The Maynard School in Exeter has announced that Sarah Dunn, currently the Deputy Head at Plymouth College, has been appointed as the new Headmistress from September 2016.
“The appointment of Miss Dunn to the role was a unanimous decision taken after a rigorous and searching interview process following applications from a number of very strong candidates,” said Lady Stanhope, the Chair of Governors for the Maynard School.
Following her undergraduate studies at the University of Exeter and her Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Oxford, Sarah began her career as a Biology teacher at Torquay Boys’ Grammar School in 1986. During her tenure there she worked her way up the ranks to become the Deputy Head of Sixth Form, Head of Careers and a member of the senior academic leadership team.
In 1995, Sarah was appointed Deputy Head of Plymouth College.
“My first challenge as Deputy Head was to introduce girls to the school throughout all year groups. As Plymouth College had been a boys’ school for 110 years, and only had three female members of staff on my arrival, turning this supertanker around was no easy task!” said Sarah.
“My education philosophy is straightforward: Maynard girls should continue to receive the very best in terms of teaching, in a happy, caring environment, with a wealth of opportunities to discover and develop their talents. I care deeply for both the students and the staff and have always had a collaborative approach to all that I do, leading by example from the front and maintaining the highest expectations of myself and others.
“I am absolutely delighted and honoured to be the next Headmistress at such a prestigious school as The Maynard. It is such an excellent school, full of vibrancy, opportunities and a love of learning. It really does live up to the motto: Imagine, Aspire, Achieve.
“I was so wonderfully impressed with the warmth and positivity of the girls and staff during my interviews and am looking forward to joining the Maynard family. It is an exciting journey ahead and I will be working closely with Ms Hughes over the next couple of terms to ensure a seamless transition.”
Lady Stanhope paid tribute to outgoing head Bee Hughes as an “outstanding headmistress” saying she had built on the success of her predecessors and had taken the School to a new level, most recently being voted the ‘Teacher of the Year’ at the Pride of Exeter Awards.
