New Hall School in Chelmsford celebrated its Principal, Mrs Katherine Jeffrey, for her exceptional and sustained service to Catholic education. Mrs Jeffrey reached a special milestone this year, becoming the longest-serving Head in New Hall School’s 383-year history, as well as being the longest-serving Head in the HMC, an association of the world’s leading independent schools.

Mrs Jeffrey was appointed in 2001 as the Catholic school’s first lay Principal. From its origins as a girls’ boarding school of 500 students to a co-educational community of 1,400 students, Mrs Jeffrey has guided New Hall through an era of extraordinary transformation. Today, New Hall School is the country’s largest Catholic school. A hallmark of Mrs Jeffrey’s leadership has been strategic innovation in education, most notably the introduction of the diamond model in 2006. The structure combines co-education in the Preparatory Divisions and the Sixth Form with single-sex teaching between the ages of 11 and 16. The model has enhanced student outcomes and wellbeing, earning national recognition with the Outstanding Strategic Initiative Award at the 2011 Independent School Awards.

In its 2024 inspection, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) praised the School’s dedication to service, highlighting the work of the embedded New Hall Voluntary Service (NHVS) as a “significant strength” and affirming that “leaders have created a school community that has service to others at its heart.” Over her 23-year tenure, Mrs Jeffrey’s leadership has championed inclusion and social responsibility. In 2013, New Hall became the first independent school in the country to sponsor a state primary, Messing Primary School, marking a bold step forward in partnership across sectors. Furthering her commitment to community life, Mrs Jeffrey opened a dedicated Nursery at New Hall in 2019 – a project she describes as “the nursery I wish had been there for my four children.”

Mrs Jeffrey’s vision also extends to the long-term development of the School’s educational provision. In 2024, this included the expansion of New Hall’s site with the acquisition of New Hall Boreham House, soon to house the Preparatory Divisions, and in 2023, New Hall Park Farm, a 70-acre site enriching the School’s outdoor learning and equestrian provision. The May 2025 launch of a Learn-to-Ride Centre blends centuries of tradition with innovative technology to create a new benchmark for equestrian education in schools.

“Mrs Jeffrey’s visionary leadership of New Hall has nurtured not only academic excellence, but also the moral and spiritual growth of generations of students. She continues to honour the legacy of the Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre, connecting our present to a rich tradition of faith and service,” remarked Mr Philip Wilson, Chair of Governor of New Hall School. This year, Mrs Jeffrey’s commitment to those values led to the creation of a Mission House at New Hall, expanding the School’s resident Chaplaincy Team by sponsoring four Canonesses from New Hall’s sister school in Masaka, Rwanda.

“Mrs Jeffrey’s sustained vision, energy and enthusiasm after 23 years are unrivalled. I admire so much that amidst all the other huge developments, Mrs Jeffrey has maintained a primary concern for the Catholic ethos and chaplaincy of the School,” praised Thomas McMahon, Bishop Emeritus of Brentwood.

The headship milestone was marked with a gift of an oak sapling to be planted on the School’s Grade I listed site. Mrs Jeffrey commented, “It is a pleasure to be celebrating with students and staff from across our School community. I am honoured to have received the gift of a sapling – it is an excellent symbol of the value of commitment and growth over time. I see its value when welcoming our alumni to our School community as parents of the new generations, and in watching my children choose the vocation of teaching inspired by their teachers at New Hall. As I reflect on my growth in 23 ½ years of this exciting role, I look forward to the many adventures still to come in my time as Principal.”