Appointment of first female Head at independent boys’ school ‘very significant’ – national schools leader

The John Lyon School today became the country’s first-ever leading all-boys’ independent school to appoint a female Head.

Katherine Haynes is to take the helm at the 600-pupil Harrow day school, which is part of the Harrow School Foundation and a member of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) – the organisation for the UK’s leading schools, including both Harrow and Eton.

"This is a ground-breaking appointment,” acknowledged John Hayes, Chairman of Governors at The John Lyon School. “With strong results in the recent GCSE, AS and A level examinations and the completion of its new science block this summer, the School continues to build on its position as one of the country’s leading day schools for boys."

The appointment was welcomed by Bernard Trafford, Vice-Chairman of HMC. Dr Trafford, who is Headmaster of the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne, said: “It is more than a decade since HMC changed its name from the ‘Headmasters’ Conference’ and opened up to the women who were heading its member schools. So far, perhaps unsurprisingly, our female members have run mixed and, more recently, girls’ schools. This next step was inevitable, but is very significant. The women who have joined HMC have added immensely to the strength and vibrancy of the organisation.

“I think it’s fantastic that we should have a female member speaking – as I know Katherine will – with authority and vision for a boys-only school in particular while contributing to HMC and to the sector in general. I know her, have the utmost respect for her, and look forward eagerly to welcoming her into membership following the due process of election.”

Miss Haynes will take up her post in September 2009, when The John Lyon School’s current Headmaster Kevin Riley becomes Headmaster of Harrow International School in Bangkok. She is presently a member of the leadership team at Warwick School, which is Britain’s oldest boys’ school, and has also taught at a girls’ school.

“I’m obviously delighted to have been appointed as Head and I believe I have the scope to take The John Lyon School forward,” said Miss Haynes. “Gender is less of an issue than it may have been five or ten years ago. So I hope this will be seen for what it is – simply as an appointment which recognises I have the skills for the job.”

Miss Haynes, 39, is Head of Mathematics at Warwick School, where she has taught for six years. “My time here has been superb and exciting, and it’s led me to think about what I could do as a school Head.” Before Warwick School, she was Head of Maths at Edgbaston High School, a girls’ school.

She is a strong advocate of single-sex education: “I think boys and girls learn differently, and there is a case for education where children are separated for their education but still have an opportunity to meet for social events or music or sport, for example. I have seen boys and girls working together and on their own in a classroom, and you get more out of them when they are in single-sex environments.”

The John Lyon School, which was founded by Harrow School in the 19th century as a day school for local boys, gives its pupils the opportunity to work and socialise with girls through its partnership with a nearby girls’ school, Northwood College.

Miss Haynes holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship and is an inspector with the Independent Schools Inspectorate. She grew up in Oxford and took her first degree at Warwick University and her MEd at Birmingham, both in Mathematics.

A very keen gardener in her spare time, she enjoys travelling in the holidays and visits South Africa annually.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of The John Lyon School

MEDIA CONTACTS: Mr Kevin Riley, Headmaster at The John Lyon School, on 020 8872 8400