OLD GIRLS

We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Headmistress for September 2010, Mrs Patricia Woodhouse.

Following Mrs Hayes' announcement that she will be retiring in August 2010, the Council of Malvern St James has appointed Mrs Patricia Woodhouse to be the next Headmistress of the School. She will take up her appointment with effect from 1 September 2010.

Educated at Stafford Girls' High School, Mrs Woodhouse brings to Malvern St James a strong commitment to all-girls' education and a wealth of leadership and teaching experience. She was the Director of Music at Wimbledon High School, Lower Sixth Housemistress at Queenswood and Deputy Head at St Mary's Wantage.

From St Mary's Wantage, Mrs Woodhouse moved five years ago to become the Headmistress of Abbots Bromley School for Girls, thus gaining considerable experience of leading a boarding and day school. She is also a Governor for Bloxham School and an ISI Inspector.

The Council had a very strong field from which to choose and are delighted to have been able to make this appointment. The Governors are looking forward to working with Mrs Woodhouse. They are confident that she will continue the work of the School with the same values and commitment to the quality of teaching and learning within an environment which allows every girl to thrive and excel.

Mrs Woodhouse said, ‘I am very excited about moving to Malvern St James, which has quickly established itself as an excellent School and fully deserves the reputation it has already secured. I relish the unique opportunity offered by this Headship, to build on its traditions and heritage and to take the School forward as a leading twenty-first century Girls' Boarding and Day School'.

Mrs Woodhouse and her husband, Stephen, are keen sailors and enjoy diving in the Canary Islands. They are very much looking forward to moving to Malvern in summer, 2010.