New Headteacher confirmed at St Joseph's

Miss Ann Cassidy-Jones has been formally appointed as Headteacher at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Bishops Stortford.

She took up the interim position earlier this year following the retirement of long serving head, Peter Coldwell and was confirmed in the permanent position this week by the Trust, Governors, and Diocese.

Commenting on the appointment, 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.”

Miss Cassidy-Jones started her teaching career at St Joseph’s in September 2009 having qualified earlier that year. Her career at the school has progressed from class teacher including roles covering KS1 Leader, Deputy Headteacher and latterly Interim Headteacher.  

“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,” said Andrew Celano, CEO of the St Francis of Assisi Academy Trust.  “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 2025.

New Headteacher appointed at St Mary's

Deirdre McHugh has been confirmed in the permanent role of Headteacher at St Mary’s Catholic High School.  

Commenting on the appointment, 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 over the course of 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.”

Her appointment comes after the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust, conducted a detailed evaluation of the specific needs of the school.

Miss McHugh began her teaching career in London in 2001, before spending several years teaching in New Zealand.  She has over 18 years’ experience specifically in Catholic education, joining the teaching staff at St Mary’s in 2012 as an Assistant Headteacher, before becoming Deputy Head and latterly taking up the Interim Head role before accepting appointment to the permanent post this month.

Andrew Celano, CEO 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 all unanimously agreed that Deirdre had demonstrated that she was without doubt exactly the right choice for permanent position of Headteacher at St Mary’s Catholic High School.  

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 Spring this year and since then 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.”

Ms McHugh will take up the permanent role at the beginning of the new term in January 2025.