Experts

Expert online advice for parents from the MyDaughter panel of experts.

Isabel Tobias

Position: Headmistress

School: The Red Maids’ School

Qualifications: BA Hons – New Hall, Cambridge, PGCE – Cambridge

Experience:

I have been Headmistress at The Red Maids’ School in Bristol since 2001 before which I was Deputy Head at The Royal High School, Bath.
Having studied English at Cambridge I initially followed a career in publishing however, I come from a long line of teachers and voluntary work in the field of adult literacy reminded me of the benefits that teaching brings and I switched to do a PGCE in my late twenties.
I gained very wide and valuable experience as an English and Drama teacher in a grammar school, a secondary modern and a comprehensive school before becoming a Head of Department and moving to the Independent sector. As Deputy Head I was deeply involved in a merger between two schools and this gave me immense experience of change management and the impact on students, parents and staff.

Summary

In all my roles I have been especially interested in the pastoral welfare of students and how this impacts on their academic progress. Early on as a literacy tutor I realised that open communication and trusting relationships are the key to productive and happy learning experiences.

Case studies

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