Mr Mark Hopton, Chairman of Governors, this morning announced the appointment of the Executive Head who will join our leading independent coeducational day school on 1 January 2023.

Mr Charles Fillingham will join Solihull School from Francis Holland School in Regent's Park, an all girls' senior school, where he was appointed Headmaster in January 2016. Mr Fillingham succeeds Mr David EJJ Lloyd who will step down after 12 years as Headmaster of Solihull School on 31 December 2022.

Mr Hopton said: “The Board undertook a thorough and competitive search and selection process, advised by the executive search firm, Odgers Berndtson.  We are delighted that Mr Fillingham, who received the unanimous support of the Board as their preferred candidate, accepted the position of Executive Head in succession to Mr Lloyd.”

During his career, Mr Fillingham has served in boys’, girls’ and co-educational schools including five years as Director of Studies and Acting Head of Lower School at Archbishop Tenison's CE High School in Croydon and eight years as the Deputy Headmaster at City of London School for Boys immediately before joining Francis Holland.

Mr Fillingham is a modern linguist with a PGCE from Bristol University. He holds two degrees at Masters Level, one from Jesus College, Oxford and one from King's College, London.

In his spare time, Mr Fillingham enjoys endurance and outdoor sports.  He has run the London Marathon and also cycled from London to Paris to raise funds for a school minibus.   He supports Bristol City Football Club, enjoys reading and is a Freeman of the City of London. He and his wife, Clare, attend the Emanuel Church in South Croydon, where Clare also works.  They have one son currently in Year 11 and one daughter currently in Year 8.

Mr Hopton added: “As a Board, we are highly confident that we have identified the right person to build on Mr Lloyd's wonderful legacy and to be entrusted with leading Solihull on the next stage of its proud history.  We very much look forward to welcoming Mr Fillingham and his family into the Solihull community.”

Picture caption: Mr Fillingham takes the spotlight at Solihull.