Joanna Fox, Principal, Harrogate Ladies’ College and Highfield Prep School
Joanna Fox, Principal (Acting) of our whole school community from 2-18 years, is an incredibly experienced school leader with over 20 years in education. She is passionate about our School and is committed to upholding our values and leading with authenticity and integrity.
Joanna has been at the heart of our school community since 2020, having joined as Senior Deputy and the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the whole school from Pre-School to Sixth Form, before being appointed as Principal (Acting) until at least July 2026. Joanna successfully led the team during our ISI Inspection in 2024; and introduced the Flourish pastoral care programme which is now embedded across all areas of school from 2-18 years.
“Senior leaders model the aims of the school effectively and ensure pupils understand them.”
ISI Inspection Report, 2024
Joanna was previously a member of the senior team at Ipswich High School where she introduced boarding, was the pastoral lead, and a key member of the leadership team. Joanna also spent almost 10 years working at The Royal Hospital School, a large co-ed school where she had responsibility for 300 pupils as Head of Lower School.
Whilst now an English teacher and previously a prep school class teacher, Joanna spent 10 years at the start of her career as a military nurse in the British Army, where she not only developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by many military families, but also learnt the importance of community, integrity and a sense of belonging.
Joanna passionately believes that excellent pastoral provision and academic excellence are intrinsically linked and that the two cannot and should not be separated:
“Children thrive when pastoral care and academic provision work together. When children make progress academically they’re happy; and when children are happy they make academic progress. Ultimately, happy children succeed; and children who succeed are happy.”
Knowing children as individuals is key to Joanna’s philosophy:
“When you really know a child, you understand what they are capable of; you understand what they can achieve academically; and you can support them in achieving their potential.”
Joanna also believes the link between home and school is incredibly important and contributes to understanding the child. Her aim is that parents and the school work together with the child at the centre of everything.
Joanna is totally passionate about our wonderful school community and relishes being involved in all aspects of school life from academics, leading assemblies in Highfield and College, competing in staff verses pupil sports competitions, watching drama performances, singing with the choir and being at the heart of our boarding community.
“When you really know a child, you understand what they are capable of; you understand what they can achieve academically; and you can support them in achieving their potential.”
