Packwood has appointed two prep school leaders to join its community in September 2026.
David Finch, will join as Deputy Head (Pastoral Care and Safeguarding). David joins Packwood from Brambletye School, West Sussex, where he holds the same position. David was educated at Prestfelde, then Shrewsbury. Following a degree in Medical Imaging from Liverpool, he qualified as a science teacher. He has held a number of positions in state and independent secondary schools, including boarding roles, before joining Brambletye. Here, David oversees the pastoral care and wellbeing, coaches sport (including the 1 XI cricket) and involves himself fully in the day-to day life of the school. He is a school inspector and qualified senior mental health lead. David is married to Kate, and they have three children – Isla, Joe and Tommy. They will be living at Packwood and will look forward to immersing themselves fully in school life.
Madeleine Handaji will take on the role of Assistant Head (Boarding and Wellbeing). She and her husband, Mounir, will be Packwood’s Houseparents. Educated at Clayesmore, Madeleine studied French and Hispanic Studies at Nottingham before completing her PGCE at Oxford. She has worked in a number of schools, as a journalist and political editor in Morocco and set up a school in the refugee camps in Calais. She is currently Head of Boarding at Port Regis Prep School, Dorset, where she also teaches French and Spanish. Madeleine will become Packwood’s Language Acquisition teacher. She and Mounir have two sons – Afilal and Tachfin. Mounir is also very involved in life at Port Regis, both in the boarding community and across the activity programme. Her interests include equestrian, all things outdoors and conservation.
The whole Packwood community is very much looking forward to welcoming David, Kate, Madeleine, Mounir, and their children. Will Goldsmith commented “I am delighted that Packwood has appointed two truly brilliant prep school leaders to join our community in September 2026. These are exciting times for our school.”
