Senior Leadership Staff

Beth Dawson – Head

Beth has been a teacher for twenty-five years, having taught at Surbiton High School, Reigate Grammar School and Commonweal School prior to joining Emanuel School in Battersea, where she held a number of roles including Director of Scholars and Head of Creative Arts.
Beth joined Sutton High School in 2017 as Deputy Head and has been Head since 2019. She trained in Drama and Education, knowing from an early age that teaching was a career she wanted to pursue.
As a specialist in Drama, Music and English, Beth is a passionate advocate for the arts and has directed several Edinburgh Fringe productions, with a particular focus on modern retellings of Greek tragedies. She is a TEDX speaker, having researched the importance of self-expression and identity for teenage girls. Outside school, Beth loves to sing and can be found belting out karaoke classics!
At Sutton High, Beth has developed a focus on the core values of Courage, Truth and Joy and on every pupil being not only known, but understood. Belonging at school is vital, and Beth believes that it is this sense of belonging and community that makes Sutton High amazing.

Emily Ruiz – Head of Prep

Emily became Head of Sutton High Prep School in September 2025, returning to a community she knows well and values deeply. She previously taught at Sutton for many years before moving to Croydon High School as Deputy Head of Juniors, where she gained extensive leadership experience.
An alumna of Sutton High, Emily is proud to uphold the values of the GDST and is strongly aligned with its commitment to developing confident, curious and fiercely independent girls. She is delighted to be back at Sutton High Prep, a school she describes as kind, vibrant and nurturing, offering girls an exceptional foundation for their educational journey.
Beyond the classroom, Emily enjoys country walks with her family and her cockapoo, Peggy, who also serves as the school’s pastoral dog. She is a keen netball player and values teamwork, a principle she strives to foster throughout the Prep School.
Emily is extremely proud to lead Sutton High Prep and to work in partnership with the girls and their families. She is always happy to talk and can be found on the school gate each day, warmly welcoming pupils and parents alike.

Daniel Vickery – Director of Operations

Daniel Vickery has been part of Sutton High School since 2016. He brings almost 20 years of estates, facilities, ICT and operational leadership across both education and government sectors to the Senior Leadership Team. A graduate of London Metropolitan University with a BA (Hons) in Business, supported by professional qualifications in fire safety and health and safety management, he now serves as Director of Operations for both Sutton High School GDST and Brighton Girls GDST.
During his time at Sutton High School, Daniel has overseen major capital developments, strengthened compliance and safety frameworks, and enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of the school’s operational services, while also leading the school’s commercial development activities. Drawing on his well established project management skills, he delivers complex initiatives smoothly and strategically. He is recognised for his commitment to creating a safe, well run and future focused environment in which students and staff can thrive.

Michelle Kirk – Director of Finance

Michelle joined Sutton High School in October 2025 as Director of Finance.
A qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA), she brings extensive financial expertise gained across both commercial and charitable organisations. MIchelle began her career with KPMG before moving into senior finance leadership roles in the commercial sector. She later transitioned into the charity sector, where she held key financial positions at the National Theatre and Martlets Hospice in Brighton.
Having joined the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) in 2021, Michelle was appointed Director of Finance for Brighton Girls and Sutton High School in 2025. She leads the finance and catering functions, providing strategic financial leadership that supports informed decision-making, operational excellence, and long-term sustainability.
Michelle ensures that Sutton High is well positioned to invest in outstanding educational opportunities, enabling students to achieve their full potential both inside and beyond the classroom.
Away from school, Michelle enjoys gardening and reading, although much of her spare time is happily spent supporting her children at their sporting fixtures.

Laura James – Director of Marketing and Communications

Laura joined Sutton High School in 2020, bringing with her a wealth of experience in large-scale corporate events, marketing and publishing. Her background has provided the perfect preparation for the fast-paced and varied world of school life, where no two days are ever quite the same.
Having grown up in a family of educators, working in education has always felt like a natural calling. Passionate about making a difference to girls’ lives, Laura firmly believes that Sutton High is a place where girls are empowered to thrive, grow and achieve their potential. As a strong advocate for girls and women of the future, she is proud to play a role in sharing the stories, successes and opportunities that make the school such a special community.
Outside of school, Laura is a keen runner and can often be found out on the trails or training for her next challenge. With two very active children, she also loves spending time with her family in the great outdoors.

Elizabeth Clark – Deputy Head Pastoral

Elizabeth has played a pivotal role in developing and shaping the pastoral care and wellbeing provision at Sutton High School. She is passionate that each pupil navigates her teenage years in a school which is supportive of individual needs and provides the highest quality guidance when decisions have to be taken. The teams delivering pastoral care and wellbeing are amongst the best in their field; led by Elizabeth, they work as a close, collaborative team to ensure that each pupil is known and supported for who she is.
Elizabeth taught in both the state and independent sector before joining Sutton High as Head of Sixth Form in September 2000. She has taught Economics and Business Studies throughout her career and currently teaches Economics at A level. The highlight of her week though is teaching Geography in Year 7.

Susan Lawlor-Price – Deputy Head Academic

Susan joined Sutton High School in 2017 as Director of Studies and became Deputy Head (Academic) two years later. With more than 20 years of teaching experience, she still loves the energy of school life and the fact that no two days are ever the same.
Susan has dedicated her career to girls’ education and her commitment to this pathway stems from her own experience as one of the few female students in A level STEM classes and later while studying Chemistry at the University of Oxford. A strong advocate of growth mindset, Susan also encourages every student to embrace challenge, develop resilience and believe in their ability to succeed.
Outside school, she enjoys escaping into a good book, finding headspace on a 10K run, and the thrill of a rollercoaster ride!

Beth Ashton – Deputy Head of Prep

Beth has worked in education for over ten years and joined Sutton High School in 2023 as Deputy Head of Prep. She leads the academic vision of the Prep School, oversees teaching and learning, supports curriculum development, and leads Undivided, the GDST Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiative. She is also responsible for the Prep library and is passionate about fostering a lifelong love of reading through an inclusive and diverse collection of books.

Beth holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh and an MA in Children’s Literature from Goldsmiths, University of London. She has collaborated with children’s author Michael Rosen on published research exploring children’s literature and learning. Currently, Beth is undertaking a research fellowship with the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools, supported by the GDST, investigating how creative thinking can help girls thrive across the curriculum, particularly in STEM subjects.

Passionate about combining academic excellence with pastoral care, Beth is committed to helping every child discover their strengths. She leads the Prep School’s Be You vision, promoting creativity, empathy, reflection and resilience, self-efficacy, and critical thinking throughout school life.

Jenni Dixon – Director of Wellbeing (Year 9-11)

Jenni joined Sutton High School in 2014 as an English Teacher. Drawing on more than 15 years of teaching experience, she understands that students can only truly thrive and make the most of both academic and extracurricular opportunities when they feel well supported pastorally. This belief led her to take on the role of Head of Years 10 and 11 in 2015.
Now, as Director of Wellbeing for Years 9 to 11, she leads a Team of experienced Heads of Year and works closely with other Pastoral staff to ensure that every girl feels seen, valued and supported. She is passionate about helping students understand that, when things are not going well, there is a strong network of people around them ready to help.
Outside of school, Jenni can usually be found walking Teddy, a black Labrador, who will greet you with great enthusiasm should you ever bump into him.

Lucy Durrant – Director of Digital and Innovation

Lucy joined Sutton High School in 2020 as Academic Deputy Head of the Prep School, before moving to the Senior School in 2023 to take up the role of Director of Digital and Innovation. She is passionate about harnessing technology to enhance teaching and learning, remove barriers and create opportunities for every pupil to thrive.
In her current role, she leads the school’s digital strategy and the development of innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Her work focuses on using technology purposefully to improve accessibility, reduce cognitive load and support pupils to become confident, independent learners. She is particularly interested in the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence and is committed to ensuring that AI is used creatively, responsibly and ethically to enhance learning while developing pupils’ critical thinking and digital literacy.
Prior to moving into the Senior School, Lucy spent three years as Academic Deputy Head of Sutton High Prep School, leading on curriculum development, teaching and learning and academic strategy. She has over 12 years’ experience in senior leadership across both Prep and Senior School settings, giving her a broad perspective on how pupils’ learning, independence and digital skills develop throughout their education.
At the heart of her approach is a belief that technology should make learning more accessible rather than more complicated. She is committed to inspiring pupils to be curious about emerging technologies, understand both their possibilities and responsibilities, and develop the skills, confidence and adaptability they will need to become future-ready learners.
Outside of school, Mrs Durrant enjoys spending time with her family and is happiest outdoors, particularly with her horse and dogs.

Ben Essenhigh – Director of Enrichment and Partnerships

Ben leads Enrichment and Partnerships at Sutton High School, shaping the opportunities that help girls discover who they are beyond the classroom. His role encompasses co-curricular provision, educational visits, partnerships and community engagement, Houses and charities, with a particular focus on ensuring that every pupil can access an ambitious and varied range of experiences.
A graduate of Leeds College of Music, Ben has worked in education for more than 17 years across the state and independent sectors, holding pastoral, academic and co-curricular leadership roles. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching.
At Sutton High, he is passionate about creating purposeful and inclusive opportunities that encourage girls to develop confidence, curiosity and independence. Through enrichment, leadership and service, he aims to help every Sutton High girl build a strong sense of self, belonging and readiness to make her mark on the wider world.

Sarah Manser – Director of Wellbeing (Year 7 and 8)

Sarah has worked at Sutton High School for eight years, serving for the past five as Director of Wellbeing for Years 7 and 8. Prior to joining Sutton High School and the GDST, she held roles in both a large state comprehensive and an independent school, where she served as Curriculum and Examination Lead for PE and moderated for one of the country’s largest exam boards.

Across these settings, Sarah has developed extensive pastoral leadership expertise, having led and managed year groups from Year 7 through to Year 11, including the key transition points that shape pupils’ educational experiences. Her professional focus now centres on strengthening these transitions for pupils and parents, recognising that every young person’s educational journey is unique and requires thoughtful, responsive, and well‑structured support.

Sarah Quaglieri – Director of Neurodiversity

Sarah has been Head of Neurodiversity at Sutton High School since April 2023 and, over the past three years, has worked closely with colleagues to ensure that girls at Sutton High who learn differently are heard, seen and supported in a way that enables them to achieve academically and thrive personally.
A Modern Languages graduate from Bristol University, Sarah started as a teacher of French and German, becoming Head of Department level before moving to work in Special Educational Needs. She brings an understanding of the demands of the curriculum as well as a wealth of expertise and experience in working with young people with a range of learning needs and differences. Prior to joining Sutton High, she held SENCo and leadership team roles in mainstream state schools in West Sussex. She holds the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination, is a qualified exam access arrangements assessor and in 2022 completed an NPQSL.
Sarah is currently the Trust Consultant Teacher for SEND and works one day a week alongside the education team, supporting and collaborating with other GDST schools to share and develop excellent inclusive practice across the Trust.

Jake Unwin – Director of Progress KS3

Jake joined Sutton High in 2019 as Head of History and subsequently also worked as a GDST Trust Consultant Teacher, championing girls-first education in the Humanities across the country. He took up the role of Director of Progress KS3 in 2025, inspiring and empowering academic progress at KS3.
He holds MA History and MPhil Early Modern History degrees from the University of Cambridge and lived and worked in Spain before moving to teach in South London in 2014. He saw the phenomenal impact of a girls-school education in the lives of his twin and elder sisters and is a passionate advocate of its importance.
His role seeks to ensure that every KS3 student at Sutton High loves and thrives in their academic studies wherever their aspirations and passions take them.

Peta Giust – Assistant Head (Acting)

With over twenty years of experience in education, Peta has demonstrated a sustained commitment to fostering high-quality teaching and learning within a range of educational settings. Beginning her career in Sutton as a Newly Qualified Teacher, Peta has since worked across state, mixed, and independent schools, developing a broad and adaptable approach to classroom practice. Her work is underpinned by a strong foundation in pedagogy, alongside a deep commitment to pastoral care, ensuring that all pupils feel supported and valued.
Peta has held a number of senior roles, including Head of Year 6, Teacher Governor, member of the Senior Leadership Team, and Head of Mathematics. In her current role as Acting Assistant Head and DDSL she contributes to a cohesive and enriching educational experience for all pupils while supporting strategic leadership across the school.
She is particularly passionate about assessment and pupil progress, leading regular pupil progress meetings that draw upon both data analysis and formative assessment. By working closely with colleagues, including specialists in SEND, EAL and more able provision, she ensures that each pupil is well understood and supported to achieve their full potential. She continues to approach her work with ambition and care, fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment in which every pupil can thrive.

Rachel Hargrave – Assistant Head Enrichment

Rachel joined Sutton High School in September 2015 as Head of Outdoor Education, increasing the participation and completion levels for the schools Duke of Edinburgh Award and becoming a registered centre. Her passion and enthusiasm for the outdoors also saw her develop an engaging and challenging Games programme for KS4 and KS5 to include a range of outdoor pursuit activities alongside traditional PE and Games.
Recognising the importance of mental health and welling being, she is passionate to use learning in the outdoors to support our girl’s development. Leading on our EYFS Forest School to develop curiosity, independence, and a love of learning, through to our KS1 and KS2 bespoke Breath the Wild Air curriculum to have a greater understanding of the world where we live.
As a teacher she knows developing opportunities beyond the classroom is essential to ensure every pupil can flourish, following their own learning journey. Sutton High Prep embraces this through the co-curriculum programme from residentials, curriculum trips, sport, Music and the Arts.

Meghan McHenry – Assistant Head Pastoral

Meghan has worked in education for over ten years and joined Sutton High School Prep in 2022. In her role as Assistant Head (Pastoral) and Designated Safeguarding Lead, she has a key responsibility for ensuring that every pupil is supported, known and enabled to thrive both personally and academically.
She studied at Liverpool Hope University, completing a four-year BA (Hons) in Primary Education with a specialist focus on supporting pupils with special educational needs. She went on to develop her expertise in high-quality teaching and inclusive practice through her work mentoring trainee teachers and supporting QTS students to understand how best to meet the needs of all learners.
Meghan is passionate about creating a school environment where pastoral care is at the heart of everything. Her work focuses on helping girls develop a strong understanding of their emotions and how to use this awareness positively to support their wellbeing, relationships and learning.
She has led the development of an innovative PSHE curriculum that is carefully designed to reflect the needs of the school community, ensuring that personal development, wellbeing and safeguarding are fully embedded in daily school life.
At the heart of her work is a commitment to ensuring that every child feels safe, valued and able to flourish within a nurturing and inclusive environment.