Malvern Alumnae 100 Profile

Sam Mitchell, MGC 1992 Leaver

When I was in the Sixth Form at MGC a number of my friends said that I would be a Housemistress one day. At the time I laughed out loud as I couldn’t envisage being a teacher (I had not always been the model student at School), let alone being responsible enough be a Housemistress. In fact, I never thought I would go near another girls’ school again, let alone lead one!

Having left Malvern in 1992, I spent a year at an American boarding school on the East Coast as an English Speaking Union scholar where I had fabulous time, mostly playing hockey, learning ice-hockey and rowing. This set me up well for my four years at Edinburgh where I read History of Art. Like many graduates I didn’t really know what I wanted to do initially but was lucky enough to secure a post in the Development Office of Tate Britain where I was involved with the development of what is now Tate Modern.

However, two years later a position came up for a History and History of Art teacher at Reading Blue Coat school and it was then that I knew that my real calling was to be a teacher. From there went to King’s, Canterbury where I was a Housemistress for four years before going to Hereford Cathedral School as Deputy Head. It was in 2010 that I felt leading a girls’ school was to be my next step and I took up the helm at Godolphin in Salisbury for a short time before starting at Benenden in 2014. As part of my role I am also a Governor at the John Wallis Academy in Ashford, Chair of the Boarding Committee for the Girls’ Schools Association and Chair of the Wellbeing Group for the Headmaster’s/mistresses’ Conference. There is no doubt that I have what I believe to be the most fulfilling job there is.

I am married to Major Iori Price, who is an army Chaplain and we have two children, Gabriella (age 13 and a Benenden pupil) and Oliver (age 10).

What does success look like?

Finding something you feel passionate about, throwing yourself into it and sticking with it so that you can make a real difference. And remember that success cannot be measured by income and material acquisitions, but who you are as a person.

What is your best piece of advice?

Never expect to realise your full potential at school (you can’t possibly at age 18) and embrace the fact that life is a journey of learning, which is why every stage is exciting and full of opportunity.