Member Article

Westfield names new head

One of the region’s leading independent girls’ schools has named its new Head.

Mrs Catherine Jawaheer will take up her position as the new Head at Westfield School for Girls in Gosforth in September, replacing Mrs Marion Farndale, who will retire at the end of this academic year.

Mrs Jawaheer is originally from Liverpool, but is no stranger to the North East, having lived in the region for more than six years while teaching at two Durham schools.

The 47-year-old arrives at Westfield, having been Head at St Mary’s in Worcester for the last four years. Previously, she has also held Deputy Head and teaching roles in the Midlands and also worked in an educational capacity in Chicago in the United States.

She said: “I’m deeply honoured and very excited at the prospect of coming back to the North East and to become Head at such a successful and well respected school.

“Mrs Farndale has done a most incredible job here in the last 24 years and the pupils’ successes during that time are a lasting legacy upon which I fully hope to build. I share the same values, that the care, encouragement and achievement of each individual at our school are the most crucial elements.

“I’m a huge advocate of creating a curriculum which offers each student the very best chance of success. Westfield operates on a scale which will enable me to know each child individually. This is something that is crucial to my beliefs and values.”

Westfield’s Chairman of Governors, Oonagh Forster, said: “We had a tremendously strong response for this position and we’re absolutely thrilled to be appointing someone of Catherine’s calibre and character.

“She brings with her a wealth of relevant experience as well as a number of fresh ideas that will make a huge contribution to our vision for the future of this school. It is an exciting time for Mrs Jawaheer to be able to build on the long, successful tenure of Mrs Fandale at Westfield.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Westfield School for Girls .