Emma is a linguist who was educated at the Universities of Liverpool and Birmingham. She was Headmistress of the Royal School Bath from 1994-97 and took up her appointment as Headmistress of Downe House in 1997. She has a great deal of experience as a Governor of a variety of independent Senior and Prep Schools and was a member of the Independent Schools’ Examination Board and is a Trustee of the Prep School Baccalaureate. She is Chair of the Prep Schools Trust, a Member of GSA, HMC and BSA and a Fellow of the RSA. She is married and has two sons. When time allows, she enjoys travel, the theatre and cinema, and spending time with her family.