Nidderdale school delighted to announce its new headmistress
THE NEW headmistress of a North Yorkshire private school has pledged to build on its current success following the early retirement of its current leader after more than a decade in charge.
Sophia Ashworth Jones will join Harrogate’s Belmont Grosvenor School, in Nidderdale, in September when Jane Merriman steps down at the end of the academic year.
Originally from Harrogate, Mrs Ashworth Jones was the former head of Leeds Grammar School Junior School and she helped plan its evolution into The Grammar School at Leeds between 2002-2008, before moving out of the area to run a large co-educational prep school.
Following a period of time working in Melbourne, Australia, Mrs Ashworth Jones is currently head of The Falcons School for Girls in London.
She said: “I am joining Belmont Grosvenor School at a very exciting time and I am delighted to have been appointed to lead this wonderful school and take it forward into its next chapter.
“The recent ISI inspection, which rated BGS as both excellent and outstanding, the top gradings across the board, is a wonderful platform from which to build.”
Over the coming months, Mrs Ashworth Jones will be spending time at Belmont Grosvenor School alongside current headteacher Mrs Merriman, who has been at the helm for 13 years and was instrumental in the development of it’s Magic Tree Nursery.
Gordon Milne, the chairman of the governors, said Mrs Ashworth Jones’ experience, skills, wisdom and warmth for the children shone through during the interview process.
He said: “Belmot Grosvenor is clearly a well-loved and respected school, the quality of the candidates seeking to lead it, is evidence of this. The governors are very pleased to have found someone who will cherish our school and build upon the considerable legacy Mrs Merriman will leave behind.”