PROFILE: Retiring headmistress Alison Jones of Rye St Antony

The start of the academic year in September will see the Headington school’s community welcome a new headmistress at its helm.

But before then, staff could not let school’s the incumbent leader go without saying goodbye – and invited the Oxford Times to reflect on her decades of service.

Alison Jones retired as headmistress of the private school last month, having embraced the role for 28 years.

Miss Jones said she had wanted to be a teacher ever since she was young, and even remembers trying to take lessons with her toy dolls as a girl.

Having applied for her first headship at Rye, she said: “I just loved it as soon as I saw the place. It’s an idyllic setting.

“It is an unusual situation in that the school is 88 years old, and I’m only the fourth head – I don’t think any other school has that in common with us.

“A head shapes a school, but a school also shapes a head. I certainly feel that’s what’s happened.”

Despite having dedicated decades of her life to education, her career has only been split between two jobs – her role at Rye St Antony, and previously at St Mary’s School in Cambridge.

She studied a postgraduate course in education at Oxford University then joined St Mary’s as an English teacher, then became department head and eventually head of Year 11.

Miss Jones said: “When I came from Cambridge I was terrified of letting go something I had absolutely loved, and I feel just the same now [leaving Rye].”

The independent Catholic school, located in Pullens Lane, teaches girls aged three-18 and boys aged three-11.

Miss Jones said much had changed at the school in her time there, from the switch from girls-only to co-education to new buildings, initiatives and technology.

But she added: “The spirit of the school has stayed. I have safeguarded that spirit of respect: you have to respect the teacher, and the teacher has to respect you.

“School should be a place where you can be yourself and grow into yourself.

“Of course examinations are important but they are not simply there to serve themselves.

“They are part of growing students’ values, looking at them as a way of challenging themselves with a view of what to achieve.”

Miss Jones said one of the markers of the school’s success was how keen former pupils were to stay part of its community.

She said: “I love the fact that old girls keep in touch, now lawyers and doctors and artists and writers.

“We are particularly proud that in this school, we currently have eight teachers who are former pupils here. It is such a compliment.”

Miss Jones estimated she has written between 700 and 800 personal statements for students’ university applications, and she spoke passionately about getting to know the pupils as individuals.

Asked what the traits of a well-educated student should be, she said: “We want students to leave here with a strong skillset, know themselves and how they work, to be able to commit to something and get on with it.

“We want women who can be ‘can do’ people who are happy in themselves.”

She said the school was ‘quite unique’ in its willingness to let children be children and have fun, despite the nanny state that might dominate elsewhere.

Miss Jones, who lives on the school site, continued: “In a society in which we are terrified of taking a risk and letting children enjoy themselves, a thing to behold is our Tangerine Party.

“The children stand up on chairs singing Christmas carols and the oldest and youngest in the school cut the Christmas cake. Some schools do not even allow children to run outside.

“It’s that sense of balance, talking about being sensible and making children aware of risks.”

The Tangerine Party is one of the school’s proud annual traditions, marking the end of term before Christmas.

Miss Jones thanked staff, parents and governors for entrusting her with the role leading the school, and said she will ‘greatly miss’ the buzz of the place come September.

Joanne Croft, deputy head at Rye, said: “One thing I value most above all is the fact Miss Jones walks down the corridors, stops and says ‘well done, I hear you’ve done this…’

“It’s that personal touch: she knows every pupil by name, as individuals and their families.”

Miss Jones will be replaced in September by Sarah Ryan, who joins from her role as deputy head at Mayfield School in Sussex.

Miss Croft said: “Sarah Ryan was appointed a whole year ago and has been getting to know the school’s culture and pupils – she is ready to take it forward.

“They are really big shoes to fill but Sarah is keen and excited, she understands the school and understands why we are unique.

“This is a chance for the school to move forward, holding still to the core values.”