Head

Head

James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS) now seeks to appoint a new Head, building on seven years of outstanding leadership by Alex Hutchinson. The next Head will inherit a high‑performing and ambitious school at an important and exciting point in its development.

Founded in 1741, JAGS is the oldest independent girls’ school in London and educates around 1,200 pupils aged 4 to 18 on a spacious 22‑acre site in leafy Dulwich. Rooted in a distinctive charitable tradition of access and opportunity, the school remains a genuine reflection of modern South London life, combining high intellectual ambition with a strong sense of community and social purpose.

Academic standards are consistently excellent, and the school is equally recognised for the breadth and quality of its co-curricular provision, including sport, music, drama and the creative arts. Pastoral care is a notable strength, and life at JAGS is characterised by warmth, energy and an inclusive culture that encourages each individual to thrive and contribute, both in and out of the classroom.

Having gone from strength to strength in recent years, JAGS is confident in both articulating its identity and ambitions, and in making bold, values-led decisions within the wider educational landscape. This sits alongside a deep and sustained commitment to widening access, supported by one of the most substantial bursary programmes in the sector.

Reporting to a supportive and engaged governing body, the Head will provide measured, purposeful leadership, protecting the school’s character while shaping its future direction. The role will call for a strategic, ambitious and imaginative approach to guiding the school’s next chapter. The successful candidate will be an exceptional educational leader with intellectual depth, strong judgement and the capacity to lead a thriving school with confidence, humanity and purpose, alongside an assured grasp of the operational and commercial considerations that underpin its success.

Further information is available at Home - James Allen's Girls' School

A candidate brief can be downloaded from Opportunities | Odgers

Closing date: 09.00 BST, Monday 1 June 2026

James Allen’s Girls’ School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.