Ten years ago, Rachel Owens arrived at St George’s College on GCSE Results Day, after overseeing results at her previous school, St George's Ascot. Today, another GCSE Results Day brings her ten academic years as Headmistress of St George’s to a close.

Over the decade that followed, Rachel has led St George’s with characteristic energy, warmth and determination, overseeing a period of significant growth and change while remaining firmly rooted in the values and ethos of the College.

Those ten years have included some landmark moments in St George’s history. As the first woman to lead St George's College, she oversaw the opening of the Activity Centre, now at the heart of so much of College life, and led the community through the celebration of St George’s 150th anniversary. She guided the School through the extraordinary disruption of the Covid pandemic and its aftermath, and has championed investment in teaching and learning, a larger teaching body and an increasingly ambitious approach to sustainability.

Throughout, academic ambition has remained central. St George's has achieved strong and consistent academic success, while continuing to place the development and happiness of the individual young person at the heart of a Georgian education. It is fitting that Rachel leaves the College as its Fifth Year students celebrate the best GCSE results in its history, and with a larger student body than the one she inherited.

Denis Nowlan, Chair of Governors, paid tribute to Rachel’s “10 years of charismatic leadership”, describing her as “a truly brilliant Headmistress” who has embodied the mission and ethos of St George’s “with vision, integrity and unflagging energy”.

In her final end of term message to the Georgian community, Rachel characteristically turned the attention away from herself. Rather than single out individual achievements, she celebrated the “collective spirit and commitment” of St George’s and thanked the staff and parents whose encouragement, expertise and support enable its young people to flourish.

Reflecting on her own departure, she wrote simply: “It has been a privilege to lead this community.”

Rachel now leaves St George’s to become Chief Executive of the Effingham Schools Trust. She does so with the enormous gratitude and affection of students, staff, parents, governors, Old Georgians and friends of the College whose lives she has touched over the past ten years.

Thank you, Rachel, for everything you have given St George’s.

Once a Georgian, always a Georgian.