ALLISON Saunders is to be the new head of Notting Hill & Ealing High School, the independent day school for girls.

A Cambridge graduate, Mrs Saunders is currently senior deputy head at St Catherine’s girls’ school in Twickenham, a position she has held for two years.

Prior to that, she was deputy head at St Helen’s independent girls’ school in Northwood.

She has also held positions at Haberdashers’ girls’ school in Elstree, Queen Anne’s School in Caversham and worked outside the education sector with the Civil Service and in consultancy roles.

She said: “I am enormously excited to be joining the school and doing all I can to continue developing its outstanding reputation.”

She will take up her new role at the start of the summer term. Rebecca Irwin, the current senior deputy head, will be acting head for the Spring term.