Mrs Jane Prescott, Interim Head
Mrs Prescott joins Redmaids’ High in September 2026 for one term, providing experienced leadership and oversight ahead of the arrival of the school’s permanent Head, Ms Rebecca Davies, in January 2027.
Mrs Prescott has more than 13 years’ experience as a Headteacher within the GDST, and has since worked as a consultant and Interim Headteacher for the Trust. A Geography teacher and passionate advocate for girls’ education, she is currently a Reporting Inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate and a governance reviewer for AGBIS.
Mrs Prescott is married to Jeremy and they have three adult children all of whom attended single-sex schools.
We are delighted to welcome her to our community, and look forward to the experience and expertise she will bring to the school during this period of transition.
Mrs Anthea Newton, Headteacher of Junior School
Mrs Newton begins her role as Headteacher of the Junior School in September 2026.
Having studied at King Alfred’s College, Winchester, before beginning her career in a primary school in Tower Hamlets, Mrs Newton moved to Bristol, spending 10 years as a Year 5 teacher and Head of Drama, as well as a Boarding House Assistant and Colts rugby coach at a local independent school.
Since joining Redmaids’ High in 2015, she has taught across all year groups while sharing her passion for sport and robotics through extra-curricular clubs. She joined the Senior Leadership Team in 2018 as Wellbeing and Partnerships Lead, became Acting Deputy Head in 2022 and took on the role permanently in 2023.
Outside school, she has three children, a dog and a passion for sport. She continues to play Touch rugby internationally for Ireland and recently earned her 50th cap at the European Touch Championships in Vichy.
Mr Tom Johnston, Deputy Head: Staff and Operations
Mr Johnston has been a valued member of Redmaids’ High for 18 years, during which time he has undertaken a range of senior leadership roles. These include Head of Art, Staff Induction Coordinator, PGCE and ECT Professional Tutor, and Senior Teacher Operations. He currently serves as Deputy Head (Staff and Operations), where he plays a central role in supporting staff development and ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the school.
Art remains Mr Johnston’s particular strength. Prior to joining the school, he taught Art and Sculpture at two independent boarding schools and also worked as a House parent, combining his passion for teaching with a strong commitment to pastoral care.
Before entering the teaching profession, Mr Johnston spent six years in the creative industry as a Studio Manager, where he developed valuable expertise in creative practice.
Ms Anya Peyton, Deputy Head: Academic
Before joining Redmaids’ High in 2022, Ms Peyton worked in several London schools, taking on roles centred around curriculum leadership, teaching and learning, and whole-school development.
After relocating to Bristol in 2020, she joined Hanham Woods Academy, where she held a number of senior leadership positions, including Assistant Headteacher for Teaching and Learning and later Assistant Headteacher for Behaviour and Engagement. During this period, she also undertook a Deputy Headteacher secondment, gaining experience across a broad range of whole-school leadership responsibilities.
In addition to her specialism in History, Ms Peyton also has experience as a SENCO. This knowledge and understanding helps her to further support students with additional learning needs and contribute to the development of inclusive practices across the school.
Ms Melissa Stimson, Deputy Head: Pastoral
With over 25 years in education, Ms Stimson brings a wealth of experience shaped by her work across six independent schools, including three with boarding provision. Her career has encompassed a broad range of leadership roles, from Head of History and Politics, to Head of Sixth Form, enabling her to develop a deep understanding of both academic and pastoral life within schools. Her experience in boarding environments has further strengthened her commitment to holistic education, underpinned by a strong belief in the importance of care and community in young people’s development.
As Head of Pastoral, Ms Stimson draws on this breadth of experience to foster a culture of well-being, resilience and mutual respect, ensuring that pastoral care remains at the heart of the school community.
Dr Alice England, Director of Sixth Form
Dr England has been Director of Sixth Form since 2023. In addition to this role, she contributes widely across the school as Charity Coordinator and works closely with the Sustainability Lead to develop and deliver the whole-school Climate Action Plan. She collaborates with the Horizons Coordinator and the Head of Guidance and Futures to support students in planning their next steps, in particular the Higher Education programme and academic enrichment for students in Years 10–13.
Alongside her leadership responsibilities, Dr England also enjoys teaching Biology. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Science and brings her research experience into the classroom, with a particular interest in neuroscience and how it supports teaching and learning methods.
Ms Alison Byrne, Director of Finance and Operations
Ms Byrne has worked at Redmaids’ High School since 2023, initially in the role as Chief Operating Officer before being appointed as Director of Finance and Operations in 2025.
Prior to joining the school, Ms Byrne was a Financially Qualified Tribunal Member with the Ministry of Justice. Her earlier career includes senior leadership roles in accountancy and business advisory; she was Partner at Corrigan Associates Chartered Accountants, having previously served as Practice Director. Before this, she spent 20 years as Principal and Licensed Insolvency Practitioner at Byrne Associates, specialising in corporate and personal insolvency and business rescue.
Ms Byrne’s experience as a business owner and insolvency practitioner has given her a strong, practical understanding of people, organisations and financial strategy. This depth of knowledge underpins her leadership of the financial and operational functions at Redmaids’ High, ensuring robust governance, strategic oversight and sustainable growth.
Staff
At Redmaids’ High School we are proud of the high calibre of our staff, all of whom are fully committed to the school and the students. These professionals bring great specialism and experience to the school which help to inspire the girls in a number of areas.
In addition to this, an extensive team of highly-skilled visiting music teachers, specialist sports coaches and drama teachers support our students. We also enjoy visits from lecturers, career advisers, business leaders, academics, authors, elite athletes and many others throughout the year.
The Interim Head of the Senior School can be contacted by emailing seniors@redmaidshigh.gdst.net or by writing to: Mrs Jane Prescott, Redmaids’ High School, Westbury Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, BS9 3AW.
The Headteacher of the Junior School can be contacted by emailing juniors@redmaidshigh.gdst.net or by writing to: Mrs Anthea Newton, Redmaids’ High Junior School, Grange Park Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, BS9 4DP.
Governance
The Trustees of the School are the Trustees of the GDST and you can contact their Chair, Vicky Tuck, via Lucy Colegate at the GDST office – l.colegate@wes.gdst.net.
The Trustees are supported on a local level by our own Governing Body. For more information about our governors, please click on the download below.
