The Chairman of Council writes:

Pauline Davies told me a little while ago that she would like to retire at the end of the Summer Term next year 2008, ie. in about 15 months from now.  As well as being at about the time we could have expected her to retire, that date fits with her husband Alan’s retirement.  If left to me, I would have liked Pauline to do the impossible and stay on for many years to come but I have to respect her wish to go next year.

Pauline has been (and of course will continue to be for more than another year) an outstanding Headmistress.  From the very earliest days of her appointment in 1998 she has shown strong leadership internally and externally and the School has produced wonderful results from academic to pastoral, from music to drama and sports and in many other respects.   She leads an outstanding Senior Management Team and has gained the profound respect and admiration of all of us on Council.  She has also shown great warmth within the school as well as giving of herself to the education sector more widely, for example in her Presidency of the Girls' Schools Association some years ago.  Alan has also given service well above and beyond what could have been expected. They have been and continue to be outstanding contributors to Wycombe Abbey.

With the benefit of great help from head-hunters experienced in this field, Council has undertaken a rigorous international search for Pauline’s successor. I am delighted to be able to tell you that the new Headmistress of Wycombe Abbey from September 2008 will be Mrs Cynthia Hall who is at present Headmistress of The School of St. Helen and St. Katharine in Abingdon in Oxfordshire, an excellent independent girls' day school. 

Cynthia Hall was educated at North London Collegiate and St. Anne’s College Oxford where she took a BA in English and English Literature.  She started her teaching career at Peterborough High School and Lady Eleanor Holles before joining the English Department at St. Paul’s Girls' School in London.  She left St. Paul’s as Head of English before joining St. Helen and St. Katharine as Head.  During her time there she has done great things. She is well known to Pauline who preceded her as President of GSA, and Council is enthusiastic about the prospect of working with her when she and her husband Tony move to Wycombe for September 2008.   She brings with her a profound belief in the value of single-sex education for girls and is enthusiastic about taking on the challenge of leading Wycombe into the future.

Tony Willis

Chairman of Council