NEW HEAD OF CHRIST’S HOSPITAL

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE TREASURER OF CHRIST’S HOSPITAL

On behalf of the Council of Christ’s Hospital, I am delighted to announce that Matthew Judd, currently Head of Leighton Park School in Reading, Berkshire, will succeed Simon Reid as Head of Christ’s Hospital from September 2025.

We were fortunate that the role generated a lot of interest and the appointment panel was therefore able to select from a field of very strong candidates. Matthew is an outstanding Head and I am very pleased that he has accepted our offer: I am confident that he will lead us superbly in the coming years.

Matthew has been Head of Leighton Park since 2018 and was previously Second Master and Head of the Prep and Pre-Prep Schools at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School and Principal at Mander Portman Woodward.  He has a BA in Geography from the University of Wales, Swansea and a PGCE from Queens’ College, Cambridge.  He asked me to share this message with you:

‘I am honoured and thrilled to be appointed as Head of Christ’s Hospital. I first visited the school as a local boy from Crawley around 30 years ago; its mission has always resonated with me both professionally and personally.  The wealth of opportunity and the deep sense of pride in being part of such a diverse and vibrant school community was very obvious to me when I visited before my interview. I am delighted and inspired to be invited to lead a school with such a proud history and contemporary outlook.

Looking to the future, I will be moving onsite with my husband Ian over the summer holiday in 2025 and look forward to getting to know the staff, students, parents, governors and Old Blues in the months that follow.’

Simon Reid has welcomed Matthew’s appointment, commenting:

‘I am very pleased for CH that a person of Matthew’s stature and experience has been appointed.  Having got to know Matthew a little from my time on various HMC committees, it is exciting that we have found a Head who will add his own many strengths to those of the school.  Naturally, over the coming terms, I shall be working with Matthew to ensure that the process of transition at this historic and great school is as smooth as possible.’

It is rewarding to be sharing such positive news about the school’s future in my final term as Treasurer and I am confident that Matthew and my own successor, Miriam McKay, will take CH forward to even greater success.

Christopher Steane
Treasurer and Chair of the Council of Christ’s Hospital