Jonathan Ullmer

Jonathan has survived knives being thrown across the classroom, a pupil jumping out of a window and overseen the confiscation of a Porsche. He has been in leadership positions with failing schools as well as some of the best in the country. Jonathan has taught the children of kings and presidents, along with those from deprived housing estates in the UK in both state and independent sectors. The international school he headed in Canterbury was rated by inspectors as excellent in every area. He finished his career as headteacher of a prestigious British school in central Asia which was rated as having top international practice in seventeen out of nineteen areas.

His schools also have won the Boarding School of the Year Award from the Times Educational Supplement along with awards for excellence and innovation. His school was shortlisted for UK Independent School of the Year, and gained the International Schools Award. Jonathan has won two Global Business Excellence Awards and has been shortlisted for a wide range of other awards. He is also a published writer and was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2014 for services to education.

Underneath it all, he has championed student voice, working closely with staff and treating others with dignity and respect. Jonathan has risen above false safeguarding allegations, ill health and the challenges of turning around failing schools, and is able to smile and count himself incredibly fortunate to have had a career working with so many amazing people.