Congratulations to Matthew

Matthew Judd, Head of Leighton Park, will be leaving his position at the end of the academic year 2024/25, after seven years of dedicated service and leadership. Matthew has accepted the role of Head and CEO at Christ’s Hospital School in West Sussex, marking a new chapter in his distinguished career.

During his tenure at Leighton Park, Matthew has been pivotal in steering the School towards significant achievements, creating an environment where students thrive academically, socially, and personally. His commitment to the School’s Quaker values has left a lasting impact, fostering a strong and purposeful community.

Reflecting on his departure, Matthew stated “I feel a deep affinity with the values and sense of purpose at Leighton Park, and I will be very sorry to say goodbye in a year’s time. The team at Leighton Park are exceptional, and I look forward to our time left together, continuing our work to give our students the very best opportunities and fostering their achievement, with values, character, and community.”

The School’s Governors have started a rigorous process to find an exceptional new Head. Given the strong state of the School, they are confident in attracting a high calibre of applicants. The aim is to secure a leader who will continue to drive the School’s development, focusing on helping students become the best versions of themselves, upholding Quaker values, and ensuring the School remains well-positioned to navigate changes in the educational landscape.

Eme Dean-Lewis, Chair of Governors, commented: “Matthew leads with passion and compassion and the Board of Governors thanks him for his exemplary headship at Leighton Park: inspiring and enabling students to become ethical changemakers in the world beyond School. We look forward to Matthew’s continued focus on the many projects planned for the coming year. Governors have begun the process to build on Matthew’s success and appoint the next Head for our wonderful School. The successful candidate will be announced in the first half of the Autumn Term.”

About Leighton Park School

Leighton Park has received several recent accolades, including winning Senior School of the Year in the Independent Schools Association Awards 2023/24 and being a Finalist for the same award in the TES Schools Awards 2023/24. The most recent UK Government analysis shows that the School’s Sixth Form leavers achieve the best academic progress in Berkshire, while the Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded it excellent in all areas in January 2022 – the highest possible attainment for an independent school.

The School was recognised as a national leader for Pupil Personal Development in 2022, winning the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Award for Excellence in this area. In the same, year the School gained the Wellbeing Award for Schools, accredited by the National Children’s Bureau.