Highgate School has announced the appointment of their new pre-prep and junior school principals from September 2022. Sally Hancock will succeed Katie Giles as principal of the pre-prep, and Philippa Studd will take over from Mark James as principal of the junior school.
Sally is currently deputy principal (curriculum) in the pre-prep which she joined in September 2020 from the Wren Academy.
Prior to this, she taught in primary schools in Kuwait, Quito, Cairo and Hong Kong. Sally qualified as a teacher at Plymouth University (geography and general primary) and also holds a Master’s degree in applied linguistics from the Open University.
Sally Hancock said: “I feel extremely honoured and privileged to have been chosen to continue to build upon the success the school has achieved under the leadership of Katie Giles…I look forward to working in collaboration with our talented and enthusiastic staff and supportive families to ensure our children have a happy and successful start to their education.”
Sally Hancock will be acting joint principal, with Gideon Zucker, from January 2022. After Katie Giles’s departure at the end of Michaelmas term, she will assume her role as principal in September 2022.
Philippa Studd is currently deputy principal (pastoral) in the junior school which she joined from Radnor House School in September 2017.
Prior to this she taught modern languages at Chesterfield High School following teacher training and a degree in French and Hispanic Studies at the University of Liverpool.
Philippa Studd said: “I am delighted to be appointed the first female principal of Highgate Junior School. It is a privilege to lead the school at such an exciting time in its history as we prepare to welcome our first junior school Bursary students in September 2022.”
Mark James will retire in July 2022, having led the junior school for twenty years. Mark and Philippa will continue to work closely together in the months ahead to ensure a seamless transition.