Following a rigorous and competitive recruitment process, we are delighted to have appointed Andrew Holman as the new Head of Nottingham High School. Andrew, who has been the Headmaster of Wellingborough School in Northamptonshire for over six years, will succeed Kevin Fear in September 2025.
A pupil at a state grammar school in Lincolnshire, Andrew is a Maths graduate, having studied at Cambridge University, and also holds a Master’s in Education. He began his teaching career 30 years ago at the King’s School, Chester, before moving to Nottingham High in 1998, where he stayed for seven years as a Maths teacher and Head of Year 7. Further moves took him to QEGS Blackburn as Head of Maths, and then onto Deputy Headship at Hymers College in Hull. Mr Holman has, therefore, three decades of experience in HMC schools, the last 20 years of which have been in co-educational environments.
His tenure at Wellingborough has been underpinned by a child-centred, value-led approach within which academic standards have risen whilst pastoral care has remained paramount and the co-curricular offer of the school has been enhanced. Andrew, who is married to Sara and has two children, describes himself as a keen road cyclist who reads, listens to a lot of guitar music, and is a lifelong fan of Newcastle United.
Following the appointment, Chair of Governors, Steve Banks, said “We are absolutely delighted that we have been able to appoint Andrew as our new Head. He greatly impressed the panel of Governors, and we believe that he is absolutely the right person to lead the School into its next phase. It was never going to be easy to find a replacement for Kevin Fear who has provided outstanding leadership in his 17 years as Head, leaving the school in a very strong position. However, we are convinced that Andrew has the passion, leadership and vision to build on this legacy.”
Andrew added, “It is both an honour and a privilege to have been selected to carry on the excellent work undertaken by Kevin Fear. I am very much looking forward to working alongside a dedicated, expert set of staff to continue to place students’ welfare, happiness and outcomes at the heart of everything that Nottingham High does, and to take the school forward into the 2030s.”
Andrew Holman has been appointed following the announcement of Kevin Fear’s retirement. Under Kevin’s leadership the school has achieved much recognition, including National Co-Educational Independent School of the Year, East Midlands Independent School of the Decade and being ranked first for academic results in the East Midlands. Amongst the many improvements he has overseen are the addition of Lovell House, the expansion of the Junior School, the very successful move to become Co-Educational and more recently the completion of the Wellbeing Centre which demonstrates Kevin’s commitment to the mental and physical health of pupils. Kevin has also championed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the High School across all areas of school life, as part of our school value of individuality, starting with a working group and now spanning into all areas of school life. His period in charge has seen significant improvements in public exam results as well as a real focus on the tutor system, which is widely regarded as one of the most favoured aspects of the High School among the parent body.
Kevin Fear said “I have known Andrew for 30 years, worked with him twice and know just how well suited he is to be the next Head of Nottingham High School. He is an accomplished leader and has all the personal qualities needed to take people with him as he builds his vision for the future of the school. I was thrilled to hear that he is taking on the role from me and I hope that he enjoys the role as much as I have.”
