Bristol Cathedral School has appointed its first-ever
female Head, more than 800 years after it was founded
by Augustinian monks.
Anne Davey will become the 54th Head of the leading
independent school – and the only woman ever
to hold the post – when she takes over in January
2005.
Her appointment comes two months after Bristol Cathedral
School announced it is to begin accepting girls from
the age of 11 in September 2006. Last month, the school
also unveiled plans for a new £3 million building
to give it the modern facilities to develop as a fully
co-educational school for the 21st century.
Mrs Davey, currently Deputy Head at a girls’ school
in Oxfordshire, will replace Headmaster Mr Kevin Riley,
who is leaving at Christmas after 11 years in charge
to become Head at a school in London .
Mrs Davey said: “This is an exciting moment
to be joining Bristol Cathedral School, and I am looking
forward to leading the school into full co-education
and a major new building project. “
 Mrs
Davey comes to Bristol from the School of St Helen
and St Katharine, a selective girls’ independent
school in Abingdon. Born in Surrey , she has a wide
range of teaching experience, having worked at a Scottish
comprehensive in Fife , at Tony Blair’s old school,
Fettes College in Edinburgh , and at Stowe, a boys’ boarding
school in Buckinghamshire.
“Having taught in single-sex schools, both
for boys and girls, and having sent two of my sons
to all-boys schools, I fully understand the value of
a single-sex tradition, but I firmly believe the future
is co-educational,” she said.
“Both boys and girls can benefit from learning
to work alongside each other in the classroom and from
the full range of cultural, sporting and social activities
on offer in a school like Bristol Cathedral School
.
“Since my appointment as the first female Head
of the school was confirmed a few days ago, I have
been struck by the forward-thinking approach of both
staff and governors. If that experience is anything
to go by, the girls who will be joining us will find
a school ready to embrace co-education, ready to see
people as individuals regardless of gender, and ready
to help each pupil make the most of his or her talents
and contribute to the community.”
Bristol Cathedral School Chairman of Governors, Mr
Stephen Parsons, said: “I am delighted to be
able to announce Anne Davey ’s appointment. She
was the outstanding candidate from a large and impressive
field of applicants and was the unanimous choice of
the governors. As a former pupil and with a 40-year
involvement with Bristol Cathedral School , I well
understand the importance of developing individuals.
“I am convinced that Anne is the right person
to lead Bristol Cathedral School into a fully integrated
co-educational structure for the 21 st century.“
Welcoming Mrs Davey ’s appointment, outgoing
Headmaster Mr Riley said: “I shall be very sad
to leave Bristol Cathedral School at Christmas this
year, but I leave entirely confident in the knowledge
that the school is on the right path.
“I am delighted that the twin decisions have
been taken for the school to become fully co-educational
and for the new building to go ahead,” said Mr
Riley, who is to become Head of The John Lyon School
in Harrow .
“I would like to have stayed in Bristol to
see the changes through, butI am forever talking to
our pupils about taking opportunities when they arise,
so when I was approached by The John Lyon School, I
had to lead by example!”
Bristol Cathedral School is thought to date from
around the time of the foundation of St Augustine ’s
Abbey in 1140, with choristers being educated by monks
at the site throughout the Middle Ages. Following Henry
VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, the school
was re-founded in 1542, when William Eydon was appointed
as the first Headmaster.
In 1980, Bristol Cathedral School became one of the
first boys’ schools in the country to open its
sixth form to girls. It currently has around 430 pupils
and educates 16 choristers and 16 former choristers.
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