New Headmistress announced for Burgess Hill School for Girls
The Board of Governors of Burgess Hill School for Girls announced today the appointment of Kathryn Bell as the new Head of Burgess Hill School for Girls from September 2014.
Kathryn is currently the Head of Ackworth School a day and boarding School in West Yorkshire, the first female Head since the school was founded by Quakers in 1779. She was educated at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham Girls’ School in London and at Exeter University where she gained a BSc Combined Honours degree in Biology and Geography. She is a Member of the Institute of Biology and a Chartered Biologist. She was awarded her PGCE at St Lukes, Exeter University’s School of Education. Her early teaching career was in West Sussex St. Michael’s Burton Park, an Independent Girls’ Boarding School, Brighton and Hove High School and following a career break with her family of three girls and a boy, she went on to teach at Burgess Hill School for Girls and at Ardingly where she became Second Deputy. Kathryn became Head at Ackworth in 2009. She is a former Sussex County netball player and an accomplished chorister and musician playing flute, recorder and piano.
Charles Cooper, Chairman of the Board of Governors at Burgess Hill School for Girls said, “The Governors conducted a rigorous appointing process assisted by consultants Odgers Berndtson and were delighted with the number of excellent candidates who applied for the position. We believe that in Kathryn Bell we have chosen an outstanding candidate who has already had valuable experience as a Head. We are sure that Kathryn understands and fully supports the ethos of Burgess Hill School for Girls and is well qualified to lead the School, building on its record of success.”
Kathryn Bell said, “I am very excited about leading Burgess Hill School for Girls over the coming years and ensuring that the School continues to thrive as a happy, vibrant community where all are encouraged to flourish and succeed. It is a real privilege. I look forward to continuing to develop Burgess Hill’s philosophy of educating the ‘whole girl’ to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. I am very aware of the outstanding reputation the school has for its outstanding academic attainment, sporting success and music provision. I am greatly looking forward to taking the school forward, building on its past successes and leading it into a bright and exciting future.”
Find out more about Burgess Hill by visiting www.burgesshill-school.com