Sarah Squire

Cokethorpe School in Whitney, Oxfordshire, has appointed Dr Sarah Squire as head, effective from September, replacing Damian Ettinge who will retire at that time.

Cokethorpe School is a private day school teaching approximately 660 pupils aged from four to 18.

Since 2020 Squire has been pastoral director and vice-principal at d’Overbroeck’s, and before that deputy head, students and staff at Oxford High School, having begun her teaching career at Wallingford School.

Earlier, Squire was a lecturer and tutor in psychology and a post-doctoral researcher in the department of psychiatry at the University of Oxford.

Cokethorpe’s chair of governors John Bennett said: “We have great confidence that we have identified the right candidate to lead Cokethorpe with vision, passion and integrity.”

Ettinger commented: “After 23 years at the helm of Cokethorpe, years in which the school has grown and gone through many changes, and where my wife and I have raised our children, it has been a difficult decision to make. Cokethorpe is a part of our family. It is gratifying to know that Cokethorpe will be in the surest of hands with Sarah as the new headmistress from September.”

Squire said: “The warmth and spirit of Cokethorpe is very special. At every visit I have been struck by pupils of all ages thriving from the many opportunities available to them, and by the individual talents nurtured so purposefully in the classroom and beyond. I feel privileged and honoured to be building on Cokethorpe’s strong legacy and am very excited about leading the school into the next chapter of its history.”