Shaun Fenton has led some of the UK’s leading independent and state schools. His practice is underpinned by a strong belief in the power of education to open doors of opportunity and the conviction that young people must be supported with the very best pastoral care to enable them to embrace and achieve success.
Prior to joining Reigate Grammar School (RGS) in September 2012 Shaun led Pate’s Grammar School, Cheltenham, which was named Sunday Times School of the Year during his Headship. Prior to that he was Headteacher at Sir John Lawes School, Hertfordshire and also worked as an education advisor for the local authority. For five years in a row, RGS has been named the top co-educational day school in Surrey and was judged to be “Excellent in all areas” by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) in 2023. Educated at The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School and Keble College, Oxford, Shaun briefly worked in the commercial world before returning to Oxford in 1993 to complete a PGCE and later gained the degree of Master of Education in School Leadership. In addition, he holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship.
Shaun is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and is on the national council for ASCL and is an ISI Inspector. He has been Chair of HMC, a director of HMC and a member of the Academic, Universities and Pastoral Committees of HMC. He attends the HMC National Committee and has been a recent Chair of the South East Division. He has been on the board of education charity and examination board AQA; a National Leader of Education; a member of the UCAS Service Advisory Group. Shaun has been a trustee of the Institute of Development Professionals in Education and on the advisory board of The Sleep Charity.
In 2019 RGS was shortlisted for four national TES School of the Year awards and won School of the Year for Wellbeing and Pastoral Care (TES) and School of the Year for Community Outreach (ISP).
In 2020 RGS was once again shortlisted for the TES Senior School of the Year Award and TES School of the Year Creativity Award.
In 2021 RGS was named School of the Year at the UK Social Mobility Awards (SOMOs).
In 2022 RGS was recognised by Education Today and won the School of the Year award for their community engagement and outreach programme.
In 2023 RGS was proudly awarded Surrey Co-Educational Independent Senior School of the Year in the Private Education Awards hosted by LUXlife. They were also highly commended for their Sixth Form by the Muddy Stilettos School awards and received the Leading Parent Partnership Award for outstanding engagement with all parents. RGS was a shortlisted finalist for two further School of the year Awards by School House and by ISP.
In 2024 RGS was awarded School of the Year by Education Today.
In 2025 RGS was awarded School of the Year by the Sunday Times and was shortlisted for the School of the Year award by the TES.
Shaun was honoured to be awarded an OBE for Services to Education in 2020.
