint Ronan’s as “a school where children are allowed to be children”.

The Governors now seek an exceptional person to build on the School’s successes and strengths, and support their ambition to offer the very best combination of tradition and modernity in Prep School education, to ‘Mind the Magic’. The new Head must be able to lead, energise and inspire both staff, parents and children and quickly establish unshakeable confidence with the School community. To be successful the new Head will be a natural relationship builder, warm, engaging and charismatic, with a sense of fun, optimism and joy in educating prep school aged children. They will place the child at the centre of every decision and feel that it is a joy and a privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of making every day for the children enjoyable and memorable. It will be important that the new Head works closely and continuously with the staff body and has a natural collaborative and collegiate leadership style.

The successful applicant will be highly visible and hands on, clear in operational direction and strategic leadership, and be a leader with business acumen, stamina and resilience. However, a key priority is to ensure the provision of exceptional teaching and learning alongside a determination to retain the School’s special ethos, its family feel and its undeniable Hogwortian charm, whilst also bringing their own character, style and vision to this very special School.

Saint Ronan’s is flourishing and presents a wonderful opportunity for the next Head. A highly competitive remuneration package, including family accommodation and favourable school fees remission for children attending the School, is available commensurate with the seniority of the post and the experience of the successful candidate.

The closing date for applications is Monday 23 October at 10.00am (UK)

Interested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics to arrange an informal and confidential discussion about the role:

Angela Short,  AngelaShort@rsacademics.com

Louisa Barham: LouisaBarham@rsacademics.com 

Phil Ward: PhilWard@rsacademics.com

You should submit:

• A completed online application form (please follow the Apply Now link to download the form).
• A covering letter addressed to the Chairman of Governors, Mr Andrew Ross. The letter should be a maximum of two pages and should explain your reasons for applying and outline your suitability for the role.

If you have any questions about uploading your application documents, please contact Khiloni Aplin, Project Coordinator, at applications@rsacademics.com. Khiloni can also be reached by calling our Head Office on +44 (0)1858 383163.

Saint Ronan’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its employees and volunteers to share this commitment. Safeguarding and child protection issues will be discussed throughout the appointment process and candidates must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including reference checks with previous employers and criminal records and social media checks.