Queen Anne’s School Welcomes Ben Stephenson as New Deputy Head Academic
Queen Anne’s School is delighted to announce the appointment of Ben Stephenson as Deputy Head Academic
Ben, who has been with the school since 2018, previously served as a successful Director of Sixth Form and brings a wealth of experience in academic leadership, pastoral care, and curriculum innovation to his new role.
Ben’s journey to Queen Anne’s has been both diverse and inspiring. Initially balancing a part-time teaching role alongside a career as a Sport Psychologist and lecturer at the University of Reading, Ben eventually discovered a true passion for classroom teaching. Over the years, he has held a variety of positions, including Head of Year and Head of Psychology, before becoming Head of Sixth Form at Easthampstead Park Community School. Since joining Queen Anne’s in 2018, Ben has embraced his role as Director of Sixth Form, helping students navigate the crucial final years of their school careers.
Reflecting on his time as Director of Sixth Form, Ben stated, “Being Head of Sixth Form is one of the best roles in education. You work with students at such a pivotal stage in their lives, and it’s rewarding to help shape their academic and personal journeys. My experience in this role has prepared me well for the position of Deputy Head Academic, as I’ve seen first-hand the incredible achievements of our students and understand the crucial role that inspirational teaching plays in setting young people up for success.”
Key Achievements and Vision for the Future
During his tenure as Director of Sixth Form, Ben achieved outstanding results, including a remarkable 90% of students securing places at their first-choice universities over the past three years. Ben reflects on the support given by Kelly Odell, the school’s Careers Lead, “Kelly Odell is the most amazing careers advisor and she does much more than what you think a traditional career's advisor does. She is also a Sixth Form tutor and I think this really helps as all the Sixth Form tutors get to learn from her expertise and vice versa; we are very lucky that we have such a dedicated tutor team and this really shows in the Sixth Form.”
Ben has also been instrumental in the development of innovative programmes such as the Emotional Intelligence for Leadership course, designed for Senior Prefects and interested Lower Sixth students. This programme has been delivered to both students and staff, reflecting Ben’s commitment to developing well-rounded leaders for the future.
In his new role, Ben is eager to build on the school’s existing strengths while ensuring that each student reaches their full academic potential. He emphasises the importance of stretch and challenge opportunities, the recruitment of exceptional teaching staff, and maintaining a culture where students thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
“One of my primary goals is to ensure we continue to be a beacon of academic excellence, while focusing on opportunities beyond the day-to-day. Last year, every single member of the Sixth Form gave at least an hour of their time for ‘community service’ whether that was supporting younger students in school, helping at a local primary school or volunteering for one of our local charities. I am immensely proud of that and all that our students do to give back to their community. I also want to make sure that every student’s individual potential is realised. Our size as a school allows us to give each student the personalised attention and support they need to succeed. I think all the new staff who have joined this year have already settled in amazingly well and promote the Kind Hearts, Fierce Minds and Strong Spirits which we want the students to embody and I see how a big part of my role is ensuring we keep recruiting the types of staff who will inspire our students.”
Enhancing Academic Excellence and Curriculum Innovation
As Deputy Head Academic, Ben will oversee the continued innovation of the school’s curriculum. His tenure as Director of Sixth saw the introduction of new subjects such as Film Studies, Media Studies, Sociology, and Criminology, reflecting the evolving educational landscape and needs of the students. He also supported reform in the ICT curriculum, replacing the Computer Science GCSE with professional ICT qualifications, aimed at equipping students with the most relevant skills for their future careers.
Looking ahead, Ben is excited about the ongoing development of the school’s staff training and research initiatives. Queen Anne’s innovative Teaching and Learning Advocate Programme, led by Anna Spellman, Assistant Head Teaching and Learning, continues to expand, allowing teachers to engage in cutting-edge educational research and best practice. Ben shares, “We’ve changed our CPD programme to allow more time for staff to create their own bespoke development and engage in educational research projects and over the next year, our virtual Research and Innovation hub is set to grow. We spend a lot of time discussing metacognition and looking at how students learn which we share with staff, parents and the students themselves. Every year we run a talk on the Psychology of Effective Revision and I think we do a great job of educating all of our students on how our memories work, techniques to help improve our working memory and ways to manage the stressors associated with any form of assessment or performance.”
An Advocate for Leadership and Community
Ben’s leadership philosophy is rooted in a passion for education and a belief in creating an environment where both staff and students enjoy what they do. “If we have staff who are excited about their work, that enthusiasm will be reflected in the students’ learning experiences,” Ben explained. “I strongly believe that when people enjoy what they do, learning becomes a natural by-product.”
He also places a strong emphasis on collaboration, openness to new ideas, and continuous improvement. As he steps into this new chapter, Ben is committed to maintaining Queen Anne’s proud tradition of academic excellence while fostering a forward-thinking and dynamic learning environment.
Looking to the Future
As Ben embarks on his new role, he acknowledges the high standards already set at Queen Anne’s and aims to build on this strong foundation. “It’s an honour to step into this role, and I’m excited to see where we can make improvements to enhance the impact we have on our students’ academic and personal growth,” he said. “Queen Anne’s has been an expert in all-girls’ education for over 130 years, and we are committed to continuing that legacy.”
October 2024