Head

The Governing Body of the Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools is seeking to appoint an outstanding individual to the position of Head. The vacancy arises upon the appointment of Mrs Rose Hardy to the headship of John Lyon School after four years’ distinguished service, during which she has led the School through the COVID-19 pandemic and successfully delivered the first phase of the Governors’ 2020-2030 strategy.

Haberdashers’ Girls’ School is a large, highly successful independent day school located in Elstree, to the north-west of London. It educates girls aged 4 to 18 across both Junior and Senior Schools. The School currently has around 1,250 pupils, including 320 in the Junior School. It is very highly regarded both nationally and within its competitive local market and places are heavily oversubscribed. The school achieves highly in every sense, offering first-class teaching, excellent pastoral care and a superb co-curricular programme on a 100-acre campus which is shared with Haberdashers’ Boys’ School. The close collaboration of the Schools, which includes a shared co-educational Sixth Form academic and co-curricular programme, enables Habs girls to benefit from the very best of single-sex education within a co-educational environment.

Reporting to Mr Gus Lock, the recently-appointed Executive Principal of the Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools, who has strategic responsibility for both Schools on the Elstree campus, the Head will have responsibility for all aspects of the leadership and management of the Girls’ School’s operation. The Head will be a core member of the campus leadership team, working alongside the Boys’ School Head and the COO. The Governors have set in train an ambitious 10-year strategy which the new Head will influence and deliver, in order to maintain and enhance the School’s reputation as one of the country’s leading girls’ schools.

The successful applicant will have significant leadership and management experience, accompanied by excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to inspire both pupils and staff to outstanding outcomes. They will need to be experienced in change management and strategic thinking. They will embrace a strong commitment to working collaboratively with the Governing Body and the campus leadership team to maximize the all-round educational experience for all their pupils.

Interested candidates are warmly invited to have an initial, confidential conversation with key members of the team at RSAcademics who are handling this appointment.

Michael Stephens, Head of Senior School Search| MichaelStephens@rsacademics.com

Bob Griffin, Senior Advisor | BobGriffin@rsacademics.com

Closing date: 10am, 17 February 2023.

Further information about the role and details of how to apply can be found by clicking ‘Apply’.

All applications received directly to the school will be forwarded to the team at RSAcademics.

Haberdashers’ Girls’ School is an equal opportunities employer, and therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex or sexual orientation.

Haberdashers’ Girls’ School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to enhanced DBS and other checks in line with safer recruitment best practice.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. The safeguarding responsibilities of this post are detailed in the candidate information brochure.