A new Head Teacher, Helen Donnelly, has been appointed for Romsey-based Hampshire Collegiate Prep School.
Starting in the new academic year, September 2012, Helen joins with more than 20 years’ teaching experience. Helen leaves the post of Head of Junior School at LVS Ascot in Berkshire where she taught for 10 years. Her appointment comes following stiff competition, believed to be as a result of Hampshire Collegiate School’s recent glowing independent inspection results.
Replacing the current Head, Teresa Rogers, who is taking early retirement to pursue educational and personal interests, Helen is endorsing her thorough confidence in the school by relocating her family and bringing her own daughters, Niamh, age five, and Emma, age three, into the school’s care.
Prior to her years at LVS Ascot, Helen was a Science Coordinator and Head of Year at two very different independent schools. She has also worked in three challenging inner city schools as well as being a Senior University Lecturer in Teacher Education. Her experience in teaching all areas of the curriculum in Key Stages One and Two, in addition to extra-curricular activity, is vast and Hampshire Collegiate is looking forward to her knowledge being of benefit to its pupils from nursery level through to Year Six .
Of her appointment, Helen said: “I am genuinely excited about the move; I can see how good the school is already while believing it also has so much potential. There is just ‘a something’ about Hampshire Collegiate. Despite the enormity of the family’s relocation it was a position I just had to accept and we’re all looking forward to the move. The atmosphere and buzz, the friendly and committed nature of the teaching staff and the unique characteristics of the children are infectious and I am thrilled to soon be a part of it.”
Welcoming Helen to his team, Hampshire Collegiate School Principal, Hector MacDonald said: “Helen’s approach knits with ours perfectly. She wants to get to know each child as an individual. Our focus here is very much about nurturing fully rounded children who are ready for real life, have strong academic qualifications but also have life skills which prepare them well for the future in front of them. Renowned for her broad beaming smile, Helen will certainly instill that confidence in them and we are excited about that.”