As pupils return to the classroom this week one Bushey school welcomes a new head teacher.

Rose Hardy has taken on the senior post at St Margaret's Bushey, in Merry Hill Road.

St Margaret’s Bushey is an independent boarding and day school for girls between the ages of four and 18.

Mrs Hardy, who used to be a head girl at St Albans Girls’ School, has moved from St Albans School, where she spent the past 10 years, most recently as Second Master. 

The new head teacher said: "I am thrilled by the opportunity to lead St Margaret’s, which has such a well established and respected tradition of providing girls with the very best care and education.

"Being a mother to three daughters and coming from an all-girls education system myself, including university, I have an ingrained passion for the education of young women. 

"I adore teaching and I adore learning because, from a young age, I have benefitted from excellent teachers who have imparted to me the belief that there is nothing limiting about being a woman; women can and do change the world. It is this philosophy that I shall be pleased to bring to St Margaret’s. 

Mrs Hardy studied History at the University of Oxford and she has a master’s degree in educational leadership and she is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. 

Margaret Rudland, the school’s chair of the governors, said: "Rose’s experience and understanding of female education is exemplary. 

"The board identified her as the perfect candidate to take St Margaret’s into its next chapter. Our 10-year development programme is now underway, which includes the merging of the prep and senior school onto one site, as well as numerous other exciting changes. 

"The future of St Margaret’s, under Rose’s leadership, is extremely bright." 

The school, which sits in a 74 acre site, was established in 1749 as a refuge for the female orphans of deceased clergymen.