Meet Stuart Ramsey

Meet Stuart Ramsey –the School’s Director of Finance and Operations

We enjoyed catching up with Stuart recently and hearing about his career, his role at Nottingham High School and how his plans for the future shape the school’s working environment. As a significant leader of change, Stuart balances business and strategic objectives alongside the values of the school.

Stuart is responsible for all things non-academic and non-pastoral and currently sits across six committees of a 20-strong team of governors. As Clerk to the governors, he ensures that accurate information is provided well in advance of all meetings, something he believes makes the best use of governor time in meetings and allows for good debate and informed decision-making. Since qualifying in 1989 as a Chartered Accountant with Peat Marwick Mitchell (now KPMG) Stuart has held various senior positions including Managing Director and Chief Executive, spending 21 years in private industry before joining Nottingham High School in January 2016. During that time, he remembers an emotional trip to Zambia to build a school for the local children. Stuart was one of 15 employees chosen to take part in a team which fundraised enough money to cover their own expenses, the building of the school, a well (the nearest one being one mile away) and an orchard. All monies raised were matchfunded by their employer which formed part of a strategic operation to build a sustainable approach through their Corporate Social Responsibility programme. Since the school was built, locals have been skills trained in construction and surveying, creating opportunities for the community to obtain jobs in the city and further develop

Stuart Ramsey with the School’s Charter

the local programme as and when funds are secured e.g. to build a new Medical Centre. Another highlight of Stuart’s career was a spontaneous meeting with Nelson Mandela. Seizing an opportune moment Stuart asked, ‘What’s the main solution to poverty?’ Nelson Mandela simply replied, ‘Education’. On joining Nottingham High School Stuart recognised the impact his own role could have and set about making fundamental changes to the team. Using his business knowledge and expertise, he was swiftly able to develop processes that provided the stability and balance needed in the finance function. This approach quickly extended to the wider support functions, particularly through his operations and estates work. He readily admits that one of the most rewarding elements of his role is the annual interviewing of the parents of prospective bursary students. He says, ‘Not only is the experience incredibly humbling, but also a privilege, knowing that lives will be changed through a Nottingham High School education’. As you would expect, each year brings its own set of challenges, and making important decisions is clearly a fundamental part of the role. When Stuart is not in school, he and his wife Rebecca can be found walking their much-loved dog (Lottie), and he enjoys gardening and growing a few vegetables for his family to enjoy. In normal times, he’s a keen skier, with Canada being a favourite destination. When asked what his advice would be to his younger self, Stuart replied, ‘Don’t be afraid to take risks’.