Miss Beal: 1882 - 1895 (Head Mistress)
Over the years the type of education changed from the question-and-answer method and reports state that, by 1882, in Miss Beal’s time as Head Mistress, classification into Forms had begun. Also, in the same year, there is reference to Student Teachers, and entry for Oxford and Cambridge Local Examinations for Seniors and Juniors. Cookery was added to the list of subjects, but it had to be taken on Saturdays, so as not to interfere with the general education! In 1882 Miss Beal also applied to the Committee for the girls to be allowed to have a school magazine.

Source: The Story of St. Elphin’s School 1844-1944 by Margaret L. Flood – page 18

Miss Margaret L. Flood, M.A.: 1910 - 1933 (Head Mistress)
When Miss Kennedy left in February 1910, Miss Flood’s mother, Mrs Flood, carried on the reigns for 3 months until Miss Flood was able to take up her appointment. At the time Miss Flood was Head Mistress of the Truro County Secondary School for Girls. During Miss Flood’s term additions were made to the curriculum in 1917 including preliminary training in Secretarial subjects and a course of instruction in Personal Health and Hygiene. The years 1917-1918 proved extremely difficult owing to the war. Miss Flood introduced greater freedom for the girls such as allowing the older ones to go for country rambles by themselves and, in 1927, an Inspection Report refers to the greater freedom which followed the provision of a Recreation Room.

Miss Flood gave her name to Margaret Flood House which was formed in 1959. A party was held at the school to celebrate her 90th birthday.

Source: The Story of St. Elphin’s School 1844-1944 by Margaret L. Flood – page 22. [Miss Flood had a second publication entitled Memoirs]

Miss Eveleen Stopford, M.A.: 1941 - 1958 (Head Mistress)
Eveleen Emily Stopford was born on 23 February 1897. She was the daughter of Francis Powys Stopford and Kathleen Edith Gompertz. She died on 11 March 1971 at age 74, unmarried. Eveleen Emily Stopford graduated from St Hugh’s College, Oxford University, Oxford with a Master of Arts (M.A.). Miss Stopford was formerly Head Mistress of St. Mary’s Hall, Brighton. She was also Principal of The Deaconess HIgh School in Jamaica from 1926 to 1931.

Sources: thepeerage.com and shaafl.org

Miss A. L. Mayhew, M.A.: 1975 - 1979 (Head Mistress)
Miss Mayhew, who graduated from Girton College, Cambridge, in Classics and Theology, was Head of the Classic Department at Sydenham Grammar School for Girls and later held a similar post at Ealing Grammar School for Girls. She became Deputy Headmistress and Acting Headmistress at Lewes Grammar School and subsequently returned to Ealing Grammar School (now reorganised as Ealing High School for Girls) as Deputy Headmistress.

Source: St Elphin’s School Magazine 1975
page 4 – V. C. Kitchen, Deputy Headmistress

Mrs Valerie Fisher: 1994 – 2000
Mrs Fisher was previously Head of a girls' school in Richmond, North Yorkshire. She was an honours graduate in Theology of Manchester University and had previously taught in schools and colleges in Harrow, Bournemouth, Nelson and Colne and elsewhere. She was the first married Head Mistress at St Elphin's.

Source: Letter from Mr Pollard to Old Girls, March 1994

Dr Deborah Mouat, B.Sc, PhD.: 2000 to 2005 (Deputy Head, Acting Head Mistress and Principal)
Dr Mouat was first appointed as Deputy Head in September 1999 and became Acting Head Mistress in 2000 - filling in the gap between Mrs Fisher and Mrs Taylor. However, in 2003 Dr Mouat became the Principal.

Dr Mouat took a B.Sc. in Chemistry followed by a PhD in Organic Chemistry. Before teaching she worked for Beecham Pharmaceuticals (Smith Kline Beecham) in the Sales and Marketing Division. Prior to going to St Elphin’s she was at Mount St. Mary’s College where she went from Teacher of Chemistry to Head of Science, to Examinations Officer and finally to Director of Studies.

(Source: The Elphinian 2000 page 33. Photo: Ann Hodgson)