Berkshire


<p>With 25 years already under his belt at <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/cheam-school-newbury-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cheam School</a> near Newbury, Nick Milbank is practically part of the furniture. He officially took over the role of Head in January 2025, and alongside his wife Kirsten, is continuing to help shape the school&#8217;s legacy as a place of character-building, warmth, and confidence. </p>



<p>Loved by parents, pupils, and staff alike for his infectious energy and sense of humour, when Nick&#8217;s not belting out AC/DC and keeping the wheels of this non-selective school turning, you&#8217;ll find him tucking into an afternoon sweet treat from his notorious chocolate drawer. Shhh, just don&#8217;t tell Kirsten! We sat down with Nick for a tell-all chinwag.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1707" height="2560" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/Nick-Milbank-Acting-Head-scaled.jpg" alt="Cheam School head Nick Millbank" class="wp-image-71477" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/Nick-Milbank-Acting-Head-scaled.jpg 1707w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/Nick-Milbank-Acting-Head-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/Nick-Milbank-Acting-Head-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/Nick-Milbank-Acting-Head-267x400.jpg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/Nick-Milbank-Acting-Head-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/Nick-Milbank-Acting-Head-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/09/Nick-Milbank-Acting-Head-1365x2048.jpg 1365w" sizes="(max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-30-second-elevator-pitch-for-your-school-sell-it-nbsp">30-second elevator pitch for your school – sell it!&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Cheam is a non-selective school that sends children to very selective senior schools at ages 13+. We are flexible in what we provide as children can join us as day pupils or flexi or weekly boarders. Academics is at the heart of Cheam and we offer a lovely balanced curriculum that allows the children to access as many different opportunities as they can. We sit in just shy of 100 acres of Berkshire countryside in a great surrounding, it really offers pupils the space to grow and thrive.</p>



<p>But the thing that ties it all together is the character of pupils. If you have the right character, you’ll get the right outcome, whatever that outcome might be. And I would say, with all this, although we sit in beautiful surroundings, it is the people that count, and my ambition is to be the happiest school in the land.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-would-you-like-to-star-as-you-in-the-movie-nbsp">Who would you like to star as you in the movie?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>I love James Bond, so Daniel Craig. However, that might be an unrealistic ask, so I’d probably say, physique-wise, it would have to be Jack Black, but in my wildest dreams, Daniel Craig would be ideal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-ve-been-given-a-1m-donation-for-the-school-what-will-you-spend-it-on-nbsp">You’ve been given a £1m donation for the school, what will you spend it on?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>It might not cover it all, but I’d love a purpose-built theatre. But I’d probably just need to double or triple that amount. We’ll buy the million-pound lotto tickets and then we’ll get a whopping great big theatre!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-your-own-childhood-school-days">Describe your own childhood school days </h2>



<p>I was a goody two-shoes for most of my childhood, then got to about 17 or 18 and I changed a little bit. At university I definitely changed. I didn&#8217;t necessarily find school easy which is probably how I got to be a teacher. That&#8217;s not to say the teachers didn&#8217;t work hard for me, but maybe I wasn&#8217;t open enough. I battled at school, but love sport, so that was my kind of go-to. I had plenty of friends but just didn&#8217;t find the academics as easy as others.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-the-common-theme-of-your-school-reports-nbsp">What was the common theme of your school reports?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Probably something about perseverance. Teachers would always say, ‘keep going, you will get there’. It always took me three or four goes to get everything. So yes, keep going and perseverance were probably a fairly common theme. I was definitely shy in my early days but have become a lot less shy over the years (laughs).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-worst-teachers-at-your-childhood-school-and-why-nbsp">Favourite/ worst teachers at your childhood school and why?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>My favourite teachers were those who taught me sport. I loved any sports coach and anyone who was kind. I had so many teachers who were kind, who just took time with me. Some teachers could just fly through things. So, yes, someone who just slowed it down and went, “you’re all right”. There were multiple names I could mention who just had patience, and I think it probably links back to where I am today, and actually, everyone just needs their own time to get to where they need to. Also, any teacher who could tell a good story – they were great entertainment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-and-worst-subject-at-school-nbsp">Best and worst subject at school?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>English, history, and maths were probably my best. Languages I struggled. Latin and French I always battled.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1992" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/07/nick-kirsten-cheam.jpg" alt="Cheam School head Nick Millbank" class="wp-image-80392" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/07/nick-kirsten-cheam.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/07/nick-kirsten-cheam-602x800.jpg 602w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/07/nick-kirsten-cheam-753x1000.jpg 753w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/07/nick-kirsten-cheam-301x400.jpg 301w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/07/nick-kirsten-cheam-768x1020.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/07/nick-kirsten-cheam-1157x1536.jpg 1157w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nick and Kirsten</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-you-go-to-uni-what-did-you-study-and-your-high-and-low-of-student-life-nbsp">Where did you go to uni, what did you study – and your high and low of student life&nbsp;</h2>



<p>I went to Nottingham Trent uni. Absolutely brilliant. I did a BA in Primary Education, and after living, maybe what you would describe as a bit of a sheltered life going through private education, I found my placements, which were all in state schools, very humbling. One placement in particular just had the most amazing teachers who saw the potential of these children who had a tough upbringing and definitely not all the opportunities I was so lucky to have. So, those experiences were definitely the highs. The lows? Living on a student budget and having to fend for myself!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-weren-t-a-head-what-would-you-be-nbsp">If you weren’t a head, what would you be?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>So, I love the fact of mowing grass. I get very jealous, I’m so pathetic haha! When you get to these pitches, these international stadiums, those grounds are immaculate – our Cheam grounds are immaculate! I always think it’s quite a fun thing to be able to do, or anything to do with sport and maybe hospitality. Probably working somewhere that I could talk and watch sport, that would be quite nice. (Kirsten jumps in to remind Nick that on Wednesday afternoons, aka match days, his job is literally to talk and watch sport with the parents).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-what-s-on-your-work-desk-and-what-s-in-the-top-drawer">Describe what’s on your work desk (and what’s in the top drawer)</h2>



<p>The most recent addition is an elephant my daughter brought back from Cambodia or Vietnam. If you blow through one end, it whistles from the other end. (&#8220;He won&#8217;t tell you in front of me, but there will be a big bag of chocolate,&#8221; chips in his wife Kirsten.) Haha, you&#8217;re actually right, there was. A little sweet treat in the afternoon is well deserved. But actually, in the top middle drawer, there are just hundreds of pieces of paper with little scribbles of notes. In another, there&#8217;s books and notepads, then, actually, there might be chocolate in the other ones too (laughs).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-funniest-story-from-your-teaching-career-nbsp">Funniest story from your teaching career&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Oh my God! I accidentally set the fire alarm off once. I slammed a door to try and sort of replicate how a Victorian loom would work, and I said, &#8220;imagine this&#8221; and then bang, I slammed the door and that set the fire alarm off, sending 380 people out the school in a hurry. Probably not my best moment. I once accidentally set off a fire extinguisher too. There are so many stupid stories that just make me belly laugh, even just the one-liners from children where you sit there thinking, I can&#8217;t laugh, I can&#8217;t laugh.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-favourite-books-childhood-and-now-nbsp">Your favourite books, childhood and now&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The first book I read cover to cover was <em>Danny the Champion of the World</em>. But Beatrix Potter was probably when I was even younger. At university, not a classic, but <em>Bravo Two Zero</em> by Andy McNab, and now, <em>Legacy</em> is a great one about rugby, coaching and leadership. But <em>The Tattooist of Auschwitz</em> is probably the most lovely but sad story, and one you can&#8217;t quite get out of your head. I think everyone should read it at some point when they are ready.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/12/CHEAM-SCHOOL-HEADLEY-NEWBURY-4.jpg" alt="head of cheam school" class="wp-image-42963" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/12/CHEAM-SCHOOL-HEADLEY-NEWBURY-4.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/12/CHEAM-SCHOOL-HEADLEY-NEWBURY-4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/12/CHEAM-SCHOOL-HEADLEY-NEWBURY-4-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/12/CHEAM-SCHOOL-HEADLEY-NEWBURY-4-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/12/CHEAM-SCHOOL-HEADLEY-NEWBURY-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/12/CHEAM-SCHOOL-HEADLEY-NEWBURY-4-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-best-school-trip-childhood-or-current-you-ve-ever-been-on-nbsp">What’s the best school trip (childhood or current) you’ve ever been on?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>So, when I first started teaching here, we went to Kenya on a cricket tour which is the first trip I led. The children and parents were brilliant, and the country was beautiful, getting to see this extraordinary change of poverty and wealth, wildlife, and watching the children play cricket against good opposition was just amazing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-play-book-and-film-should-be-on-every-child-s-cultural-bucket-list-nbsp">What play, book and film should be on every child’s cultural bucket list?&nbsp;</h2>



<p><em>The Gruffalo</em>. Little people can take on big challenges. Very clever message in that book. I think any West End show. Go and experience the West End. <em>Matilda</em>, <em>The Lion King, War Horse</em> &#8211; they are just amazing. It&#8217;s a spectacular thing to go and do. I think at some point reading <em>The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas</em> just gives you an understanding of our history. I think they&#8217;re really important and I still think it&#8217;s very simple messages in these very clever children&#8217;s books. I think there&#8217;s no better feeling than mum and dad sitting and reading you a bedtime story. The culture is who you read with, not just the book.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-want-to-hide-from-the-kids-and-staff-for-half-an-hour-where-do-you-go-nbsp">If you want to hide from the kids and staff for half an hour, where do you go? &nbsp;</h2>



<p>To the woods. It&#8217;s a lovely little spot to wander down for half an hour as you can stand by the stream and listen to the birds and water which helps ground you. It&#8217;s just a little bit of space to think.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-song-you-sing-at-full-volume-when-everyone-s-gone-home-nbsp">The song you sing at full volume when everyone’s gone home?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Coldplay, <em>Fix You</em> is a tune.  However, from my school days, it&#8217;s a little bit of rock. Guns N&#8217; Roses or AC/DC. I mean, it&#8217;s not very cultural, but literally my happiest days were from about 1988, through to about &#8217;95. Just great tunes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advice-you-d-give-your-younger-self-and-your-current-students-nbsp">Advice you’d give your younger self – and your current students?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Don&#8217;t try to be perfect. I certainly don&#8217;t pretend to be. It&#8217;s too easy to think everything has to be perfect in today&#8217;s world but just be you and all will be fine.</p>



<p><strong><em>Want to hear more about Nick Milbanks&#8217;s headship? Read our review of Cheam School in Newbury <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/cheam-school-newbury-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</em></strong></p>


Meet the Head: Nick Milbank, Cheam School

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