Mrs Sue Baillie appointed as Woldingham’s new Head

Woldingham School is delighted to announce Mrs Sue Baillie is to become the school’s new Head from September 2024.

Sue Baillie is currently Head at Queen Margaret’s School for Girls, York. Queen Margaret’s is a day and boarding school, which, under Mrs Baillie’s leadership, won Small Independent School of the Year in 2023.

Woldingham is a leading UK day and boarding school for girls aged 11-18 where students learn to ‘write your own story’ through excellent teaching, boundless opportunities and first-rate pastoral care.

Sue Baillie has been Head at Queen Margaret’s, York since 2019. Before moving to Queen Margaret’s, she was Pastoral Director at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle. Sue attended school in Essex and studied history at the University of Leicester before undertaking teacher training at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

Catharine Berwick, Woldingham Chair of Governors, said: “It gives me great pleasure to introduce Sue Baillie as Woldingham’s next Head. She has an outstanding track record and through her experience in successfully leading a day and boarding school for girls, Sue will provide Woldingham with excellent leadership and direction. I am very pleased that her daughter, Louise, will become a student at Woldingham starting in Year 9 from September too. We have an exciting year ahead as we’re currently building a new Sixth Form Centre and Library, which will open at the same time that Sue joins Woldingham.  Woldingham recently celebrated its 180^th anniversary and as we look to our next 180 years and beyond, the governing body will be working with Sue and our excellent staff team to finalise our new strategic plans to ensure many more generations of Woldingham students become confident, compassionate and courageous young women.”

Sue Baillie added, “I am thrilled to be joining Woldingham in September and look forward to meeting many members of the Woldingham community before then. Woldingham is a truly unique and special environment, where the school’s Sacred Heart values are lived out in a way which enriches every girl who attends the school. I look forward to leading Woldingham into its bright and successful future and play my part in enabling every girl to thrive and write her own story.”

A keen musician and spectator of sport, Sue spends a great deal of her time watching her daughter, Louise, play hockey. When asked what she considers her greatest achievement, she mentioned winning the local village baking competition! Sue, her husband Ian, Louise and their dogs Monty and Mabel are looking forward to joining the Woldingham community.

Julia Harrington, Woldingham’s Interim Head added; “It’s a huge honour to be Woldingham’s Head for the year and I very much look forward to working with Sue Baillie to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. The sense of community and spirit at Woldingham are unique and very special and Woldingham will remain in my heart for many years to come.”