Loughborough Schools Foundation appoints new Director of Sport

Loughborough Schools Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Ben Kirkpatrick as its new Foundation Director of Sport, with effect from January 2027.

Ben will join the Foundation from Bedford Modern School, where he is currently Director of Sport and Fitness, leading all aspects of sport, physical education, physical activity and fitness across a school community of more than 1,200 pupils.

Prior to this, Ben held a number of senior leadership positions at Stamford Endowed Schools, including Head of Sport, Director of Tennis and Head of House. He began his career at Oundle School, where he combined coaching, teaching and pastoral responsibilities, establishing a strong foundation in both performance sport and pupil development.

Ben brings a breadth of experience spanning sport, wellbeing and whole-school leadership. His commitment to fostering both high levels of participation and sporting excellence makes him an outstanding addition to the Foundation’s senior leadership team.

Commenting on his appointment, Ben said: “I am thrilled to be joining Loughborough Schools Foundation as its next Director of Sport. The Foundation’s clear commitment to providing meaningful sporting opportunities, as well as instilling a culture of healthy physical activity, is one I am completely aligned with. I look forward to driving the provision into its next stage of development, as well as working closely with such passionate individuals.”

Chris Staley, CEO of Loughborough Schools Foundation said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Ben as our new Foundation Director of Sport. He brings an exceptional track record of leading high-quality, inclusive sporting programmes, alongside a clear understanding of the vital role that physical activity plays in young people’s development and wellbeing.

Ben’s experience across both participation and performance sport, combined with his whole-school leadership background, makes him ideally placed to take our sporting provision to the next level. We are excited about the vision, energy and expertise he will bring to our three schools.”

Ben will commence his role at Loughborough Schools Foundation in January 2027.