Leadership change at Cheam School in Headley near Newbury which educated King Charles
A prep school near Newbury that educated King Charles during his youth has had a leadership change.
Cheam School in Headley announced in June that the current head Will Phelps would be joined by his wife Sophie Green from Godstowe School in September, and the married couple would lead the school together as co-heads, resulting in the first female head at Cheam in its entire 379-year history.
In a surprising turnaround, the pair decided during the summer that this proposed co-headship would not be the best course of action for the school.
As a result, both have now left Cheam and deputy head Nick Milbank has taken over as acting head and will remain in the role until such time as a new permanent head takes office.
A Cheam spokesperson said: “During his tenure as headmaster, Will Phelps made significant contributions to Cheam, including the reformation and modernisation of the senior leadership team (SLT) structure, the launch of the Cheam diploma, and the formalisation of character education within the school.
“Despite this, Will and his wife Sophie reflected on their proposed co-headship and concluded that it was not the most suitable leadership model for Cheam.
“During their time they always put Cheam’s interests first and their decision to explore new paths reflects this choice.
“As such Cheam will continue with the traditional model of a single headship, supported by the SLT.”
Mr Milbank has been working at the prep school for 25 years, joining as a form tutor and progressing up the ranks to become one of Cheam’s three deputy heads.
He grew up in Yorkshire and is married to his wife Kirsten.
Together they have two teenage children, both of whom are Cheam alumni.
A Cheam spokesperson said: “Nick brings to this latest role not only deep experience and expertise as an educationalist but also a unique understanding of what makes Cheam special.
“He has an infectious passion for life and a desire to help children reach their full potential and love every moment of their week at school.”
While he was still the Duke of Cornwall, King Charles studied at Cheam in the late 1950s and early 1960s, just like his father had done before him in the 1930s.
The Newbury Weekly News reported on Charles’ arrival when he first went to Cheam on Monday, September 23, 1957, joined by the Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, after they all travelled down from Balmoral.
There were 150 people waiting for the royal party outside the school and the young prince and his parents were greeted by Mr Beck, one of the joint headmasters, and his wife.
