Ardingly International Team

Ben Figgis has been the Headmaster at Ardingly since September 2014. After graduating in Modern History from Cambridge University in 1990, his early career was spent in advertising and then television news.

At 30 he decided to follow his passion for History, and took up his first teaching job at Abingdon School in Oxfordshire. After four years he was appointed to run a boarding house, a role he describes as ‘the best and most demanding in education.’ During his time at Abingdon he coached senior rugby, football and tennis teams, as well as directing several plays.

In 2004, Ben moved to Oakham School as the Deputy Head, and became a strong advocate of learning beyond the classroom, co-education and the IB Diploma as an alternative to A Levels.

Ben and his wife, Joanna, have three children: George, Clemmie and Rosabel, all of whom have been educated at Ardingly. Ben’s interests include theatre, fly fishing, tennis and road cycling, as well as the literature and history of America and Russia.

Tom joined Ardingly College in 2023 as Chief Operating Officer, and is responsible for its day to day running from a non teaching perspective. He is a chartered accountant, having qualified with Deloitte in his native Yorkshire whilst working as an auditor across a range of industries. He has since worked extensively in the education sector, in organisations ranging from government departments and sector representative bodies, to universities, schools, and academy trusts.

He has two young children, Benjamin and Isabella, and enjoys cooking, travelling, and most competitive sport.