This week we bring you the news that Claire Belk will be retiring from her position as Head of Oswestry School Prep at the end of the Michaelmas Term 2024 following nine years of outstanding service to the school. This is a decision that Claire has not taken lightly and is one that comes with significant mixed emotions such is her love for the school, but after considerable deliberation and thought, she has decided that the time is right to retire from Headship and pass on the baton to the next leader of the school. As Claire herself has said, this has been her dream job and the pinnacle of her life’s work; she counts it a tremendous honour and privilege to have led such a wonderful school during her tenure as Head of Prep. We, in turn, have been hugely privileged to have benefited from her Headship during her time in post.
Having initially planned to finish at the end of this term, we are pleased that we’ve at least been able to persuade Claire to stay on for one final term; there will be opportunity a-plenty to celebrate all her considerable achievements and service to the school during that time, and we are sure that pupils, staff and parents alike will want to ensure that her final term here at Oswestry is the very best of send offs. In the meantime, we have prepared an appointment process to recruit Claire’s successor as Head of Prep, and will be advertising the post this week. Such is the profile and strong reputation of the school, we have every confidence that we will attract a strong field from both within the county and beyond.
Whilst we won’t be able to find a carbon copy of Claire (not even AI can do that, or at least not yet...!) we seek a similarly outstanding leader for our school, and someone who will care for the pupils, the staff and the school as devotedly as Claire has done. To assist us in the process, we have appointed Mrs Fiona Orchard as an external recruitment consultant who will bring considerable experience of independent Prep School education having previously been Head of Prestfelde School in Shrewsbury.
A multi-stage recruitment process will take place in the second half of term allowing us to announce the appointment prior to Speech Day. The application pack and full job description can be viewed here.
We will look forward to the opportunity for pupils, parents and staff to meet the new Head in the Michaelmas Term, and Claire is keen to ensure a smooth transition through an extended handover period during that period before the new Head of Prep begins in January 2025.
Whilst no doubt sad to hear news of her retirement, we know that you will share with us in wishing Claire well as she prepares for her own next chapter; after devoting her life to others, she well deserves some time looking after herself and her family. And remember, we still have one more term with her, so let’s make it a brilliant final chapter!
