Tuesday 5 March 2024 After eight years of outstanding leadership at GSAL, Sue Woodroofe has announced her decision to retire. According to Sue, being the Principal of GSAL 鈥渉as been the best job in the world鈥�, and she said that running the school has been 鈥渢he joy and privilege of my life.鈥� Sue鈥檚 career in education spans nearly four decades, six schools and both the state and independent sectors in the UK and in Europe.聽 Since taking up her post as Principal at GSAL in April 2016, Sue has pushed academic standards and aspirations even higher. Under Sue鈥檚 tenure she has created a strong ethos and culture that celebrates intellectual pursuit and puts the development of the whole child at its core. She has also overseen the creation of the new primary school at Alwoodley Gates, refurbished the whole school, including the renovation of the historic Lawson Library, developed outstanding facilities for sport and the performing arts and has led a significant investment in child-centred health and wellbeing as well as developments in technology. The impact of Sue鈥檚 leadership is evidenced by numerous accolades such as three Sunday Times awards including School of the Decade, three highly successful inspections and her election as Chair of the聽Heads鈥� Conference (HMC). Angus Martin(OL77), chair of GSAL鈥檚 governing body, said, 鈥淲e can all see the benefits of the developments that Sue has led; under her tenure, the school has gone from strength to strength. She said that she wanted to polish the GSAL trophy when she arrived – and she has done so.鈥� Sue will continue to take the school forwards over the next 18 months, which will see amongst many other things the completion of the school鈥檚 new Performing Arts Centre. The search for GSAL鈥檚 next Principal will begin immediately to ensure a smooth transition to the next stage of GSAL鈥檚 journey in September 2025 and according to Sue 鈥淭hey will be the luckiest person in education to get this job.鈥� General News Whole School Community
