Oswestry School is delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs Holly Keogh-Jones as Deputy Head Pastoral and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) from January 2027 following the retirement of Amanda Coultas at the end of the Michaelmas Term.
Holly joins us from Prestfelde School in Shrewsbury, bringing almost two decades of experience across state secondary and independent prep education, with her career spanning academic, pastoral, safeguarding and boarding leadership. At Prestfelde, her roles have included Head of Wellbeing, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, Head of English and, until summer 2026, Head of Boarding.
Alongside her school-based roles, Holly is a qualified cross-sector safeguarding trainer and GCSE English Literature examiner and has also worked more widely as an educational writer and speaker. She has contributed to publications, blogs and podcasts on holistic education, wellbeing, neurodiversity, boarding life and school culture. Holly is particularly interested in how strong pastoral practice, ambitious teaching and a deep sense of belonging work together to help young people thrive.
Holly’s passions include reading, film, theatre and live music; she is never happier than at a concert, festival or production with her family. She is especially excited by Oswestry’s new Grove Performing Arts Centre and the opportunities it will create for pupils to experience, enjoy and take part in the arts.
Commenting on her appointment, Holly said: “I’ve admired and championed Oswestry School for many years, so the opportunity to now become part of this very special community is a real privilege. I’ve always been struck by the warmth of the school, but also by its ambition and the way young people are genuinely known, encouraged and given every opportunity to flourish. That combination of care, aspiration and a genuine interest in who young people are is exactly what I value in education. I feel incredibly fortunate to be joining a school where that ethos is lived so clearly every day.
“It is also a full-circle moment for our family. I’ll be joining Oswestry with my daughter, Freya, as she follows the same path my husband took from Prestfelde to Oswestry. That family connection makes the move feel even more special and we can’t wait to join the Oswestry School family and get started.”
Headmaster Peter Middleton notes that: “We are delighted to be welcoming someone of Holly’s caliber to our team. She brings considerable experience and expertise in pastoral care, safeguarding and wellbeing, and is highly respected and regarded within these fields. She is well placed to take on the leadership of this important area of school life from Amanda Coultas who has served our school and pupils with dedication and distinction over a number of years. We look forward to welcoming Holly into the Oswestry School community, and I have every confidence that under her leadership, this will be an area of school life that continues to flourish.”
