Kate Bailey

What is your background?

On leaving Edinburgh University after four happy years studying for an English and History MA, I moved to London and gained my PGCE from the Institute of Education, University of London. I worked at Garden House Boys and Broomwood Hall in the early days. I have been lucky to work across the 3-13 age range in co-ed and single sex independent schools. I worked as Head of the Junior School at Westminster Under and as Deputy Head at Wetherby Prep at Bryanston Square. I was then asked to be the Founding Head of WetherbyPembridge in New York and moved to Manhattan for six years. I moved back to take up headship at Godstowe in July 2022.

What excites you most about your role?

Godstowe is an exciting place to work. The girls are fresh and ever enthusiastic, and I love being immersed in the day and boarding aspects of school life. We have around 430 girls from 3-13 and we are a diverse community where the students just want to learn and engage. They are given so much opportunity to explore and grow. My team are incredible, and I count myself lucky to work alongside talented educators. Waving a group of Years 6-8 girls off to Canada for their annual ski trip was the icing on the cake for me recently!

What is your educational philosophy?

Education is precious and for life and schools should inspire and instil a deep love of learning. It is our young people’s time to learn integrity, meet the people and friends who will shape and change their outlook forever and embrace kindness and compassion for the road ahead. At Godstowe, we focus on character, leadership skills and self- awareness. Above all, we want them to be happy, to communicate well and collaborate, having a lot of fun in the process.

Can you tell us about one pivotal moment in your career?

Moving to New York in 2016 as Founding Head of Wetherby-Pembridge was the moment everything changed for me. I had been lucky, as my previous experience in London had equipped me with a fundamental love for our curriculum and well-rounded offering. Nothing prepared me, though, for the sheer graft of the school set-up, in a new city and country. I gained a good dose of resilience and tenacity but certainly fell in love with what we created. The people I met made the experience a treasured one. The school and project attracted the very best people, children, and families, and that is what made it so special.

What is Godstowe’s approach and what sets it apart?

Academic success is balanced with character education, wellbeing, and enrichment. We take time to work with every individual girl in our care, and they leave us ready to embrace life and reach the goals that resonate with their own path. There is a sense of adventure here. I like that...

What makes a great student?

For me, it is a sense of curiosity, fun and humility. Working together, we can achieve great things with respect, good manners, kindness, and honesty.

What makes a great school?

Great schools are about the people that work in them. It is hard to find the same sense of community, friendship and camaraderie in other environments. The greatest schools I’ve worked in value talent and potential, look for individual strengths and encourage development and personal growth – and that is as much for the adults as for the children in our care.