Hannah Helliar

St Mary’s School, Cambridge, an independent Catholic school for girls aged three to 18,  has appointed Hannah Helliar to succeed Charlotte Avery as headmistress from September next year.

Helliar is a history teacher who has held a variety of senior leadership posts at St Mary’s, including heading up the admissions and marketing teams. She was educated at Woldingham School in Surrey, where she was head girl, and Brasenose College, University of Oxford, where she read ancient and modern history. Subsequently, Helliar worked in a number of roles including housemistress, head of history and head of sixth form, prior to joining St Mary’s in 2012.

Helliar said: “I am excited about the opportunity to lead this wonderful school to continued success, building upon its already strong foundation. I eagerly anticipate meeting parents, students and staff over the rest of this academic year in my new capacity as we embark together on a journey towards a future as brilliant as the aspirations of our exceptional students.”

St Mary’s chair of governors Jo Storey said: “On behalf of the board of governors, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to our current headmistress, Charlotte Avery, who has led our school with unwavering dedication, passion and enthusiasm for the past 16 and a half years. Charlotte has set high standards throughout her remarkable service to our school community, constantly inspiring our students to achieve their best. We appreciate her tireless commitment to St Mary’s and wish her great happiness and success as she takes up the challenge of her second headship at St Cuthbert’s College, Auckland, New Zealand.

Avery said: “I am as delighted as the governors and Hannah are in her appointment as a perfect successor: someone who understands and appreciates our Christian ethos of enabling every girl to achieve her personal best in order to become curious, creative and compassionate young people. I am fully confident that her passion and expertise, along with her intellect and integrity, will further enrich the educational and personal journey of each of our students, offering both reassuring continuity as well as intelligent insight to promote ongoing change which is necessary to keep a community vibrant.”