Oxford High School
Marina Gardiner Legge has joined Oxford High School as headmistress. She previously served as headmistress of Heathfield School and director of studies before that. Legge read English language and literature at Somerville College, and worked in advertising and marketing for a decade. After moving to Hong Kong, she discovered her love of teaching and studied for a postgraduate certificate in education. She is a passionate believer in the power of girls-only education and recently completed a master’s in educational leadership.
Crown House Preparatory School
Chatsworth Schools has announced the appointment of Sarah Hobby as the new headteacher of Crown House Preparatory School. Hobby completed the Chatsworth Schools Leadership Training Programme and is the first graduate to become a headteacher. Hobby has previously been deputy head of Highfield Preparatory School, an Independent Schools Inspectorate inspector, and deputy head of pre-prep at Marlborough College Malaysia, a sister school to Marlborough College UK.
Bilton Grange Preparatory School
Gareth Jones has been appointed as the new head of Bilton Grange Preparatory School and will take up the post in September 2021. Jones has held senior positions at the Dragon School, including director of sport and housemaster, and became headmaster at St Andrew’s Prep School six years ago. He read English with history before taking his PGCE in primary education and a master’s in educational leadership. Bilton Grange merged with Rugby School in January 2020.
Bickley Park School
Bickley Park School has appointed Laura Crocker as its head of music. Crocker attended Chetham’s School of Music before accepting a scholarship to study at the Royal Northern College of Music and Trinity Laban. In over a decade of teaching she has developed her knowledge of different musical styles and genres, which she incorporates in her lessons. Her principal study is the flute, though she also plays piano and guitar, and sings. Two years ago, Crocker received an award for excellence by Music Mark; in her spare time she plays with the Greenwich Concert Band.
Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls
Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls has welcomed Abbey Jones as its new deputy head pastoral. Jones has spent 10 years in senior roles at The Stephen Perse Foundation and, more recently, was deputy head of its senior school. She graduated from Warwick University with a BA Hons in classics and gained an MEd at Cambridge University. She has a passion for mental health and has worked across many related training programmes and initiatives. She said it is “crucial that young people feel able to smile and to enjoy life, even during a pandemic”.
St Peter’s School
St Peter’s School, York has appointed Maurice Walters as senior deputy head from September 2021. Walters read classical archaeology and ancient history at St John’s College, Oxford. Following a year of graduate study, and teaching Latin for the college, he accepted a role as teacher of Latin and resident tutor at Canford School. There he became head of classical civilisation and then head of academic enrichment. At St Peter’s, Walters he will contribute to strategic planning and development of the whole school foundation, and will also be the designated safeguarding lead.
This article originally featured in the March issue of Independent Education Today
