We are delighted to announce the appointment of Ricky Skene as PE Teacher (Maternity Cover) and Head of Athletic Development from September 2026, supporting the School’s exciting transition to co-education.
Ricky brings a wealth of experience across sport, education and athlete development, and his arrival marks a significant step forward in strengthening and broadening sporting opportunities for both girls and boys at Heathfield.
Throughout his career, Ricky has held a number of senior leadership positions including Director of Sport, Head of PE & Athletic Development, Head of Skiing, Sports Mentor, Head of Golf and Head of Tennis. With extensive expertise across a wide range of sports, he will play an influential role in shaping the co-educational sporting future of Heathfield, particularly through the continued development of Football and Cricket programmes alongside his specialist knowledge in Athletic Development.
Ricky’s role will connect physical development, performance science, wellbeing and sporting culture across the whole school, creating an ambitious and inclusive environment where every student can thrive. His approach focuses not only on performance and participation, but also on building confidence, resilience, teamwork and lifelong healthy habits for all students.
In addition to his school leadership experience, Ricky is the founder, Head Coach and Athlete Mentor of the Talented Athlete Academy, where he supports aspiring athletes in their physical, psychological, social and emotional development in pursuit of sporting success. This holistic philosophy aligns closely with Heathfield’s commitment to developing well-rounded young people who are equipped to succeed both on and off the field.
Alongside his educational career, Ricky enjoyed a distinguished 16-year professional ice hockey career, winning eight championships, most notably with the Guildford Flames. He also represented England national under-20 ice hockey team from junior level through to U20 level and served as Assistant Captain during his playing career. His elite sporting background brings invaluable experience in leadership, high performance and athlete development to the Heathfield community.
As Heathfield embarks on its next chapter as a co-educational school, Ricky’s appointment reflects the School’s ambition to provide an outstanding sporting experience for every student, further enhancing participation, performance and opportunity across all areas of school sport.
