I will be very sad to go, and it’s been such a hard decision to make, but as I told pupils in an assembly earlier this month, after what will have been nine years here, I feel it’s time to move on to the next phase of my life and really make the most of my retirement. 

The Governors have launched the recruitment process and the School hopes to start the 2022/23 academic year with my successor already announced. I will miss LEH very much, but I am pleased that I shall be moving over to “the other side” and joining you as an alumna.  It will give me enormous pleasure to keep in touch with all the school news and I will, of course, continue to follow the progress of all my fellow alumnae with great interest and pride. 

Rest assured I will be making the most of my time here and am very much looking forward to seeing as many of you as I can over the next few months.  Both Mr Knibbs and I will be at the Joint Networking Event with Hampton School in London on Thursday 26 May, where we usually get a good crowd of Holles Connect members, and I’ll also be at the Alumnae Reunion 2022 on Saturday 1 October.  Please do sign up now to attend these events if you haven’t already. 

It's good to feel that I’ll be leaving on a high after the glowing report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate which was published in March.  It found the academic and personal achievements of LEH pupils to be of the very highest standard across all areas.  It was very pleasing to have what we’ve all known – and been so proud of – publicly acknowledged in this way. 

Meanwhile, our Summer Term continues a-pace with public exams, Sports Day, Celebration of the Year and a not-to-be-missed production of Matilda. There’s also our second ever Annual Giving Day on Thursday 16 June which is raising funds for a cause particularly close to my heart – our Bursary Fund – so I’d be delighted if you can show your support this year. 

I hope you and your families really enjoy the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. 

Heather Hanbury 
Head Mistress