News & Events

Julia Huxley’s vision for girls’ education remains as important today as it was in 1902, when she founded our school.

Julia was a brilliant scholar who achieved a first-class degree at Oxford at a time when very few women had access to higher education. She dreamed of starting her own school and, despite the expectations of her time, she took out a loan and founded Prior’s Field. It was a bold and determined act that set the tone for everything that followed.

Her approach to learning was progressive, interactive and far ahead of her era. She took girls to galleries, concerts and science exhibitions and encouraged freedom of thought, curiosity and independence. She also fostered genuine connection with the local community and surrounded her students with inspiring women like Mary Watts and Gertrude Jekyll.

Most importantly, she understood the value of an education built specifically for girls.

Today, more than a century later, modern research continues to reinforce what Julia instinctively knew. Girls do better academically, socially and emotionally when educated away from the pressures and expectations that can surface in mixed environments. They take more intellectual risks. They speak up more. They choose subjects freely. They lead without hesitation. In girls’ schools, girls are at the centre and their voices are amplified, not overshadowed.

Julia died in 1908 at just forty-six, but in that short time she created something extraordinary. Her legacy was carried forward by Ethel and then Beatrice Burton Brown, who helped shape the ethos we live by today. I am proud to walk in the footsteps of these remarkable women and proud of all that Prior’s Field continues to stand for.

I hope Julia would be proud of today’s school. Proud of who we are and of the young women who fill our community with determination, individuality and joy in learning.

The girls should be very proud of everything they have accomplished this term. I hope the holiday brings you the chance to rest, reconnect and enjoy time together as a family.

What an incredible way to end last term, truly reflecting our school motto: We live by Admiration, Hope and Love. Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of the Prior’s Field community, we raised an impressive £1,912.29 for charity, alongside our wider service-based initiatives. This achievement is a wonderful example of our motto in action, as our students recognised the needs of others and stepped forward to make a meaningful difference. A huge thank you goes to our Sixth Form team for delivering a lively 2000s-inspired RAG Day, which was a fantastic end-of-term celebration and raised a significant sum for the PF Foundation. Looking ahead, there is much to look forward to this term as our charitable work continues. The Fourth Form will be raising funds for their international charity, Tofauti, while the First and Second Form will deepen their understanding of their chosen charity, Roots, through assemblies. The Fifth Form will also be hosting a fundraiser in support of their chosen charity, The Donkey Sanctuary. 

Being back at Prior’s Field this week to speak in assembly reminded me just how much this school helped shape my creative path. As a PF Old Girl (2008 to 2015), it was a real pleasure to return. I still remember the breadth of what I learnt, and the support and creativity encouraged by the teachers. It’s wonderful to see Ms Curtin now leading the Art Department. During my time here, I studied A-Level Art, Photography and Textiles.

In the ten years since leaving Prior’s Field, I’ve built a design agency in London, nooh Studio, specialising in design-led storytelling for communities, charities and brands. I went on to study Graphic Design at Central Saint Martins, followed by Healthcare and Design at the Royal College of Art. Over the past year, I’ve also returned to my own artistic practice as a landscape painter, working primarily in oil, which is a passion first sparked in the Prior’s Field art rooms. My debut solo-exhibition in February was hosted at 28 Flowers in Chelsea, founded by PF Old Girls Ellen and Charlie Hayward! I’m incredibly grateful for the support of Prior’s Field and the sense of community that still connects so many of us today.

I have several exciting collaborations, events and exhibitions planned for 2026, including a few close to PF. If you’d like to stay updated, you’re very welcome to sign up to my newsletter (https://helenatraill.co.uk/mailing-list) or follow along on Instagram @helenatraill.

My journey with Netball Northern Ireland began shortly after I left Prior’s Field in 2019 when I joined the U17 squad. After a few months of training, we competed at the Europe Netball U17s tournament where I was awarded Player of the Tournament. Although I have experienced many successes since, this award is still something that I value very highly and was a huge springboard in my self-confidence and drive to continue in this sport. Based on my performance at this tournament, I was invited to join the Northern Ireland Warriors (senior squad) where I received my first Cap in 2021. Over the last few years, I have continued to train hard to develop my skills in order to continue my selections for international test matches, and I now hold 18 Senior Caps. My next major international goals are to fulfil my childhood dreams of competing at the Commonwealth Games 2026 (I was reserve in 2022) and the Netball World Cup 2027! Like any sport, netball doesn’t come without its setbacks. Through the years I have encountered rejections, injuries, and difficult choices. However, the challenges don’t define the athlete, but instead how the athlete responds to them. Setbacks are a huge opportunity to demonstrate resilience and grow both as an athlete on court and as a person.

Before I joined NI U17s, I attended three trials for England U17s and was rejected each time. It was incredibly upsetting and difficult to understand why I had not been selected when I had worked so hard to earn a place at these trials. However, this only inspired me to train harder and re-evaluate my goals.

Ultimately, I was selected for the England U17 Europe Netball squad, but after much consideration I chose to represent Northern Ireland. I would not be competing internationally as an NI Warrior had it not been for those rejections which challenged me to see another path forwards and understand that I had other options to achieve my dream of competing internationally.

Currently, I am studying Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Birmingham where I am a scholar under the EDCAP program and compete for the university in BUCS. I also compete in National Premier Division 1 for Weston Park Blades, and I have retained my place with Nottingham Forest in our NXT Gen squad for next season. I continue to train with the NI Warriors and am looking forward to working for selection in our upcoming Celtic Cup competition in November at which NI, Scotland and Wales will compete against the national teams of Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Namibia.

Nottingham Forest Netball is a Netball Superleague (NSL) franchise attached to the football club, and I have been a part of the NXT Gen squad since it began in the 2024/25 season. The introduction of the NXT Gen league provides opportunities for athletes that have aged out of the National Performance League (NPL) pathway to remain within franchises in a competitive league. NXT Gen provides a platform for continuing athlete development and experience to feed into the NSL teams. It is incredibly exciting to be a part of this new league. Netball is a rapidly growing and increasingly commercial sport. The launch of NSL 2.0 last season led to games being livestreamed to mainstream channels, significantly increased media attention, larger match playing venues and increased athlete pay. Nottingham Forest Netball is one of eight UK franchises pushing the boundaries of female elite sport, part of a UK strategy to fully professionalise netball within the next decade. My journey as a sportswoman continues to have a profound influence on me, shaping me to be the person that I am. My successes and challenges make me resilient, hard-working, and determined – qualities that are valuable in every part of my life.

After decades as a BBC journalist and communications consultant, helping others find their voice, I began to sense another kind of voice calling – a quieter one. A whisper from within.

During lockdown I stumbled across Qigong and from that moment everything changed. I was hooked by its quiet magic. Qigong (pronounced “chee-gong”) is an ancient Chinese practice of gentle movement, breath and awareness that supports physical, emotional and energetic wellbeing. I turned to it to manage stress and stiffness and to reconnect with myself – but it quickly became something more. The more I learned and practised, the more I felt calm, grounded, resilient, and deeply rooted in my body and the world around me.

After PF, I moved to London but returned to the Surrey Hills when my kids were small. My daughter, Rosie Squire, is also an Old Girl and working mother of two gorgeous little ones! Alongside being a doting Granny and my regular consultancy work, I’m also a 300-hour certified Qigong instructor. I run weekly classes, seasonal workshops and collaborative retreats with other local business owners in my Surrey Hills Enterprises business network.

Qigong means “cultivating life energy” – and that’s exactly what it feels like. Unlike more strenuous exercise, Qigong is about gentle nourishment, not pushing. It improves balance, flexibility, and vitality, while helping to ease anxiety and quieten a busy mind. It’s accessible, kind on the body, and suitable for all ages and fitness levels. My Saturday morning classes at the Harry Edwards Healing Centre in Shere are open to everyone, and I also offer 1:1s, workplace sessions and small group workshops.

If you’re curious, I’d love to hear from you and welcome you to a class.

With warm wishes from one Old Girl to another,

Sue Llewellyn 1973–1977

Stephanie Barker is breaking glass ceilings in the business world, working for ‘King’s Fine Food’, a business led by women. Stephanie works in a small family-run business which is fit for a king – quite literally! Stephanie’s company has enjoyed success insomuch that they are proud holders of the Royal Warrant to His Majesty The King (a distinction which King’s Fine Food are proud to have held also during the reign of Her Late Majesty). Therefore, it is certainly fair to suggest that Stephanie’s endeavours in business have been a royal success.

In true Prior’s Field spirit, beyond the world of business, Stephanie works alongside her company to give back to the community, where she can be seen taking on responsibility to aid the John King Brain Tumour foundation. Indeed, just as she enjoys success in her business endeavours, Stephanie has sought to give back to a project which goes beyond personal gain, having direct involvement with a project that has raised (over) a staggering 1.2 million pounds, with the aid of 10% of the company’s own net profits. Where generosity and financial strategy meet, the results of Stephanie’s charitable work are utterly remarkable and heart-warming and we are proud to have played a small part in shaping Stephanie who has gone on to do accomplish such significant work.

As a woman that does it all, Stephanie has filled her last year with much exciting travel, exploring through the likes of China, Belgium, Italy, and Germany and likewise has sought to explore the UK in greater depth, searching for the best hotels and restaurants on offer. Alongside travel, work and charity, Stephanie is also in the process of buying her first home, a milestone which is no small feat to navigate alone and in this modern economy. As a community we are so proud of all the work which Stephanie has accomplished and we are immensely grateful for her willingness to share. Wishing Stephanie and all our lovely Old Girls all the success and happiness in their life post Prior’s Field!