Charlotte Owen has been appointed as the new headmistress of St Mary’s School, Hampstead.
She will succeed Harriet Connor-Earl in September 2023 who is leaving after seven years as head.
Miss Owen will join St Mary’s from Woldingham School, an independent Catholic day and boarding girls’ school. She has been head of the lower school there since September 2016 and is a key member of Woldingham’s senior leadership team.
Before joining Woldingham, Miss Owen was head of languages at Prior’s Field School. She has a degree in Spanish and Italian from Royal Holloway College, University of London. In addition to her role at Woldingham, she has been governor of a Surrey day school for girls since 2019.
Miss Owen said: “I am delighted to be joining St Mary’s in September and to continuing the excellent and innovative work of Mrs Connor-Earl. I very much look forward to building on the school’s current success, always mindful of the spirit and ethos of its pioneering founder, Mary Ward, and to getting to know girls, parents and staff. It is a privilege to become part of the St Mary’s family.”
Making the announcement, chair of trustees, Carroll Barry-Walsh said: “Miss Owen is an outstanding appointment. She is committed to her Catholic faith and girls’ education and brings a wealth of experience.
“The trustees are confident she will maintain and develop the academic, pastoral and spiritual ethos of St Mary’s and, working with the school’s excellent senior leadership team and staff, will build on the success that St Mary’s girls have enjoyed under Mrs Connor-Earl’s inspirational leadership during the last seven years.”