As you may have heard on the grapevine, I have announced my pending retirement in August 2026. After an absolutely wonderful, what will be twenty-two years, as Headmaster here, it is time to allow someone else the brilliant opportunity I have had.

When they talk of school communities there can be few, if any, as welcoming and supportive as that at Churcher’s. When I began here in 2004, Dominic was seven, Pippa was six and Ben was two-years-old. As such, they have grown-up in the family of Churcher’s, and a more encouraging and friendly environment it is difficult to imagine.

The range of opportunities and experiences for them and their friends and colleagues have been second to none and many of those have been possible because of the extraordinary support of Old Churcherians. Whether it is a feature of Churcher’s, Petersfield or being in a national park, but the manner in which people give so freely of their time, energy and enthusiasm is remarkable.

One of the real joys of teaching is you can follow the success of children through their formative years and beyond and in the case of Old Churcherians, what a privilege that has been. Over the last twenty-plus years I have seen many quite exceptional achievements from quite exceptional young people who have gone on to be a huge success beyond school.

When I first started here the question was: "how long will you stay?", then it became: "when will you be going?", and now it is: "what will you do next?". The answer to the last one is: ‘I don’t know’. I had no pre-conceived ideas about my tenure at Churcher’s and I have none in respect to my direction after it. What I do have though, is the most extraordinary set of memories of people and events, friends and experiences, that I will treasure long into my dotage.

They say one should always step off when the going is strong and not when it has become frayed by time and external pressures. Despite all that has been thrown at independent schools lately, the Churcher’s ship continues to sail serenely on, with interest in becoming a crew member as strong as ever at all age groups; in September we will have the largest number of Churcherians here that we have ever had. Therefore, the Board of Governors have suggested that they are looking for refinement not revolution going forward; a continuity which will give parents, children and staff confidence and comfort. I very much hope you will retain your interest in the school and support my successor in the same exceptional way that you have supported Alison and myself.

Simon Williams

Headmaster