The insider's guide to securing finance and stability for your school

Ellie Newell

Ellie joined Ashbridge Partners in May 2023 as Head of Business Development. Before joining, Ellie worked for C. Hoare & Co. and set up and managed a successful new office for the bank in Cambridge – the first outside of London for 350 years. Prior to that Ellie spent over 10 years at the Royal Bank of Scotland, looking after the banking needs of a variety of businesses, spanning family businesses, entrepreneurs, education and many more. She studied Economics at Cardiff University.

Ellie lives in Oxfordshire with her husband, Tom, two young children and miniature dachshund. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her family and all sports, particularly tennis, skiing and (watching!) rugby.

Thomas Brown

Thomas joined Ashbridge Partners in October 2023 to take responsibility for our business finances. He brings a wealth of experience in accountancy and financial management which are crucial skills for our continued growth.

Thomas studied Classics at Oxford University and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Outside of work he is a Governor at Gloucester Road Primary School. He lives in Cheltenham with his wife and two children and enjoys History and Politics.

John Price

Born and brought up in Newport, South Wales, where he was educated at a large state comprehensive school, John completed a degree in Biological Sciences and subsequent PhD in Plant Biotechnology at the University of East Anglia, Norwich.  He then spent time in Canada and the USA, working in research, teaching, and promoting Plant Science education before returning to the UK to take up a position at Millfield School in Somerset, where he met his wife Jane. Together they ran boarding houses for 12 years. During his 15 years at the school, Dr Price gained experience in many roles, most notably, Director of Boarding, with responsibility for over 1000 boarders. A passionate sportsman and level 3 cricket coach, he coached football, rugby and cricket teams, achieving a record five national under 15 cricket titles.

In 2008, he was approached by former chief of Ofsted, Sir Chris Woodhead to take on the Headship of Chilton Cantelo School in Somerset.  After five years of leading a for-profit boarding school, his desire to return to the charitable education sector led to his appointment at St James’ School, Grimsby, which he led for 5 years before being appointed to the Headship of Worksop College and Ranby House in North Notts where he has been since 2019, overseeing much change and significant growth of the school from 500 to nearly 800 pupils.

In the last couple of years he has been Chair of the Woodard Schools Heads Association. John has been an ISA Head for 17 years and has specific experience of successful school business turnaround, having inherited schools with significant financial challenges and has experience of securing new finance. He advises and mentors Heads and governing bodies regarding strategy for efficiencies and profit generation.