Heathfield School, London Road, Ascot, SL5 8BQ - 01344 898343 WEBSITE
Pictured Above: New 6th Form Head at Heathfield School, Ascot , Richard Willis MA
Ascot-based Heathfield School - an independent secondary boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18, rated ‘Excellent’ across all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate – is delighted to welcome Richard Willis MA as its new Head of Sixth Form. Mr Willis has 17 years’ experience working in numerous prestigious independent day and boarding schools, most recently as Head of History and Head of Year 12/13 at Sir William Perkin’s School, Chertsey.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Willis said, ‘Previously, as Head of Year, I’ve experienced the pastoral highs and lows of Sixth Form life from the student’s point of view, and as head of an academic department, from a teacher’s perspective too. I believe this has prepared me well for Heathfield and the many-faceted role of Head of Sixth Form.
‘I was attracted by the ambition of Heathfield, but also the size, which allows us as teachers the most precious gift of all - time - with which we can support our young people to become their best possible selves. I’m looking forward to joining a community where each individual is supported so they can thrive.
‘One of Heathfield’s strengths is that students can find their niche and flourish. This may be ‘through the amazing creative arts programme, the competitive sporting agenda, the wellbeing programmes or the countless leadership opportunities for students to become role models.
‘Sixth Form builds on these skills and experiences, it’s a place where each individual can take risks without fearing failure and discover where their passions lie. As young adults, Sixth Form is the natural point where students are granted greater freedoms and independence, but with that, come individual responsibilities. They are more involved in making decisions about their own learning, and our role as teachers is to aid them when they make mistakes - which they will quite rightly do, that’s part of growing up - and also give them a nudge in the right direction from time to time.
Most importantly students need to have confidence in themselves. With that, they will be ready to take on the challenges of work or university. We want to equip them with experiences and encourage them to get involved in school life as much as possible, to help them find their direction in life.
‘Sixth Form students need to feel fulfilled, safe and enthusiastic about what they do - whether that’s academic, extra-curricular or socially. The pieces fit together like a jigsaw -there’s no one aspect more important than another. If you nourish the whole person then they will flourish.’
Commenting on Mr Willis’ appointment, Sarah Rollings (née Wilson), Headmistress, said, ‘We’re delighted to welcome Richard to the Heathfield ‘family’. Our Sixth Form students are always encouraged and supported to pursue and develop their unique interests and abilities. We constantly seek to create the best holistic, educational opportunities and experiences for them all, whilst building the skills and attitudes necessary for work or university.’
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About Heathfield School
Happy confident girls succeed – that’s the simple but powerful philosophy at Heathfield School. Founded in 1899, Heathfield was in the vanguard of educational establishments advocating the theory that happiness equated with academic success and has always placed high importance on pastoral care accordingly.
In its latest ISI Inspection the school achieved ‘Excellent in all categories’. The inspectors found that: ‘the overall achievement of the pupils is excellent and represents the successful fulfilment of the School’s ambitious aims’. They also stated that ‘pupils are happy, articulate and confident’ and that ‘pupils grow into young people who make a difference to the world and live their lives boldly’.
Heathfield was shortlisted by the Times Educational Supplement (TES) in 2020 for its Boarding School of the Year Award, alongside Wellington and Rugby.