Mrs Woodcock has been Headmistress of Sydenham High School since April 2017 and previously taught at Queen’s College for 12 years, where she was Senior Deputy Head for her last four years. Her teaching career began at Oakham School where she taught French and Russian and was a Housemistress. She has a daughter at university and a son in the Lower Sixth.

The Chairman of the Council for Francis Holland Schools Trust, Mr Patrick Sherrington, said: ‘The selection panel was unanimous in its view that Katharine was the right person to lead our school on the next phase of its journey and so we are delighted to be able to make this announcement.’

Mr Charles Fillingham, who has been Headmaster of FHS Regent’s Park since January 2016, will be leaving after seven years at the end of this academic year to become Executive Head of Solihull School.

The FHS community extends its warm congratulations to Mrs Woodcock and looks forward to welcoming her in September, as well as looking forward to welcoming Mr Fillingham back as a friend of FHS in years to come.