Mrs Nicola Huggett appointed as new Head to lead Cheltenham College
01 Aug 2017
Following a rigorous selection process, Cheltenham College is delighted to announce that Mrs Nicola Huggett, currently Head of Blundell’s School in Devon, will take up the post as Head of Cheltenham College in September 2018.
Mrs Huggett will replace current Headmaster Dr Alex Peterken, who will join Charterhouse School, Surrey, in January 2018 after ten highly successful years at College. Mr Crispin Dawson (currently Senior Deputy Head) has been appointed Acting Head between January and September 2018.
Mrs Huggett read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University. After successfully completing a graduate management scheme in advertising with J Walter Thompson Ltd, she returned to Oxford to take a PGCE in History and began teaching in 1994.
From 1996 to 2007 Mrs Huggett taught Politics and History at Haileybury. She became a Housemistress in 1999 and Head of Boarding in 2005. In 2007 she was appointed as Deputy Headmistress of Downe House School in Berkshire, where she remained until her appointment to Blundell’s in 2013.
In a message to Cheltenham College parents, Mrs Huggett said:
“I am delighted to have been selected by Council to lead Cheltenham College in the next phase of its development, building on the excellent work and strong foundations laid by Alex Peterken. I know it will be a privilege to work alongside the outstanding team of staff at College and the Prep, and I look forward very much to meeting with parents, guardians and children in due course.”
Bill Straker-Nesbit, President of Cheltenham College Council said:
“The school has experienced a period of remarkable growth and progress under Dr Peterken and the field of candidates was exceptionally strong. We are thrilled that Mrs Huggett has accepted our invitation to become our next Head and we look forward to welcoming her at Cheltenham College.”
Mrs Huggett will be the first female Head at Cheltenham College, which recently celebrated its 175th birthday. The day and boarding school set in the heart of regency Cheltenham has over 1,000 pupils aged 3 – 18, and has been co-educational since 1981.