Tina Beddoes, Chair of Governors
Jo arrived in Bedford in the Easter of 2010, as the founding Headmistress of Bedford Girls’ School, merging together Dame Alice Harpur School and Bedford High School; it was her first headship and this is a challenge that would have daunted many an experienced Head, but Jo believed passionately that single sex education is as relevant today as it was over a hundred years ago when the heritage schools were established and she was determined to preserve it.
Here however, is where Jo parts with many a traditional view of education. Her vision was extremely clear, for young women to succeed we needed to look to the future. Jo set about developing an educational model that was forward thinking, dynamic, and inclusive to ensure it provides students with the academic, emotional and social skills they needed to flourish in the 21st century. I remember interviewing Jo for the Headship and being excited by her vision and passion. Jo has a great affinity to the IB philosophy of education, it best fitted her vision and Jo saw the role of technology in education long before others saw its importance in transforming teaching. She has always championed the balance of academic and co-curricular, recognising that success is so much more than a clutch of examination results and has built a school offering endless possibilities.
Jo always put the students at the heart of her decision-making. She has always spoken of creating a school where the corridors are “peppered with laughter” and her belief that for the school to succeed it must be rooted in a culture of kindness, where you celebrate and believe in the good in every student. For those of us who have had the pleasure of working so closely alongside her, I see this belief come through in all of her decisions. I like to describe her as a gentle lady, she radiates a sense of calm and compassion which resonates around the school and in her interaction with the girls. She cares deeply about every girl and is always invested in their best interest; she will help a student make the right decision, even if sometimes in the moment they cannot see it.
Her vision, clarity, humility and incredible capacity for hard work have resulted in a school that reflects her vision, one which is loved by its community and hugely respected by its peers in the education sector, as highlighted by our outstanding 2020 ISI report. Jo has truly inspired students to reach their full potential and to make a positive impact to the world around them.
I think we all share a huge sense of sadness that her last term, which should have been full of moments of joy, has seen such global turmoil and that as a community, we cannot celebrate and thank her in the ways that we would wish. But, the strength of Jo’s leadership has been clearly demonstrated in the school’s response to the current crisis and I am so thankful that she has led BGS so calmly through the challenges of the last few months.
Jo has succeeded in creating a school which is truly prepared for a VUCA world and one which is now poised to move to even greater heights.
On behalf of the community, I would like to thank Jo for devoting ten years to building BGS and I wish her so much happiness in the next stage of her life!
