St Mary’s Catholic School in Bishop’s Stortford confirms Deirdre McHugh as permanent head

The interim head of St Mary’s Catholic School in Bishop’s Stortford has been confirmed as the permanent principal.

Deirdre McHugh, who joined the Windhill secondary as assistant head 12 years ago, has been at the helm since Tom Johnson left in April.

Paul Carroll, the chair of governors, said: “The trust, governors and diocese are all in complete agreement that Deirdre is quite simply the best person to take on the substantive post.

“Her commitment to St Mary’s throughout her career at the school and her leadership this last year has been outstanding.

“She has brought stability and a positive approach to the role, with a focus on what makes the school a success.”

Last month, an Ofsted inspection rated the education St Mary’s students receive as outstanding.

The co-educational secondary, with 1,153 pupils including 160 sixth-formers, is part of the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust, a family of eight Catholic schools in the Roman Catholic deanery of the Lea Valley.

The trust said it carried out a “detailed evaluation of the specific needs of the school” before the appointment.

Miss McHugh is the first woman to lead the school since Sister Mary Paul retired from the all-girls convent in 1978, ending the appointment of nuns to the role.

Patricia March took over as interim head before Frank Morgan became head in 1979, heralding the general admission of boys to the secondary.

Miss McHugh began her teaching career in London in 2001 before spending several years teaching in New Zealand.

She has over 18 years of experience in Catholic education and joined the teaching staff at St Mary’s in 2012 as an assistant head.

During her time at the secondary, she has taken responsibility for pastoral care, safeguarding and improving standards.

Former head Andrew Celano, now chief executive officer of the St Francis Trust, said: “The role of headteacher is obviously an enormously important appointment and so I am delighted that after extensive consideration the trust, diocese and governing body have unanimously agreed that Deirdre had demonstrated that she was, without doubt, exactly the right choice for the permanent position of headteacher.

“Deirdre has a long association with the trust and especially the school, joining the team in 2012. She took on the role of headteacher on an interim basis in the spring of this year and she has led the school with skill, energy and determination, bringing about changes to its operation and making a significant impact in a very short space of time.

“Her efforts and that of the wider school community were rightly recognised in the recent successful Ofsted inspection.”

Miss McHugh will take up the permanent role at the beginning of the new term in January.