New era for St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School as Ann Cassidy-Jones, its third headteacher in half a century, is confirmed
A teacher who began her career at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Bishop’s Stortford has been confirmed as its new head.
Ann Cassidy-Jones took the post temporarily earlier this year following the retirement of long-serving Peter Coldwell.
Her permanent appointment was announced this week by the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust – a family of eight Catholic schools in the Roman Catholic deanery of the Lea Valley – the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster and the Great Hadham Road primary’s governors.
Chair of governors David Lang said: “Following a comprehensive recruitment process, I am delighted to confirm that the governors and trust directors have appointed Miss Ann Cassidy-Jones to the permanent position of headteacher at St Joseph’s.
“We, together with the trust and diocese, were in full agreement that Miss Cassidy-Jones was the outstanding candidate.
“She has already demonstrated effective leadership in the interim role which she took up earlier this year and we have no doubt that with the support of her excellent team and the wider trust, St Joseph’s will continue to thrive under her direction.”
The school was first built in the 1960s and led by nun Sister Finbar before Mr Coldwell’s predecessor, David Stacey, took charge.
Rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, it was completely rebuilt between 2019 and 2021 to accommodate 400 pupils.
Miss Cassidy-Jones started her teaching career at St Joseph’s in September 2009 after qualifying earlier that year.
Andrew Celano, chief executive of the St Francis of Assisi Academy Trust, said: “The appointment of any headteacher is always significant, but especially so at St Joseph’s, which has only had two headteachers over the last 40 years.
“We are delighted that Ann will now take up formal leadership of the school, bringing continuity, experience and exceptional professionalism to the role. Underpinning our commitment to excellence in Catholic education at all stages of school life, the diocese and the trust have the utmost confidence in Ann and her team, and we look forward to her continuing success at St Joseph’s.”
Miss Cassidy-Jones will take up her permanent role at the start of the new term in January.
In a week of continuity for the trust, interim head Deirdre McHugh has also been confirmed as the permanent leader at neighbouring St Mary’s Catholic School.
