We are delighted to announce that Ms Heidi-Jayne Boyes has been appointed as the new Head of Royal High School Bath, GDST and will take up her post in January 2025. 

Heidi joins us from Wakefield Girls’ High School where she is in her seventh year of headship, and has successfully led the school through an exciting transformation to become one of Yorkshire’s outstanding girls’ schools. Prior to this, she spent seven years as a senior leader at Brighton Girls, a school that is also in the Girls Day School Trust (GDST). 

Having closely followed the work and achievements of the GDST during these intervening years, Heidi is excited to rejoin the GDST family and work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to further pioneer and shape the future of girls’ education.

During the interview process, we were very impressed with Heidi’s forward-looking vision and her ambitions to build on the school’s already strong national and international reputation. We were particularly taken with her commitment to a rich academic and co-curricular programme, along with her belief in the importance of visible, inspiring and creative leadership. We are certain that with her dynamism, energy and affiliation with the values, spirit and ethos of Royal High, Heidi will be the perfect person to lead our school.

Heidi said, “It is an honour to be appointed Head of Royal High School Bath. I feel privileged to be able to lead a community characterised by such vibrancy, warmth, excellence and innovation. I look forward to doing all I can to support our students to become happy, well-rounded and accomplished individuals, ensuring they feel empowered to step out into the world with confidence.”

Cheryl Giovannoni, Chief Executive of the GDST, said: “I am incredibly excited about the future for Royal High and am confident that under Heidi’s leadership the school will go from strength to strength as a beacon of world-class girls’ education.”

The school will remain under Mr Hadrian Briggs’ leadership with the support of his excellent Senior Leadership Team until January 2025, when Heidi will take up her post and work closely with him to ensure a smooth transition.