Prep School - Head Master stepping down

[pingpong1970]

My DC are joining a new prep in September and we have just been informed that the headmaster will be leaving at the end of this term (for health reasons) and the board will be seeking a replacement.

The headmaster has had a very positive influence on the school ...so is the change something we should be worried about? i.e. has anyone had a similar experience and was the outcome OK?

Thanks in advance for any advice ...

Yes. Our prep school head was wonderful and he left the year my eldest son was going into yr 8. I thought the new head wouldn't know my son or be able to help him get into his next school.
I was totally wrong. This head is a million times better and I couldn't be happier.
Change isn't always bad.

It is likely a deputy or member of senior management team will step in short term. I've also known a school to borrow a deputy or a recent retiree. As long as the remaining senior staff are established you will probably see little difference until a new head is appointed.

Thank you LIZS and Intuition - that makes me feel a lot better!

We had the same issue except it was an absence due to the Governors and the Head agreeing her exit strategy and pay off. She just didn’t come back after half term. New Head who arrived 18 months later was much better. The Governors were right to negotiate.

It’s unlikeky the school will get a new Head for September and many decent prep school heads give a years notice. So you could be a year without a head, especially if the successful candidate is a head elsewhere. If it’s a deputy who’s being promoted, you might get them quicker. You might also get your own Deputy!