Dr Wright was awarded the top honour at a ceremony at Claridges in London which also launched the magazine’s 2011 Tatler Schools Guide. The new guide says of Dr Wright: ‘You won’t find a more impressive role model for your teenage daughter than St Mary’s head Dr Helen Wright.’ The guide, which is released with the October edition of Tatler, also praises the school and its pupils in glowing terms, saying: ‘These girls, and this school, are definitely going places.’
Dr Wright said: ‘This is such a tremendous personal honour and a huge honour for St Mary’s Calne, its staff and its girls. It is testament to the fantastic work everyone who works here puts in to make this such an extraordinary school of which I am rightly proud. It is truly wonderful to see that recognised in such a public arena.’
Dr Wright attended the awards ceremony with the school’s Head Girl’s Team who were delighted when she was announced as winner of the top award. Dr Wright: ‘The girls were absolutely delighted on behalf of the school and insisted on presenting me with the trophy again in chapel this morning. I am very honoured that it means so much to all the pupils!’
Tatler magazine’s annual Schools Awards are an important part of the educational calendar as winners of the awards are selected after a vigorous research programme which sees each school thoroughly vetted and a wide variety of people quizzed about the school and its Head including parents and past and present staff and pupils.