What first sparked your interest in education when becoming a teacher?
When I was at school, I honestly thought I was quite ordinary. I didn’t think there was anything particularly special about me. I loved reading, that was really it.
Then a teacher came into my life who saw something in me that I hadn’t seen in myself. He recognised a spark of potential and completely shifted my sense of what I could be. He introduced me to extraordinary poetry, invited poets in to meet me, and I’d sit and talk with them over meals, soaking it all in.
That experience stretched my horizons beyond anything I could have imagined. It uncovered a love not just for literature, but for the joy of learning itself. A love for the process of discovery, of thinking deeply, and accumulating knowledge as something meaningful and life-enhancing.
That experience has stayed with me ever since. I’ve never stopped wanting to learn. And that desire to keep learning, and to pass that feeling on to others has been one of the driving forces of my life.
How did your own teachers influence your teaching style?
I don’t believe there’s a single right way to teach. But what I do believe, especially as a teacher of girls, is that it’s essential for students to feel you’re on their side. That you care deeply about them, their wellbeing, and their engagement with the subject.
Teaching is about more than delivering content, it’s about encouragement, belief, and recognising how far each student has come. My approach is grounded in the idea that every girl should leave the classroom with a sense that there are infinite horizons ahead of her — and that with the right support, she is absolutely capable of reaching them.
What makes a great school?
A great school isn’t defined by buildings or even by exam results — it’s defined by its people. A truly great school is a place where wonderful individuals feel free to be themselves, where ideas are shared generously, and where learning is a collective endeavour.
In the best schools, learning doesn’t just come from teachers, or textbooks, or technology, it comes from each other. Learning is social, relational, and deeply human. As Alexander Pope said, “The proper study of mankind is man.” Understanding the world begins with understanding ourselves. That’s why great learning is never just about absorbing knowledge, it’s about reflection. It’s about asking, What did that idea stir in me? How did I respond to that challenge? What have I learned about who I am, and who I want to become?
At its heart, a great school should be transformational. The aim is not only to develop brilliant minds, but to nurture kind, thoughtful, and morally grounded individuals. That’s what makes a great school — a community where intellect and character grow side by side.
What is your favourite part of the school day?
Without a doubt, it’s walking the corridors. Any time of day, I love stopping to talk to students and staff, hearing what’s on their minds. Sometimes it’s the small things: what they had for lunch, their favourite sport that week, or a book they’re enjoying. Other times, it’s something bigger, a moment where they felt proud, stretched, or truly seen.
It's important to engage with everyone across the school and so these conversations matter. They’re unscripted, genuine, and remind me every day that this school doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to our students. My role is to make sure it’s the very best it can be for them. That means listening, showing up, and always being curious about their experience.
What’s your favourite interview question for a prospective student?
One of my favourites — whether they’re joining us in Year 7 or Year 12 is: What are you so passionate about that you’d start a club around it at our school?
It’s such a revealing question, because it instantly shows me what lights them up. Whether it’s the coral reef, Percy Jackson, or murder mysteries. But more than that, it gives as much as it gets. You can see the moment they realise: "Wait… I could actually start a club like that?" Their whole face lights up, because here, there’s no hierarchy and they can take their passion to the furthest limits. Their voices are valid, their ideas matter, and they don’t have to wait to lead.
That’s something we believe deeply at Oxford High School GDST, your voice matters from the moment you step through the door. And the best part of that question? It’s not about testing knowledge. It’s about possibility. And that’s what school should be.
If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about our school, it would be that I would open the doors even wider. The education we offer here is truly without limits, not just academically, but in the way it nurtures confidence, curiosity, and ambition in young women. One of my deepest passions is making that education accessible to as many students as possible.
That’s why we work with local primary schools every week, running science workshops with our Sixth Formers, and why we hold events that demystify the independent school application process.
But if I had one wish, it would be that any girl who wanted to come to Oxford High School could do so — regardless of background or means. Because great schools don’t just educate — they change lives. And every child deserves that opportunity.
When you tell people you are a Head teacher what is their reaction?
When I tell people I’m a Headteacher, they’re often a little surprised. There still seems to be a perception that heads are distant or unapproachable that we are stuck behind closed doors. But that couldn’t be further from the truth here.
My door is always open. Students come in and out of my office every day: to share a win, raise a question, talk through an idea, or sometimes just for a chat. That’s exactly how it should be.
As Head, you have the privilege of seeing the full sweep of school life, with its energy, its challenges, its joyful moments. It’s the people who make a school, and I never want to lose touch with that. Being a Head to me, is about being present, accessible, and genuinely invested in the daily lives of the students, families and staff you serve.
What positive message would you want to give to the world?
Your voice really matters.
In a world that can sometimes feel chaotic, uncertain, and overwhelming, it’s easy to feel that individual voices, especially those of our young people, are being drowned out or dismissed. But that simply isn’t true.
I want every young person to know that what you think, what you believe and what you stand for - all matters. Keep speaking up and keep questioning. Even if the door doesn’t open straight away, keep knocking. Having the perseverance, courage, and the determination to do what’s right, even when it’s hard, sit at the very heart of what it means to be human. And they are exactly the qualities that will shape a better future.
About Oxford High School, GDST
Founded in 1875, Oxford High School is part of the Girls’ Day School Trust and has been empowering young women for nearly 150 years. The school educates girls from age 4 to 18 across its Prep School, Senior School and Sixth Form nurturing curiosity, confidence and independence at every stage. Known for its fearless approach to education, Oxford High School champions limitless learning, self-expression, and academic excellence. Here, every girl is supported to find her voice, push boundaries and shape her own future with confidence.
Our next Senior School and Sixth Form Open Day takes place on Saturday 27th September 2025.
Learn more at www.oxf.gdst.net
