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Q & A with the new Head Mistress
M&D gets to know the new Head Mistress of Manchester High School for Girls, Helen Jeys, and asks about her journey to the school, what’s next for Manchester High, and taking the lead during a pandemic.
Q. How do you feel about becoming the 11th Head Mistress of Manchester High School for Girls?
A. I am very excited about becoming the next Head Mistress at Manchester High; a school I worked at for 14 years before my most recent post. I know the school well and feel incredibly privileged to be returning to lead this fantastic school.
Q. So, you’ve already worked at Manchester High?
A. I was Head of Religion and Philosophy and Head of Year before becoming Deputy Head (Pastoral). I loved my time at the school and I am looking forward to returning after four years away, to take on my second Headship.
Q. Are you a Manchester High girl yourself?
A. No; I was brought up in Staffordshire and moved to Manchester after finishing at Cambridge University. My first position was as a teacher of Religion & Philosophy at The Manchester Grammar School and I have worked in single sex schools ever since; including Malvern Girls’ College, Hulme Grammar School for Boys and of course, most recently, as Head at Alderley Edge School for Girls.
Q. What, in your opinion, is so special about Manchester High School for Girls?
A. Where do I begin?! Manchester High has a very special, vibrant atmosphere with pupils knowing that the school can help to provide them with every opportunity they need to go on to excel in any field they choose. Knowing that they attend the school that educated the Pankhurst sisters makes the pupils ambitious; glass ceilings are there to be broken! Manchester High pupils are also happy, caring and really passionate about making a difference. It is an incredibly exciting place to work.
Q. Is working in single sex schools a coincidence or a choice? If it is a choice, what attracts you to working in single sex schools?
A. It was, initially, a coincidence but as soon as I saw for myself the benefits of single sex education while teaching at The Manchester Grammar School, it became my choice. For me, when working at single sex girls’ schools, I see the huge advantages of girls knowing that there is no perceived gender barrier to their interests and successes. For instance, there is no such thing as a boy’s subject or a girl’s subject; every subject classroom – whether it be Physics, Maths or History – is filled with girls, every leadership role is taken by a girl – and this enables girls to develop self-confidence and self-belief; qualities which are so incredibly important for happiness and success.
Q. What plans do you have for your Headship at Manchester High?
A. I will be taking over from Mrs Claire Hewitt who has been a fantastic Head Mistress, and under whom the school has enjoyed incredible success; including being named Northwest Independent Secondary School of the Year (The Sunday Times, 2019). So, my aim is to build on that success and to continue to ensure that every pupil achieves, and also feels valued and cared for as an individual – as well as confident about their ability to impact their future world. The most immediate aim, though, is to ensure that all pupils return to school in September, safely. The last few months have been so difficult for pupils, parents and staff and we want our pupils to be excited about getting back into the classroom and learning, alongside their friends.
Q. What are your interests outside of work?
A. I love travelling with my family and reading. I have also sustained my love of Philosophy over the years and continue to enjoy reading various philosophical works. I also enjoy writing! I have written a few textbooks (Philosophy, of course) and I write, regularly, for educational publications about educational issues.
Q. What advice would you give to parents choosing a school for their child?
A. I would always encourage parents to be open-minded and to go and see schools personally, if they can. In this way, parents can talk to staff and see the pupils engaged in lessons. I always think that there is a ‘gut feeling’ about whether you think a school is right for your child. It’s important that the philosophy of a school really coheres with your own thoughts and feelings about education. Your child achieving their academic potential is hugely important. However, a truly holistic education should offer far more than academic excellence. Education should also offer the opportunity to develop character; the resilience and ‘grit’ needed to succeed well beyond the school gates. In my view, every child needs this kind of rounded education to be academically successful and – most importantly – happy. I have always found that a child’s happiness and academic success are inextricably linked; you can’t have one without the other!
Q. Schools have been the centre of debate since the beginning of the pandemic – what advice and reassurance can you offer to parents of MHSG pupils?
A. I would reassure them that – as they would expect – everyone is working very hard to ensure that the school is safe for their daughters to return to in September, and I would advise parents to follow the advice that will be provided for them about the measures being taken to reduce any risk. I would also reassure them that during the lockdown period, every pupil’s timetable continued – albeit remotely – and the prioritising of teaching and learning, as well as every child’s individual happiness – will continue to be our priority as we return in September. We are fortunate in that MHSG pupils did not fall behind, academically, during the lockdown period, so we are in a fantastic position to start the new academic year.
