The Chair of Governors of Redmaids’ High School, Mr Andrew Hillman, has announced the appointment of a new Headteacher. From September 2020 Paul Dwyer will be taking the reins from Isabel Tobias who has led Redmaids’ High School to huge successes in her 19-year tenure as Headmistress.
Mr Dwyer, who will be leaving his current post as Deputy Head at the prestigious girls’ school, North London Collegiate, completed both his undergraduate degree in History and his PGCE at Oxford.
He has strong experience in girls’ education, having previously been the Director of Sixth Form at Putney High School, another highly regarded girls’ senior school.
As well as his expertise in teaching, Mr Dwyer is also known for encouraging teachers across the globe to challenge themselves. He regularly speaks at national and international conferences on education, hosts a podcast designed to help teachers reflect on their practice and was President and a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching.
While his CV boasts an impressive list of experience and qualifications, it was this combined with Mr Dwyer’s other attributes that made him truly stand out as the right candidate to lead the school.
Groups of students had a chance to talk to the candidates during the process. The nine girls who met Mr Dwyer, a married father with a two-year-old daughter, recalled that he was highly approachable and personable. They said he recognised the high importance we place on tradition, and shared the students’ desire for more sustainable practices within school to address climate change.
Tuqa from Year 10 said that he acknowledged the importance of supporting lower year groups on their journey towards Sixth Form and Phoebe from Year 13 recalled his comments around celebrating the school’s academic success even further.
“I’m honoured to have been selected as the next Head of Redmaids’ High School,” says Mr Dwyer.
“It is a vibrant and modern school, steeped in history with an excellent academic record and I’m looking forward to joining the RHS community.
“The founding aims of the School, with its provision of bursaries and scholarships to ambitious and able students, resonate strongly with me. I was the first of my family to attend university and did so thanks to the Sutton Trust –an organisation that identifies potential in children from non-traditional backgrounds.
“I know first-hand the benefit that a strong and supportive educational environment can have and can see that Redmaids’ High has this same life-changing impact on young women in Bristol.
Commenting on the appointment, Andrew Hillman said,
“When Isabel Tobias announced her plans to retire, we all knew that it would take someone very special to fill her shoes. We have found that person in Paul Dwyer – he is dynamic, intelligent and thoughtful – all qualities that mean he is the right choice to lead RHS into this next exciting chapter.”