Appointment of new Headmistress - St Catherine's School

Nine, year 11 students from our sister school, Ipeka Christian College in Jakarta, Indonesia, visited us in March. Sister school experiences are an opportunity for all involved to gain a good understanding of another culture, practise language skills and create bridges. At the end of the visit, St Cath's students swapped email and facebook details with the Indonesian girls and although it was a short visit, some strong friendships were made.

News: Appointment of new Headmistress

Published: 22/09/2009

Dr Julie Townsend has been appointed as Headmistress of St Catherine's School from 1 January 2010.

Dr Townsend has been Deputy Principal of the Pymble Ladies College, the largest girls’ school in Australia for day and boarding students, since May 2007. She joined PLC as a teacher of English in January 2000 and was soon appointed Head of English. She then held the positions of Director of Curriculum (2003-2004) and Head of the Middle School (2004-2007). She has had responsibility for the leadership and management of boarding, the oversight of the international student exchange programme, and the development of the School’s indigenous education programme.

Prior to Dr Townsend’s arrival in Australia in 1999, and a short period on the staff of Loreto College, Normanhurst, she was a Lecturer in Medieval Literature at the University of Leeds, UK (1990-1992); teacher of English at the Barnwell School, Stevenage, UK (1992-1994); teacher of English and Personal & Social Education, Head of Year 9, Head of Personal & Social Education, and Senior Manager of Personnel and Girls’ Pastoral Care at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School Marlow, UK (1994-1998).

Dr Townsend was born in the United Kingdom, but grew up in Zambia. She returned to the UK for her final school years, and then attended the University of Keele where she gained her BA (1st Class Honours) and Certificate in Education. She then gained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Leeds, for a thesis entitled “Tradition and Innovation in the Verse of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle”. She will soon complete an MBA in Educational Leadership at Charles Sturt University.

Dr Townsend and her husband Dominic have three children and her family play an active part as members of the congregation of St James Anglican Church, Turramurra.