OGA 2026
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Headmistress’s review 02 / The OGA 04 / Breaking Barriers and Pushing Boundaries: Transforming the Future of Science 06 / From Notting Hill to The Traitors 10 / Alumnae News 14 / Celebrating 150 years of NHEHS 16 / From Classroom to Curtain Call 18 / OGA Alumnae Bursary Appeal 2026 22 / From the archives... 26 / In memoriam we fondly remember 30 / Leaving a lasting gift... 32
BRITTEN’S CEREMONY OF CAROLS, ST MARY MAGDALEN'S CHURCH, OXFORD
Date: Thursday, 5th February Time: 1pm
Join the NHEHS Chamber Choir for a performance of Britten’s enchanting Ceremony of Carols in the fiftieth anniversary year of his death. Accompanied by harp, this collection of winter songs is among the most exquisite works ever written for upper voices. The programme will also feature music by Rutter, Boulanger and Christopher Robinson, with accompaniment from NHEHS staff musicians and professional organist Joshua Ryan.
ST BARNABAS SPRING CONCERT
Date: Thursday, 12th March Time: 7pm
Join the NHEHS Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, along with our Choirs, for our Spring Concert. The evening will feature solo performances by our Year 13 musicians, as they perform concerto movements accompanied by the school orchestras.
ART GALLERY SUMMER SHOW
Date: Summer 2026 (TBC) Time: 5pm – 7pm
All alumnae are invited to our summer Art Exhibition at NHEHS. The exhibition will showcase the best of our students’ GCSE and A level artwork.
Date: Tuesday, 23rd June Time: 6pm – 8.30pm
Alumnae who left NHEHS between 2019 and 2025 are invited back to school on Tuesday, 23rd June for a summer evening of drinks, canapes, catching up with old school friends and reminiscing. There will be guest appearances from some familiar teachers and it will also be a great opportunity to meet the Head, Mrs Alison Saunders, who will be joining us.
GIVING DAY
Date: Tuesday, 30th June –Wednesday, 1st July Venue: TBC
ST BARNABAS PRE-TOUR CHOIR CONCERT
Date: Friday, 3rd July Time: 6.30pm
Enjoy performances by the NHEHS choirs featuring works by Mendelssohn, Howells, and Ireland, presented ahead of their upcoming music tour to Venice.
OGA REUNION TEA PARTY
Date: Saturday, 19th September Time: 7pm – 8.30pm
All alumnae are welcome to attend. Please get in touch if you would like to arrange a table for your specific year group for what promises to be, as always, a really special afternoon.
ST BARNABAS CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE
Date: Monday, 14th December Time: 7pm – 8.30pm
All alumnae are invited to join us at the annual Christmas Carol Service.
I would like to start, as always, by thanking the alumnae who feature in this year’s magazine and for making themselves available to be interviewed, even across time zones! It was so enjoyable to hear your memories from your time at NHEHS as well as finding out where life has taken you since leaving school.
We’ve had a wonderful year at NHEHS which culminated with great news. In October, we were delighted to receive the Alumnae Champion Award from School House Magazine. This award celebrates the incredible strength of our alumnae network, showing how lifelong friendships can be forged between pupils and their school, with our alumnae community continuing to inspire, support and shape the future of NHEHS. Your generosity, energy and continued engagement make our community vibrant and ever-evolving and we are enormously proud of all you have achieved.
Thank you to those inspirational alumnae speakers who have come in to talk to the Sixth Form this year as part of our Careers Spotlight series as well as those who have come in to talk to our Junior School girls. These include: Juliette Ivie (NHEHS 2009), Alice ter Haar (NHEHS 2006), Vanita Parti MBE (NHEHS 1987), Nicky Sargent (NHEHS 1981), Charlotte Berman (NHEHS 2009), Ewa Jozefkowicz (NHEHS 2005) and Eva Keen (NHEHS 2018) . A huge thank you also to Louise Preskett-Mobbs (NHEHS 1998), Sarah Brown (NHEHS 1994) and Ella Merriman (NHEHS 2013) who joined the panel at our Women in Entrepreneurship event, as well as Garbriella Giles (NHEHS 2003) and Kathryn Flett (NHEHS 1981) who formed part of the judging panel at the Grand Final of the GDST Chrystall Carter public speaking competition which was hosted at NHEHS.
Finally, I would like to thank Helen Critcher, our part-time archivist (and former NHEHS Maths teacher of 30 years!), for creating a fascinating article drawn from the memories of two remarkable NHEHS alumnae who have remained close friends since they first met on their very first day in the Junior School nearly 70 years ago. I’m sure it will bring back lots of memories.
As you read through this magazine, I hope you will enjoy celebrating the diverse paths our alumnae have taken and feel as inspired by their stories as I have been in bringing them together. Please continue to send me your news, old photos or artefacts and memories as well as new projects and adventures.
Kira Gilbert (NHEHS 1999)
Alumnae Relations Manager
MRS ALLISON SAUNDERS, HEAD
It is a great pleasure to be writing to you for the first time as Head of NHEHS. It is a real honour to join a community whose sense of purpose, loyalty, and shared history is so clearly felt the moment one walks through the gates.
Having spent my career in girls’ education, most recently at St Catherine’s, Twickenham, and previously at St Helen’s, Haberdashers’ Girls and Queen Anne’s, I have long admired this school’s reputation for intellectual ambition and achievement. My own subject specialism is Philosophical Theology and after graduating from Clare College Cambridge, where I was also a Choral Scholar, I have spent many years teaching Religious Studies, Philosophy and Ethics and helping pupils grapple with the big questions and develop the skills to analyse and evaluate complex, abstract ideas. I continue to feel that the ability to think critically, rationally and to challenge false conclusions is essential to depth of understanding in all subjects and I am committed to further embedding philosophical and ethical thinking in our culture here at NHEHS.
My vision for our confident evolution is for this school to be a place that empowers girls to become insightful, innovative, and courageous women. I am particularly interested in how we can further cultivate an inspiring academic culture that encourages academic risk-taking and analytical rigour in all subject areas. By nurturing voice and expression, we empower our pupils to speak with clarity and purpose, skills that are essential for ethical leadership and taking initiative in a complex world.
Importantly, this work will build on our existing inclusive and collaborative community, continuing our commitment to diverse perspectives and to developing the resilience, integrity, and open-mindedness that allow all our girls to succeed.
This magazine beautifully illustrates the breadth of that ambition in action. Whether in the scientific leadership of Polly Arnold OBE, the creative expression of opera singer Philippa Boyle, or the strategic wit and communication of Charlotte Berman, our alumnae embody the very qualities of independent thought and creativity that I hope to champion across the whole curriculum.
A real highlight of my first few months has been the opportunity to meet many of you in person. Attending the Old Girls’ Tea Party was a fantastic introduction to the school’s enduring spirit, and the Young Alumnae Drinks provided a wonderful glimpse into the energy of our more recent leavers. I have loved listening to your stories and hearing how an NHEHS education shaped the resilience and curiosity that have defined your paths. These connections to the past are anchored by our unique school traditions; we finished the Autumn Term with the Boar’s Head Ceremony which, as you will know, is a tradition over 110 years old and unique among girls’ schools. Watching the Head Girl carry the boar’s head as Year 13 processed singing the Carol was an important moment of connection, linking our current pupils with the generations of alumnae who came before them.
Your stories offer our current pupils an inspiring portrait of what is possible. As you read this edition, I hope you feel a renewed sense of pride in the community that helped shape who you are - a pride that is also reflected in your wonderful generosity towards the school. I am enormously grateful that you have fully funded a transformational bursary for our 150th Anniversary; being the first GDST Old Girls’ Association to achieve this is a remarkable feat. As we look forward to selecting a deserving recipient for this award, we begin the next chapter in this school’s extraordinary story, honouring its past and embracing its future with confidence.
CONNIE GORING-MORRIS (NHEHS 2012)
To our Year 13 Leavers, our most recent alumnae, I give a special welcome to this new and exciting time in your lives. Whether you are moving onto further education, work or travelling, I wish you every success.
The power of friendship is on my mind as I write this. I am lucky enough to have an amazingly strong group of women by my side, who I met during my time at NHEHS, and I cannot imagine my life without them. The bonds that we make at school are often life-long and whether you’re 18 or 88, your friends are with you every step of the way.
This year’s wonderful magazine is filled with inspirational articles from many fabulous alumnae. Massive thanks to those who contributed in any way and an especially huge thank you to our amazing Alumnae Relations Manager, Kira Gilbert, for putting together another fabulous edition of the magazine.
Patricia Cuthbert, née Booker (1950)
Pauline Evans, née Hayward (1952)
Ruth Edwards (1957)
A huge thank you to all NHEHS alumnae who were such an inspirational part of School and Alumnae events in 2025.
The following have provided careers advice, taken part in alumnae events and helped in many other ways:
Juliette Ivie (2009)
We had some huge successes in 2025, culminating in the creation of a brand new Bursary, thanks to generous donations from alumnae, former parents and former staff. This is such a brilliant achievement and wonderful to see the community come together to give a life-changing education to a girl who may not have had access to it otherwise. It was so wonderful to see so many NHEHS alumnae at our annual OGA Tea Party in September and so inspiring to see the strong bonds and friendships, the laughter and the stories shared over plenty of scones and chocolate eclairs! Our next Tea Party will be held on Saturday, 19th September 2026 (a date for your diary!) and we hope to see as many of you there as possible.
We would love to have an even greater representation of different school years within the OGA committee. If you’ve ever thought about joining us, now’s the time! We hold two AGM meetings every year, both in-person and on Zoom, and it’s a great way to be involved with the school that shaped us and gave us such fantastic opportunities.
I hope to meet you at one of our fantastic upcoming alumnae events and I wish you all the best for 2026.
Alice ter Haar (2006
Gabriella Giles (2003)
Kathryn Flett (1981)
Nicky Sargent (1981)
Louisa Preskett-Mobbs (1998)
Sarah Brown (1994)
Ella Merriman (2013)
Vanita Parti (1987)
Nicky Sargent (1981)
Chrissie Kounoupa (1999)
Danielle Allen, née Poulain (1994)
Carrie Hartnell-Grundy (1997)
Josie Day (1986)
Imogen Day (2023)
Lara Richardson, née Saour (1996)
Zosia Thackray, née Kulesza (1994)
Kate Hughes (1996)
Clare Hine (1999)
Stefanie Poulain (1964)
We would also like to give special thanks to our regular donors and those who have donated to our OGA Alumnae 150th Anniversary Appeal since January 2025: Alumnae
Ruby Gordon-Wilson (1946)
Madeleine Heggs, née Calderan (1948)
Jamila Gavin, née Singh (1957)
Margaret Leyland (1957)
Linden Mair, née Platts (1959)
Jennifer King, née Drain (1960)
Angela Fawcett, née Craike (1962)
Cherry Beadsworth, née Porter (1965)
Frances Davison-Oubridge, née Stockman (1965)
Anne Irvine (1965)
Priscilla Mann, née HennikerHeaton (1967)
Caroline Shaw (1968)
Vanessa Hammond (1970)
Megan Davies (1972)
Clare Johnson, née Walkden (1973)
Dawn Slaughter (1973)
Karen Taube (1973)
Ann Easton (1975)
Pein-Pein Huang (1975)
Alison Henshaw, née Harper Smith (1976)
Glynis Hillier (1976)
Susan McCraith (1981)
Nicky Sargent (1981)
Melissa Sheard (1985)
Justine Clark, née Rodway (1986)
Josie Day (1986)
Bryony Cove (1989)
Marie-Lise Christensen, née Quaradeghini (1994)
Suet Ping Liu (1994)
Natasha Mulvihill (1995)
Catherine Barber (1996)
Kira Gilbert, née Baum (1999)
Hiral Jhala (2013)
Miranda Simmons (2020)
Former parents
Satbir and Dalwinder Dhillon
Janet Dowie
Satish and Premila Jhala
Gareth Jones and Fiona Howe
Alexander and Lucinda MacPherson
Peter and Diana McKie
Thomas Kiedrowski and Maria Ouli
Leslie Porter
Christian and Rowena Schroeder
Paul Thompson and Jane Walker
Former Staff
Mrs Sarah Burke
Mrs Susan Whitfield
We would also like to give sincere thanks to those who donated to our ‘Class of 2025’ appeal:
Faisal Abdirahman and Sagal Farah
Adrian Asher and Amy Harms
Michael and Hannah Cadwallader
Simon and Helen Clarke
Mark and Sherry Clemens
Stephen Cooper and Victoria Smith
Gordon and Amelia Dunlop
Simon Dannatt and Marie-Therese Reid
Stephen and Julie Hamilton
William Killick and Innogen
Killick-Steele
Visuvanathan and Suramya Krishnakumaran
Neil Standring and Lisa Mildon
Douglas and Grace Moody-Stuart
Valeriu and Viktoria Razlog
David and Kristin Roth-Ey
Tushar Salukhe and Gayathri Perera
Radu and Madalina Suceveanu
Jim and Michelle Taylor
Conrad and Louise Troy
Polly Arnold OBE (NHEHS 1988) is at the cutting edge of chemistry, unlocking the secrets of the f-block elements, the mysterious metals powering everything from hybrid cars to wind turbines, that underpin modern technology. Her research pushes boundaries, tackling complex problems from nuclear waste to sustainable materials, while inspiring the next generation of women and under-esteemed minorities in STEM.
One of my favourite memories from school isn’t from the classroom at all, but from the playground. My sister, Clover, is six years younger than me. When she started in the Junior School, I was already in the Senior School and our break times occasionally overlapped. Sometimes, I would run across the tennis courts to see her and I’d stand at the edge of her playground until one of her friends would spot me and shout, “Polly’s here!” and Clover would come dashing over. All my friends thought she was so sweet and it made me really proud.
When I think back to my time at school, I remember being surrounded by brilliant, formidable women. At the time, I didn’t recognise them as feminists, but that’s exactly what they were; strong, inspiring teachers who shaped how I saw the world. My Latin and Greek teachers were unforgettable: Mrs Sergeant, Mrs Ashby and Mrs Anstey, who used to fling open the classroom windows, declare we needed “fresh air,” and threaten to take us outside for “Greek-style” lessons in her garden. She never actually did but she kept us entertained with the idea.
I also loved my science teachers, especially my Physics teacher, Miss Jolowicz, who was both incredibly challenging and encouraging, and Sue Thackray, my Chemistry teacher. When I was about thirteen, she got us involved with the British Association of Young Scientists and gave up her spare time to take us on trips. She probably didn’t realise how much she inspired me but, years later, I found her on Twitter and thanked her publicly on National Teachers’ Day. It was also Sue who comforted me when I once spilled acid on myself during an experiment. It wasn’t serious, just a small burn, but it taught me a healthy respect for the lab!
After leaving school, I studied Chemistry at Oxford University. During my undergraduate degree, there was a unique opportunity during my year-long research project, already a rare chance, to make extra compounds for a journal publication that my supervisor was writing. I jumped at the chance, using evenings and weekends to crystallise and analyse these new molecules. That’s when I also discovered the world of research- the coffee machine conversations among PhD students, chatting about other science projects, and I was completely hooked.
I went on to do my PhD at Sussex University, where I started making weird and wonderful molecules and I’ve never really stopped! My work now focuses on the f-block of the periodic table, the heavy metals at the bottom, whose complex, flower-shaped orbitals give them extraordinary optical and magnetic properties. These elements are everywhere: there are several in your phone, a kilo in a hybrid car and about a ton in a single wind turbine.
They’re vital to modern technology but we still don’t understand them properly. We should be recovering and recycling them rather than digging more out of the ground, and we make a huge mess when we process them. It’s terrible for the environment. If we understood them better, we could recycle them from our mobile phones and magnets and we could design new energy technology materials which use less of each to deliver the needed electronic properties.
Much of my research explores how these elements behave, including the most infamous f-element –uranium. Understanding their chemistry could help us handle nuclear waste more safely and recycle rare earths more effectively. The work is intricate and sometimes risky as some of the reagents we use can ignite spontaneously if exposed to air.
These days, I lead my own research group while teaching, raising grants and collaborating with teams at the National Laboratory in California. I never imagined I’d leave Edinburgh, but life has a way of surprising you. The scientific world evolves constantly, especially now with AI and machine learning revolutionising how we collect and process data. In fact, we’ve just completed a study using data science to model a reduction of nitrogen gas, a reaction once considered impossible for these metals. The algorithm even predicted a reaction outcome for the uranium analogue that we hadn’t yet tried, and it worked! It’s thrilling to see machine intelligence expanding technologies.
There’s still much to be done to improve diversity in science. Chemistry, and STEM fields more broadly, remain heavily male-dominated. I’m lucky to work in an international, open-minded environment, but systemic issues persist. Women and people from under-esteemed groups still face subtle but cumulative disadvantages; getting published, promoted or simply being seen. The “leaky pipeline” is real. We lose brilliant minds at every stage, from secondary school through to postdoctoral research, often because society still expects women to shoulder the heavier share of family and caregiving responsibilities.
If I was asked my advice, I’d say it’s vital to keep all your doors open. Don’t over-plan your career; just follow what excites you and challenges you intellectually. Keep learning and keep growing. Someone once described me as the ‘free solo’ of chemistry, scaling the cliff face without a rope. I took it as a compliment and was very flattered, even though others might not have been!
If I had to choose my proudest moment, it would be being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. It’s recognition from your peers that you’ve contributed something original to science and, in my case, that I’ve been a bit of a creative weirdo along the way! It was very flattering to receive the OBE, because hardly any scientists get it, but the FRS felt truly special.
In the end, our science is just a tiny piece in the jigsaw. We’re not going to solve the whole problem of nuclear waste and we’re not going to make the world’s most amazing new magnet. We’re just trying to understand more about how Mother Nature works so we can do a little less damage to the planet and make the scientific endeavour a bit more welcoming for everyone.
When Charlotte Berman (NHEHS 2009) first joined Notting Hill & Ealing High School, she couldn’t have imagined that one day she’d be walking into a Scottish castle, blindfolded, to play one of Britain’s most gripping reality TV games. From Christmas carols and PGL trips to national television, Charlotte’s story highlights how humour and courage (and a bit of NHEHS spirit!) can open unexpected doors.
My favorite memories from school are definitely the Christmas celebrations, singing the Boar’s Head Carol and The Twelve Days of Christmas. I also loved the gym, dance displays and playing benchball.
Another great memory is showing prospective pupils around the school on open days. In Sixth Form, I was usually stationed in the chemistry lab, demonstrating how to turn malachite into copper - or maybe the other way around!
And the trips! The Year 6 residential to New Barn in Dorset was amazing; doing orienteering and keeping a diary every night. Then there were the PGL trips in Years 7 and 8 with Mr. Quarmby. My friends Emily, Lara, Georgie and I even went again in Years 9 and 10 because we loved it so much.
I studied Maths, History and Spanish for A Level as well as Economics at AS. I still don’t really understand Economics but I remember Mrs. Brass teaching us about Adam Smith and his invisible hand! My favourite teacher was Mr. Weston. He was brilliant - funny, inspiring and made me fall in love with History. The teachers in the Maths department, Mrs Critcher, Mr Quarmby, Mr Porter and Mrs McKeigue were also excellent. I have a few friends who are teachers now and I always think that I hope they have the same impact that our teachers had on us.
“It’s
that instant warmth you get when you see someone from Notting Hill.”
I’m still really close to a large group of school friends and we see each other a few times a year. It’s lovely when you bump into old classmates unexpectedly. Once, a girl from my year recognised me on the Tube from the name on my work pass and we had the nicest chat. It’s an instant warmth when you see someone from Notting Hill & Ealing.
I went to Exeter University although I didn’t love it. Looking back, a gap year might have been a good idea as I was young for my year. Also, because I loved school so much, university felt a bit daunting. Quite a few girls from my year went to Exeter, including close friends, which actually made it harder because we all felt the pressure to make new friends.
I studied Maths and Spanish although I was definitely stronger in Spanish! The best part was the year abroad in Barcelona. I lived with Lara, another NHEHS girl, and a friend from Exeter. It was incredible; travelling, exploring and becoming fluent in Spanish gave me so much confidence.
After university, I got a job with an experiential marketing agency, 2Heads, working with brands such as ITV and Disney. Later, I moved to Ogilvy, one of the big ad agencies, where I actually met my husband! After that, I joined ITV in their marketing department, working on campaigns for shows like Love Island and Britain’s Got Talent. Eventually, I moved to Red Bee Creative, where I still work now.
“I loved school so much that moving somewhere new was quite daunting.”
I loved The Traitors from the first series and was hooked! I decided to apply after Series 1 but didn’t hear back. Then, when Series 3 opened for applications, my colleagues (who are all fans too!) joked that I should do my audition video in a Welsh accent to stand out and because I’m good at accents. I took their advice and filmed the whole thing in a Welsh accent then dropped the accent at the end as a twist. I sent it off, didn’t think much of it and a few days later, I got a call from casting to say that they loved it. That was in December 2023 and filming began in May 2024. It’s a long process. There were lots of interviews, welfare checks, even a chat with my husband to make sure I’d cope.
We filmed for about three and a half weeks, completely cut off from the outside world with no phones, no contact and no idea when I’d be home. I had a headache for a good couple of weeks after getting back because I’d spoken in a Welsh accent for so long!
Overall, I’m really happy with how I came across on the show. The finale was tough but that’s part of the game. The castle was stunning, huge and gothic, and the production was massive, with over 200 people involved. It gave me a whole new appreciation for how TV works. People ask if it’s scripted and I can confirm that it’s not, but editing definitely shapes the story.
Becoming a Traitor What’s Next
Since the show aired, people have recognised me quite a lot, which is lovely. Everyone’s been so kind, especially younger fans who’ve sent really sweet messages.
Being back at work was surreal. Only my husband knew the outcome, so I had to keep it secret for months. I hosted viewing parties for friends and colleagues and it was such fun seeing their reactions each week.
“I filmed my audition video in a Welsh accent… and dropped it at the end as a twist!”
I’d never say never to doing another show! Strictly Come Dancing would be a dream. I’d love to learn to dance like that. Or maybe Race Across the World for the travel, the teamwork and the adventure!
Right now, though, I’m happy where I am, enjoying work and the opportunities The Traitors has brought. I’ve done some podcasts and interviews, which I love. I’m not a huge social media person but it’s been such a positive experience.
And honestly, I wouldn’t be speaking to you if it weren’t for the show. It’s been lovely to reconnect with NHEHS again.
“Never say never! Strictly Come
Dancing would be amazing… but right now I’m just enjoying this chapter.”
A lot has happened in my life over the last 18 months. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2024, just a few days after I found out I was pregnant with my first baby. I had to have surgery, followed by chemo and radiotherapy treatment for 7 months, which was thankfully a success.
My daughter, Rhiannon, was born last April. She is now almost one and doing really well. I also got married to my husband, James, which took quite a bit of planning with such a young baby! I'm now Jessica Arneill.
After graduating from Manchester University, having completed a Psychology degree, I've spent the majority of my career as a Management Consultant in the Big4. I recently took a career break to explore some more creative ventures and did courses in screenwriting and children's books. I'm now balancing contracting work and writing, and while I'm far from being a published author, I'm still holding out hope that one day I will finish my book.
I live in Ealing with my husband and 3 children and am still playing in the annual NHEHS Old Girls’ Netball match, which we finally won last year!
I attended from the age of 7 until 1970, when I was 18.
I am the Patron of an Inclusive Theatre Company, based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, having helped form the charity, 20 years ago.
We provide professionally led workshops in drama, dance and music for young people from aged 6 to adults and cater for everyone in the community, whatever their ability or special need. Everyone is welcome.The workshops lead to performances, which are Company led, which means everyone has a voice.
To mark our 20 year anniversary, the Company created a wonderful production, which featured remastered songs, storyline characters and Company members from our history. Someone actually played me! It was a tremendous success and thoroughly enjoyed by those taking part and our sold out audiences.
The Theatre Shed has been and continues to be a tremendous passion of mine, it is so uplifting to work alongside Company members and the results are so amazing.
I am a proud old 'Notting Hill girl'. I started in Skipton and left after my A Levels in 1991.
I still feel immensely proud to have been to the school, still have several best friends from those days as well as countless good friends. Very often the association with the school comes up and I even spent a job interview just discussing my school with my interviewer as his daughter was at NHEHS - and I got the job!
I thought I would take the opportunity to write as I would love to share some news; I have created a brand that I am incredibly proud of, and would like to spread the word.
MadeKind was created 5 years ago by myself and a friend who felt passionately about the harmful chemicals we introduce into our homes, specifically, cleaning products, and that we could offer something kinder, but equally as effective. Since then we have expanded our range to include personal products such as hand wash, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, that are made with plant based formulas but without parabens and sulphates.
All of our products are made in the UK, in refillable stylish bottles and can be refilled to save money and reduce waste www.madekind.co.uk.
I am about to start my third year at NHEHS as the Librarian and Archivist. I was at another school and saw a job alert on my phone; two months later I was back in the Portrait Room! Whilst the archive has a serious side - I enjoyed researching and giving the Move to Ealing Day speech on the Chick sisters in February last year - it is also fun as it involves working with Mrs Critcher (who, despite retirement, is now our invaluable parttime Archivist). I love finding familiar faces as I work through boxes of old photos. I thought I had given up history when I left my academic career but actually it is part of my everyday life again. That's probably a good lesson for the students, that skills are transferrable and that life isn't the straight line that you imagined. School hosted 12 Ukrainian students for a fortnight at the end of last year, as part of a UKUA programme to provide respite and inspiration for those identified as future leaders. I had two students staying at our house and we enjoyed showing them around London and Oxford (Mamma Mia, Wagamama and Starbucks were big hits). The programme organised some amazing opportunities including a visit to Parliament, when the Prime Minister dropped in to meet them. My daughter joined the Sixth Form this year and it is lovely to see her walking around school.
Soprano Philippa Boyle (NHEHS 2003) traces her path from Notting Hill & Ealing High School to the stage of the Royal Opera House. She credits school carol services, drama performances and inspiring teachers with shaping her early love of music and setting her on her career path.
I joined NHEHS in Year 3 and my fondest memories are filled with music, drama and performance; singing in the Christmas carol services at St Barnabas, watching the Year 13s sing the Boar’s Head Carol every year, and all of the many concerts and plays. One of my first ever stage appearances was in Year 4, playing The King in The King’s Bad Cold, written by our headteacher Miss Mellows. I enjoyed every second of dressing up, becoming a character and telling a story.
Music has always been a huge part of my life. In the Junior School, I remember our music teacher, Mrs Conroy, showing us videos of The Queen of the Night and the Ride of the Valkyries, and being entranced. I played the piano and the oboe, and I always sang. In the Senior School, I was awarded a music scholarship. I sang in Ealing Youth Choir and played oboe in Ealing Youth Orchestra, and went to Ealing Junior Music School and eventually the Royal College of Music Junior Department on Saturdays.
While I loved all music, I eventually realised that what I really wanted to do was to sing. I joined the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and, by the age of 16, I knew that I wanted to be a professional opera singer.
I remember telling Mr Phillips, our Head of Music, that I would love to sing Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. He said, ‘Let’s make it happen.’ And he did! I sang Dido’s Lament in assembly one day, and then we did a performance of the whole piece in a concert. That to me encapsulates what made NHEHS special. The school went above and beyond to help you realise your dreams. We were made to feel that anything was possible.
Apart from Mr Phillips, my favourite teacher at NHEHS was Mrs Sergeant, who taught me Latin and Ancient Greek. I was the only student in my year taking Latin A Level and I wanted to study Classics at university. Although Mrs Sergeant had retired, she invited me to her house once a week to teach me Ancient Greek, allowing me to take my AS in Greek alongside my A-levels. I went to
Clare College, Cambridge, where I held a choral scholarship. I had singing lessons, I sang in services in the college chapel through the year, as well as concerts, recordings and international tours to Japan, Hong Kong and America. I also had many performance opportunities within the university, including my first experiences of fully staged opera. Meanwhile, my degree allowed me to study philosophy, linguistics, ancient history, and art and archaeology, as well as Greek and Latin languages and literature. I wrote my final thesis on the music of Ancient Greek tragedy - the perfect combination of the two subjects I loved the most.
After graduating from Cambridge I moved to Rome, where I taught English and completed my opera training at Conservatorio Santa Cecilia and Accademia Nazionale Santa Cecilia. The Italian approach
to singing was transformative for me. My teacher made all her students study together and watch each other’s lessons. It was incredibly collaborative. I learned as much from watching others as I did in my own lessons and I ended up staying in Rome for four years!
On returning to the UK, I began working as a freelance opera singer, performing in Aix-enProvence, Wexford Festival, and Beijing Opera Festival, and spending three summers in the world-renowned Glyndebourne Festival Chorus. Glyndebourne is a truly magical place. Every year, young professional singers join the chorus, performing in different productions and singing a wide range of music from baroque to brand new world premieres, in many different languages. Singers are encouraged to audition for small roles and ‘covers,’ and
you learn a huge amount about stagecraft and about life as a professional opera singer.
After Glyndebourne, I spent several years gaining solo experience, taking on large roles with smaller opera companies and building a portfolio of repertoire, including roles by Wagner, Verdi, Puccini and Janacek, and eventually singing Schoenberg’s mighty monodrama Erwartung with Southbank Sinfonia last year. Contemporary music has always been very important to me and one of my favourite experiences was performing Mum in Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Greek, a modern retelling of the Oedipus myth. I have worked with Mark several times since, and last year I made my debut at the Royal Opera House as Mette in his new opera, Festen, four days before my 40th birthday. Festen won an Olivier Award for ‘Best Opera Production’ and the ‘Best World Premiere
Award’ at the International Opera Awards. It was a dream come true and I am enormously proud to have been part of it.
Alongside my performing career, I am also passionate about music education. During the pandemic I worked with Nevill Holt Opera, teaching schoolchildren across the UK to sing Italian Arie Antiche. One of my last performances before going into lockdown was standing on a stage with 600 schoolchildren singing Nessun Dorma. It was a wonderful experience that I will never forget.
2025 was a very big year for me. Among other things, I made my debut with Opera North as Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes, a role I’ve long dreamed of singing. I also performed at Wigmore Hall in a programme of English
and Welsh songs alongside other singers from the choir at St James’s Spanish Place, a Roman Catholic church in Marylebone where I sing every Sunday.
I still live in Ealing, and I am still close to many of my NHEHS classmates. I am very grateful for my experience at NHEHS. We were encouraged to feel that what we had to say was always worth listening to, and that what we wanted to achieve was possible. I feel unbelievably lucky to have had such a positive school experience which helped shape me into the person I am today.
In my report this year, there is lots to celebrate.
The biggest news is that the new OGA Alumnae Bursary has reached its target! This means a talented, yet disadvantaged, girl in our local community will be able to come to NHEHS next September on a fully funded bursary. What a wonderful, positive legacy you have given our 150th birthday celebrations! This remarkable gift is the result of a real team-effort with alumnae, former staff and former parents, donating, as they can, their time, talent and treasure. Thank you!
I would like to thank in particular our Campaign Ambassador, Angellica Bell, former Headmistress, Susan Whitfield, the OGA committee, and the many former bursary award holders who shared with us their personal journeys. I would like to pay particular tribute to our major donors, including those since sadly deceased. Our philanthropy is now leading the way across the other GDST schools as they too enter their 150 year celebrations: all of us aiming to ensure that more young women can learn without limits.
Since the exciting news, we have been focussed on building long term, sustained support. We have also promoted our regular giving options, tax efficient ways of giving, such as Pay Roll giving, and the ease of making a legacy gift. The number of girls needing financial support to come here is sadly increasing, not decreasing, and maintaining the diversity of our pupil body, of which we are all so proud, is increasingly challenging; fortunately, you can make a difference!
Now that all three of our 150th anniversary fundraising goals have been met, we have reflected on what is achievable in the future.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the abolition of the Direct Grant system, a historical educational model that bridged the gap between private and state schooling. Originally established under the Education Act 1944, these schools offered high-quality selective education to pupils from diverse economic backgrounds by receiving government funding in exchange for providing free places.
This structure ended in the mid-1970s when the government forced schools to choose between becoming fully state-funded comprehensive institutions or transitioning into entirely independent, fee-paying schools. Institutions like Notting Hill & Ealing High School chose independence to maintain their academic standards, though this shift unfortunately reduced accessibility for families with lower incomes.
To address the resulting loss of social mobility, many former Direct Grant schools like us now focus on bursary programmes to support disadvantaged students. We are committed to preserving academic excellence while attempting to restore the inclusive spirit of the original hybrid system.
While over two-thirds of the funds raised have come in since our Appeal launched in 2022, the first donation on which it relied was made in 1986.
We simply can’t wait another forty years before we can offer an additional young woman a fully funded place.
A Unified Approach To accelerate our impact, we have decided to move away from running two separate campaigns (the OGA Alumnae Appeal and the Parents’ Appeal). Going forward, we will launch a single, unified NHEHS Bursary Fund
We are asking our entire community- alumnae, former parents, former staff, as well as our current pupils, parents, and staff, to donate to this central fund. By channelling our resources in this way, and provided we maintain and grow our support across all groups, we will be able to create the next NHEHS full Senior School bursary much faster.
To achieve this, we will deepen existing relationships and curate a mix of new and returning events:
Major Donor Evening:
This year’s event will be held at the Reform Club in London, appropriately, the first of the Pall Mall clubs to allow women to become full members.
2025 Impact Report:
We will launch our annual report at the donor evening, sharing stories and figures regarding Bursaries and Partnerships. A full copy will be posted to all donors.
Ball for Bursaries:
Our wonderful Parents’ Guild will generously hold another Ball on 21st March.
We will end the school year with our second Giving Day from 30th June - 1st July.
Join Us However you are able to be involved, please do. If you would like to discuss any aspect of the appeal, please get in touch. While the challenge is significant, so is the collective strength of our community.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has."
— Margaret Mead
Please consider taking the opportunity to help change lives and maintain our uniquely grounded yet aspirational school culture here at NHEHS. Every gift, of whatever size, is much appreciated. Everyone makes a difference!
If you wish to discuss a donation, bursaries, or any aspect of our Bursary Appeal please email me, Molly Tollit, m.tollit@nhehs.gdst.net or ring me at the school on 020 8799 8400.
If you could help create the match-funding or challenge-funding, attended the school with financial assistance and would be prepared to share your fundraising story, or have ideas to make sure this event is what you want it to be, please get in touch with me soon at m.tollit@nhehs.gdst.net. Your generosity in 2024 was fantastic and so were your comments on the Donor Wall which were heartfelt and inspiring - thank you.
Please do so again! In the words of our former Headmistress, Susan Whitfield, at our inaugural Giving Day last summer, ‘We can do it; we can do it well; and we can do it together.’
Please help support more women like these on their journey….
‘Being born into an immigrant household to two disabled parents with no income meant that a private education was far out of reach. I would say without a doubt that I wouldn't be at university now if it weren't for coming to Notting Hill for school, not just in the practical sense of getting the right grades, but also because of the confidence I developed during my time here.’
Noor Ahmed, Class of 2022
MRS
MOLLY TOLLIT
Development Manager, Classics Teacher and Wimbledon High School alumna, Class of 1992.
A single, one-off gift at
https://gdst.net/donate/NHEHS or bank transfer
Account Name GDST Annual Fund
Account No. 84552549
Sort Code 60-04-04
Please use the reference of your surname and NHEHS e.g. SMITHNHEHS
A regular giving gift at
https://gdst.net/donate/NHEHS or through Payroll giving https://www.gov.uk/payroll-giving Donors who make regular gifts are particularly vital to our programme.
With Gift Aid, your gift is worth 25% more.
To discuss either ring me on 020 8799 8400 or email me on m.tollit@nhehs.gdst.net. If you wish to make a will for free, online, we have partnered with a leading-will writing service, Farewill, https://farewill.com/nhehs
If you wish to discuss a donation, bursaries, or any aspect of our Bursary Appeal please email me, Molly Tollit, m.tollit@nhehs.gdst.net or ring me at the school on 020 8799 8400.
From the archives...
One of the main events in the school calendar, which connects us with the past, is our annual Old Girls’ Association tea party every September. At our most recent tea party, we welcomed back a large group from the Class of 1965, and it was remarkable to see such a strong friendship group who had left school sixty years ago.
We can see Jan in the centre of the front row of this picture of the hockey team. She was too modest to tell us that she had been the captain!
Two alumnae from the Class of 1965, Jan Scott (née Bright) and Sue Race recently came back to NHEHS for a visit and they shared their memories with us.
In September 1958, Jan joined 3 Upper (now called Year 7) at NHEHS and a teacher sat her next to Sue in the form room on the very first day. Jan remembers…
‘On our first day we went inside, down the stairs on the left-hand side, where Prefects checked we had the right shoes on. I found a peg for my blazer and PE bag and put my outdoor shoes in the rack underneath a bench. Going upstairs, the Prefects checked we were wearing our indoor shoes. I also wore a leather strap purse for my bus pass and a few coins. We were led upstairs to our classroom, where I luckily met Sue! Our desks were double lift tops, with inkwells. My lunch tickets – which were like raffle-tickets - had to each have my name and form on, for handing over at lunchtime. When in classrooms, we always stood when teachers came into the room. There were tin huts where we had sewing and some other lessons.
Posture Badges were introduced when we were in 4 Lower (now Year 8), but they could be taken away if good posture was not maintained. Sports Colours were awarded at the end of the school year, Gym Colours, full or half Colours for Netball, Hockey and Tennis. We wore those badges with pride on our uniforms.
Assemblies were in the School Hall with the lower classes sitting on the floor with a central aisle for teachers, prefects and finally The Headmistress [Miss Merrifield (for one year only) then Miss Hendry] walked down to go onto stage.
All lessons were 40 minutes, although we had double lessons for Science and Art. School ended at 4.10pm. On very foggy days we were sent home early, but I needed a note stamped by Miss Hendry that let me use the buses earlier. There were Acting, Poetry Reading and Debating Competitions. I recall many hours of practice for the Annual Prize Giving, which was held in Ealing Town Hall, I think. One year we all learnt the French National Anthem in honour of the (French) guest.
We played outside after lunch until lessons began and often Sports Clubs would have sessions in these break times.’
In the 6th Form I worked in the Physics Lab for Mrs Dabkowski. I’d set out the equipment for the class experiments for the next lessons, spending hours coiling wire around a pencil after it had been used, cleaning mercury and picking up dropped mercury (mercury is poisonous so students are no longer allowed to touch it!).’
In our archives, we have some hand-written records of sports teams, fixtures and results which date back to the 1920s in books like these.
Sue remembers…
‘We played hockey in the park at the bottom of Kent Gardens, carrying goals posts etc. Whereas netball and tennis was on the courts behind school. We had gym in the same hall, so wall bars and ropes hung there too with other equipment stored away. Sometimes there were Gym and Country Dancing displays in the playground during a Summer Fete. Swimming lessons took place in the old Ealing Baths, timed for the first two lessons of the day and then we walked back to school. We loved hockey, netball and tennis and playing in the teams. We had many Inter - Trust School matches. Each school had their tasselled scarves, and it was the custom to swap a tassel with the opposition – so scarves ended up multi-coloured. After the matches we had a tea. Miss Chapman, who was Head of PE, ensured we were always perfect hostesses and, as the other team left, we’d form two lines for them to walk through and applaud them as they returned onto their coach. We also went to Trust Sports Cup events which many schools attended.’
In the 1960s (and also a lot more recently than that) pupils could only wear their PE kit for PE lessons but wearing your uniform over your PE kit cannot have been very comfortable. School rules were much stricter than they are today.
Being sent out of class for misbehaving meant that a pupil had to sit on an elephant stool which was outside the Head’s secretary’s office. If the secretary found you there, she would let the Head know, or if the latter came out and found you there you would be in big trouble. You were lucky if the bell went for the end of lesson before you were discovered, as then you could remove yourself to your next lesson. Sadly, we don’t have any pictures of this fabled elephant stool, and it came to a mysterious end, suspected of being stolen.
Food has always been a very important part of NHEHS although we doubt that some of the food served in the 1960s would be very popular today.
Jan and Sue remember…
Jan remembered that the rules on wearing school uniform were very strict, even when going home.
‘No eating outside school in public, whilst wearing uniform. We wore Pinafore dresses for a couple of years before ‘graduating’ to skirts and blouses. We had velour hats in winter and straw Panama hats in summer, both with the school badge centrally. In the V1th form one girl came in on the back of a motorbike and even she had to have a school badge on her helmet!’
There were lots of rules about silence… And rules when out of school…
‘At break times we could buy 1p iced buns, doughnuts or Chelsea buns – all delicious. These were served downstairs by the kitchen and the dining tables were also down there. Lunch time had tables of 8 with a Prefect at the end who checked that we ate all our food. The Dining Room was underground and very dark. We queued at a hatch to be served and had no choice in what we ate, not even on portion size. Jan hated it when heart was on the menu so she used to try to either hide it scattered around, or under potato skin, or put it into her pocket! Sue liked eating heart! Sometimes there were ‘seconds’ and many of us loved the cooks’ “Bake-up” which was leftover potato crisped up in the oven. We had puddings too -semolina, tapioca, jam roly-poly etc.’
These pictures show what some of the uniform looked like in the 1950s/1960s. The white blouses had red crosses embroidered on their collars (usually a job that was done by pupils’ mothers) and it is this aspect of the uniform that inspired the new school logo, introduced in 2019.
It was very touching that, 60 years after leaving NHEHS, these remarkable women talked about their school days as if they happened last week. Sue concluded her memories with this…
‘Overall I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to receive such an all round education which opened up so many opportunities for the future and which has enabled me to have friends for life. Our reunions started in 2005, where we celebrated 40 years since leaving and we have continued every five years, with a bit of a bigger gap when Covid hit, until this year, when we celebrated 60 years since leaving! Obviously times, methods and society have changed over these years, but I will always remember NHEHS as the place where my skills were encouraged and where lifelong friendships were formed.’
Cathy Chase loved being a teacher. She taught Maths to all year groups of the senior school from 1989-2002. She delighted in the genius of the students taking Maths and Further Maths at A-Level and marvelled at their ability. But her real skill - and joy - was teaching pupils in the lower divisions who found maths a struggle. She was able to explain concepts in three or four different ways, with patience, kindness and a smile so that eventually even trigonometry was accessible to all. Somehow she was able to take the fear out of numbers and symbols. I am often approached by former students of hers who say they wouldn’t be where they are today had it not been for her. If the graffiti on one of the desks in the old room 24 was to be believed, she was genuinely well-loved. In black marker, it read: I <3 Mrs Chase.
Hers was a quiet type of heroism. People came to Cathy for advice as she was extremely intelligent, logical, considered, but most of all, a moral compass. Every problem was met with sympathy and then practical and brilliant solutions, which she would generously spend her time to help complete. She knew the right thing to dowhich always turned out to be the fairest thing to do.
Happily married for over fifty years, her family was her priority. She never forgot a school trip or own clothes day. She baked for bake sales. Volunteered for the PTA. Stayed by her children’s bedside night after night when they were sick. I can think of at least four of her children’s friends who she took in when things got tough in their own home lives. Some for just a few nights, more than one child lived with us for many months. Everyone was welcome and met with respect, care and an open-fridge policy. Her sense of humour meant the house was one of laughter and a great deal of silliness. To spend time with Cathy was a pleasureyou always left happier than you arrived.
After retirement, she devoted herself to her grandchildren, each of whom adored her as much as she adored them. Her eldest grandchild is carrying the mantle, currently studying Mathematics at Bristol, just as she did.
After a valiant, four-year battle with cancer, Cathy died how she lived: surrounded by her family and closest friends, some laughter, some tears, enveloped by love. She had a full and happy life.
JANET RICH (née Brown) - January 2025, aged
(Former PE teacher 1961 - 1966) and Captain of the 26th Ealing Guide Company.
JOAN EVANS (née Bate) (Class of 1947) - November 2024, aged 95
From her friend, Ruby GordonWilson (nee Hetherington), formerly Parnaby, ‘She was a friend for many years, and though in the year below me, we were neighbours and remained friends until she developed dementia, and eventually moved into care. Her husband kept in contact as Joan was no longer able to. I think she would have joined NHEHS in September 1940 and I have many memories of dashing across the road in the dark mornings (we had double summer time in the war and it was still dark at 8.30am) trying to reach the trolley bus stop in time to catch the bus.She and her husband were teachers, and both became Heads of their respective schools. For a very short time I lost touch with Joan, I married and moved away, and so did she, but we renewed our friendship and Joan was Godmother to my first child.
RUBY GORDON-WILSON (formerly Parnaby née Hetherington) (Class of 1946) - 16th May 2025
Ruby (née Hetherington), formerly Parnaby, died peacefully at home. Beloved wife of the late Neale Gordon-Wilson and previously beloved of the late Mike Parnaby. Mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
CAROLINE SHAW (Class of 1968) - 1st October 2024, aged 74
From her sister, Bridget Perkin (nee Shaw), ‘‘My maiden name was Bridget Shaw and I started at NHEHS in Redlands, the Transition Class in, I suppose, 1956. Caroline would have been in 1A, I think, because she was a year older than me and due to go to the local Junior School but our parents were not happy with this and so began our time at Notting Hill & Ealing High School.
Caroline left school in 1968 and went on to Nursery Nurse training, the beginning of a life of service to others, including qualification as a State Registered Nurse leading to Paediatric Nursing. You will possibly know something of her life after school because she updated her information in the NHEHS magazine.
She also gave her time and support to her Church in Birmingham and to her many friends, but chronic anxiety blighted her private life for many years until, despite professional support, she chose the time for her life to end, finally bringing her peace.
A friend described her ability to gather friends to her as "the magnetic field of all things Caroline," while a retired priest at our Greenford Church called her a "fragile angel." She remained single throughout her life.
Caroline was a keen gardener and took pride in her allotment, when time allowed. Her ashes are interred in the Church garden.
RUTH M DAVIDSON (née Davis) (Class of 1967)
- May 2025, aged 76
CORAL ANNE HOSKINS (Class of 1957) - May 2023, aged 84
From her son, David Hoskins, ‘I know that my mother greatly enjoyed reconnecting with some of her old school friends via the alumnae network and reminiscing about her time at your school. Donations to a variety of charities were made as part of her bequest.
MRS ANGELA DOROTHY ROBOTHAM (nee Hayes) (Class of 1964) - September 1st 2025, age 79
MRS PENELOPE WEBB (nee Cato) (Class of 1971)
- October 2025, aged 72
PROFESSOR CLAIRE CALLENDER OBE (Class of 1972)
- 15th April 2025, aged 71
DR ELIZABETH SAUNDERS (Class of 1967)
- 24th May 2025, aged 76
Several NHEHS alumnae, former staff and former parents have chosen to leave a gift in their will to help to ensure more girls with the ability but not the means can benefit from NHEHS’ uniquely aspirational yet grounded education.
Leaving a single bequest or a percentage of your remaining estate to our Bursary and Assistance fund, could make such a difference to future students at NHEHS.
As an NHEHS alumna, you can write your will for free using leading will-writing service, Farewill. Get started by visiting https://farewill.com/nhehs
If you have already pledged a gift to us in your Will, thank you so much. Please consider letting us know. As a token of our appreciation, you are invited to two special events a year, in addition to the one organised by the GDST’s Minerva Circle.
We pledge that legacy gifts of over £10,000 will lead to a tree being planted in your name on the school site.
As we look to the challenges of the future for our young people and society, we hope you will consider helping us create a more equitable future by leaving a legacy gift to NHEHS.
If you have any further questions, please contact our Development Manager, Molly Tollit (development@nhehs.gdst.net) or see the GDST website for more information https://www.gdst.net/ support/gdst-legacy/
“I had a wonderful 7 years at NHEHS, better than I ever thought possible. I learnt all my subjects from incredible teachers, who taught with passion and dedication and supported me every step of the way. I was told to aim high and work hard to achieve my dreams. I was given amazing opportunities to explore my interests - play new sports, learn a musical instrument, and challenge my academic ability. Without the bursary, I wouldn’t have been able to attend Notting Hill and Ealing High School and I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”
Erin Malinowski NHEHS
Class of 2020
Studying Physics at the University of Oxford
Young trees grow better near older ones by following existing root pathways to establish themselves quickly. Over time, roots graft together into an interdependent community where older trees share resources to help the entire forest thrive.
Thank you to our wonderful community of alumnae, former staff and former parents who stay connected to us, and to each other, and who, through their generosity, invest in the NHEHS of today and tomorrow.
While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy throughout this publication, we hope you will please forgive any minor errors and please inform us of any major ones! February 2026