Samantha Price

Samantha Price will become head of Cranleigh School, a co-educational boarding and day school in Surrey, at the end of the summer term next year.

Price is currently head of Benenden, a girls’ boarding school in Kent.

Anna Birkett, chairman of Benenden’s governing council commented: “During her 10 years at Benenden Mrs Price has presided over a period of sustained and exciting change and development at the school. Her headship has always been focused on ensuring that Benenden is a leader, not just in independent education but in the education sector as a whole in this country and, increasingly, internationally. She will end her tenure at Benenden as a widely respected leader in her field.

“At the heart of everything she has accomplished, her passion for education in its broadest sense, coupled with a commitment to giving every girl the best possible preparation for her life ahead, has shone through.

“Benenden has been successfully educating girls for almost a century now and it is entirely fitting that Mrs Price will lead the school in its year-long celebration of that milestone, starting in September. Alongside the celebrations it will, however, be very much business as usual for governing council and the executive leadership of the school as we plan to take the school forward to the next exciting chapter in its history.

“Governing council is starting the process to recruit a new head and we will be looking for an outstanding candidate with the experience and qualities which will be needed to lead Benenden successfully into its second century.”