Rachel Spooncer qualified with a First in Chemical Engineering in 1975, one of four female students out of a class of 100. She joined ICI where she had a series of different jobs; design, process development, plant management and she became Technology Manager managing large, multifunctional teams.

With a keen interest in team building and leadership, she was key to the worldwide challenge to manufacture refrigerants to replace CFC’s. She was recognised with global awards for this and elected as one of the pioneer female engineers to be a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers and the Institution of Chemical Engineers.

In her second career, she became an Executive Coach, helping other leaders to develop their leadership skills and face the challenges of their roles.

Joined BRNC Dartmouth for Officer training in 1995, completed training in diving medicine, aviation medicine, battlefield ATLS and biological warfare. Was based on HMS London, HMS Beaver, HMS Neptune, HMS Somerset and assisted in the build of HMS Albion. Has sailed around the world both in the Royal Navy and as a qualified RYA Yachtmaster.

Pictured in the front row, first from the left, Gertrude Entwisle was also the first student, graduate and Associate Member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Pictured on the second row, first from left, Nesta was appointed in 1927.

Christabel Pankhurst was the daughter of the famous suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst – who sent all three of her daughters to MHSG.

She graduated with her LLB degree in 1906.

Louise Ellman, née Rosenberg, became Lancashire County Council leader in 1981.

Awarded Fellowship in 1890.

Rose Dummer (née Ashkanazi), began flying in the British Army in 1993.

in her own words…

 “I was the lucky recipient of a 50% bursary, without which I would not have attended MHSG and would not still have the wonderful friends I made at school, nor would I have achieved professionally as I have. I was the first person in my family to do A-levels, let alone attend university, although my very able younger relatives have done the same.

“After school I read Law at Leeds University. I then read for the Bar and was called to the Bar by Inner Temple in 1987. After a career at the Family Bar in London I was appointed as a Circuit Judge in 2009. I was then appointed a Senior Circuit Judge in 2022, and was Designated Family Judge for West London for the following 3 years.

“In February 2025, I retired (early for a judge) at the age of 60, having decided that I wanted to spend more time with my family, and that 16 years as a full-time family judge was enough for me.

“I now sit part time a few weeks a year as a judge, and have recently trained as a family arbitrator and mediator. I joined a set of Chambers in London, where I will be helping couples and families find an alternative way of resolving their disputes.

“I still have a close group of school friends from MHSG, and we are planning how to celebrate 50 years since we began in the Upper Thirds!”

Kotska obtained a physics based Bachelor’s degree and a Masters in Spacecraft Technology and Satellite Communications, before working in the UK space industry. She exploited data from optical and radar satellite borne sensors, eventually working on the development of a small satellite and its camera as the Payload Manager.

In 2002, Kotska took a job as Optical Engineer at the European Space Agency’s technical centre in the Netherlands, wanting the opportunity to work on a wider variety of missions in a multinational and multicultural environment. She worked on various optical technology developments, in particular for x-ray telescopes, and supported a diverse set of missions such as the Fluid Science Lab on International Space Station. Kotska took a role as a Principal Instrument Engineer for one of the four instruments being developed for ESA’s EarthCARE mission in 2008, eventually taking responsibility for the full payload and managing the satellite’s on-orbit commissioning after it launched in 2024, including a radar from the Japanese Space Agency. In early 2025 Kotska handed EarthCARE over to its operational Mission Manager and switched to working as the System Manager for the FORUM mission development.

Murvah Iqbal is the co-founder and CEO of HIVED, a parcel delivery network built entirely on proprietary technology and powered by a 100% electric vehicle fleet. HIVED is rethinking every layer of logistics—from routing algorithms to driver experience and parcel tracking infrastructure—to deliver a service that’s not only emission-free, but radically more efficient, reliable and scalable. Since launching in 2021, HIVED has raised over $60M in funding, grown to a team of 150+ people, and delivered millions of parcels for major retailers including ZARA, Nespresso and John Lewis.

A former footballer for Manchester City Women, Murvah brings a unique combination of grit, leadership and operational excellence. Before HIVED, she helped grow her family’s food business into one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent food chains, starting at just 15 years old. Her entrepreneurial drive was shaped by a working-class background, a deep commitment to sustainability, and early exposure to business through both family and sport.

Murvah has been recognised on Forbes 30 Under 30 in Technology and The Sunday Times Young Power List, celebrating her as one of the UK’s most influential young leaders. She is passionate about building a more inclusive, equitable tech ecosystem—particularly for women and underrepresented founders.

Jasmin Paris is a mother, long distance fell runner, small animal vet and research scientist, who was launched into the media spotlight in January 2019 when she won the 268-mile Montane Spine race outright, breaking the overall record by 12 hours, and beating her nearest rival by 15 hours. In March 2024, she became the first woman to finish the infamous Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, something many had previously considered impossible for a woman.

Widely regarded as the world’s toughest ultramarathon, the Barkley Marathons has been completed by only 20 people in the last 35 years. Consisting of five 20-mile loops through the wilderness of Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee, with more than 20,000m ascent, the race has a 60-hour time limit. In 2024, on her third attempt, Jasmin became the first woman to finish the race, completing the 5 loops with only 99 seconds to spare, in a dramatic finish which delighted onlookers around the world.

She studied veterinary science at Liverpool University (2002-2008), including an intercalated year of Veterinary Pathology at the Royal Veterinary College, London. From 2009-2010 Jasmin completed a rotating internship at the University of Minnesota, USA, before returning to Edinburgh University to start a residency in Small Animal Medicine, ultimately gaining European Diplomate status in 2014. Between 2015 and 2019, Jasmin completed a PhD studying the role of the RNA-methylation reader protein YTHDF2 in acute myeloid leukaemia. She is currently working as a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, where she does a mixture of clinical work, and research focused on human chronic biliary disease, specifically Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Emma Barnett is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author. She presents the BBC’s flagship Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and previously was the chief host of BBC Woman’s Hour and Newsnight. Her books are called: ‘Maternity Service’ and ‘It’s About Bloody Time. Period’. She also co-founded a publishing company called Colour Your Streets with her husband, which is mapping the whole of the UK in colouring books. She lives in London with their two children but her heart will always be in Manchester.

Merlyn has been a member of the governing body since 2015 and is now Honorary Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. She  has a Mathematics degree from Manchester University, an MBA from the London Business School and an MA from the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Her executive career was spent with the Bank of England, where she was appointed the first female Chief Cashier in 1999. In 2004 she gave up her executive career to pursue a broader range of interests, holding many non-executive directorships with large companies.

Image courtesy of the Bank of England.

Libby was consecrated in 2015.

Ethel ‘Sunny’ Lowry completed her crossing at just 22 years old in an impressive 15 hours and 41 minutes in 1933, becoming the fourth woman to swim the Channel.

The Guardian wrote: “In preparation, she had eaten up to 40 eggs a week (mostly in omelettes) and pushed up her weight to 14st 7lb (92 kilos) because it was predicted that she would lose a pound for every hour in the sea. On the swim, she ate nothing, but drank coffee, cocoa and beef tea, which she swigged from a medicine bottle dangled over the side of the escort boat.

“As she emerged from the sea near Dover, Kent, she was exhausted, covered in grease, her face and neck were swollen with jellyfish stings, and her lips were cracked and blue. She was wearing a daring (for those days) two-piece costume.”

Sunny was also the second-cousin of the famous artist.

Called up in 1923.

Qualified in 1922.

In September 2020, we were delighted to welcome MHSG’s eleventh Head Mistress, Mrs Helen Jeys.

Many of us remember her as a former member of staff at MHSG where she worked in a variety of roles, including Head of Religion and Philosophy and Deputy Head (Pastoral).

Helen has a First Class Degree in Theology from Durham University where she won the Bishop Robertson Award for Academic Achievement.  She completed her PGCE at Cambridge University.

Passionate about writing and about philosophy, Mrs Jeys has written philosophy text books and writes very frequently for educational publications on Aristotelian approaches to education.

She loves music and plays the ’cello and piano.

Mrs Jeys was previously Head of Alderley Edge School for Girls, where she guided the school to the best results in its history.

She has taught in an array of selective academic schools, including The Manchester Grammar School and Malvern Girls’ School.

Since joining Manchester High, Helen has led the School through the Covid pandemic, ensuring that pupils continued to be taught during lockdowns and that pupils and staff could return to school safely during times of maintaining social distancing and pupil ‘bubbles’.

Helen completed a re-branding of the School, working with key stakeholders to produce mission and vision statements alongside new values. A new strategy for the School was published in 2021 which has resulted in curriculum reviews across the School, as well as a pilot project on the increased use of technology in the classroom.

A new Extended Management Team has facilitated more pastoral support for pupils, as well as an increased focus on school partnerships and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Helen has worked on a masterplan of the school site and is looking forward to launching the next three-year strategy for the School in 2024.  Changes to the school site have included a new reception area and, in 2024, she will open a Learning Enhancement and Wellbeing Hub.

Under Helen’s leadership, Manchester High School for Girls has been welcomed into HMC, the organisation overseeing the most prestigious independent schools in the world, and, in September 2023, she herself was appointed Chair of the Girls’ School Association National Education Committee and she will be the Girls’ School Association’s President from September 2026.

Mrs Hewitt has a degree in Chemistry from the University of Sheffield.

Under her leadership, MHSG continued to educate the whole girl. To meet the demands of changing career patterns and the emotional and social challenges facing young people today, she extended the well-being programme and introduced the Higher Project Qualification in Y9 as part of the emphasis on independent learning throughout the School.

The house system, parent forum, the Pankhurst mentoring scheme and other initiatives strengthened our School community. Other exciting ventures included the Founders’ Lecture, hosting Model United Nations conferences and two Comenius projects enabling musicians to visit Sweden, Austria and Holland. In 2018, Mrs Hewitt led the School delegation on the march to St Peter’s Square for the unveiling of the Emmeline Pankhurst statue.

2012 saw the opening of the Prep extension by Beth Tweddle and, in 2014, our new Sixth Form Centre was opened by the Princess Royal.

Under Mrs Hewitt, the School had outstanding examination results and three excellent inspection reports. It was named The Sunday Times’ North West Independent School of the Year 2019.

Mrs Lee-Jones took a degree in Biblical Studies and Far Eastern Religions at University College, North Wales; she holds a Master’s degree in Education from London University and an Advanced Diploma in the Management of Education.

Under her dynamic leadership, the buildings were transformed into a modern environment and the school became vibrant and fit for the 21^st Century. Encouraging a spirit of confidence and self-belief, she guided MHSG to the best examination results in the School’s history at that time.

Her 10 years at MHSG were full of buzz and excitement; she hosted the School’s first royal visit in 1999 when The Princess Royal opened the new Prep and PE facilities.  In 2003, she welcomed Dr Richard Pankhurst to unveil the two maquettes of Sylvia Pankhurst. She invited Dame Kelly Holmes to open the new sports complex in 2007, and the girls were thrilled when Mrs Lee-Jones made an appearance in the school production of ‘Grease’.

She was appointed High Sheriff of Greater Manchester in 2011 and was Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester from 2007 to 2023.

Miss Diggory graduated in History from Westfield College, London. She had a distinguished career in education, serving as Head Mistress of St Alban’s High School for Girls, President of the Girls’ Schools Association and, after MHSG, as High Mistress of St Paul’s Girls’ School, London.

Elizabeth Diggory was a vocal campaigner for single sex education. One of the greatest challenges she faced was the increasing importance of presenting the School properly in the light of competition. Under her leadership, more work was done to improve the buildings and to ensure that the School was welcoming to parents and visitors.

Miss Diggory loved participating in School events and wore a sari with panache for an Asian Day organised by the girls in 1998. She was ever aware of the School’s proud history and ideals and wanted to reach out to the local community and to former pupils and friends.

Miss Moon took a BA in English and an M.Ed. in Education from Manchester University.

During her headship, there were considerable changes in the world of education; GCSE replaced O level and new A-level schemes were introduced. League tables appeared for the first time in 1992, and Miss Moon was mentioned in the House of Commons and in the national press when our results were wrongly reported.  She even featured in a cartoon in The Daily Telegraph showing a Secretary for Education cowering behind his desk before she was ushered into his office.

Amongst other things, new science and language laboratories were built, Star Block became the new Sixth Form centre and W1 became the first computer room. The infants moved into new accommodation in the Preparatory Department, and the reception area was opened in 1991.

Miss Blake read Geography at St Anne’s College, Oxford.

She guided the School through the transition from direct grant to independent status, setting up a Bursary Appeal to ensure that MHSG was still accessible to bright girls whose parents could not afford the fees. She enjoyed School functions and fundraising activities, donning a sari for an Indian evening and Elizabethan costume for her role as a serving wench at an Elizabethan banquet.  She also circumnavigated Platt Fields Park 15 times for a sponsored walk.

Miss Blake continued the School’s building programme to include the new Music House. She also inaugurated the Careers Department and the School Careers Conventions, now the Futures Fair.

School lunches changed their shape too; a self-service system was introduced which was a huge hit with the girls.

Miss Cottrell read Classics at Girton College, Cambridge. Passionate about her subject, she encouraged her pupils to construct Greek columns in the classroom and Celtic huts in the School grounds.

Despite the challenges posed by the rise of comprehensive education and the likely withdrawal of the direct grant scheme, the School continued to flourish.  New accommodation was provided to cope with increasing numbers and new schemes of work were devised. The present dining room and the Burstall Library were built, and a third storey was added to the East Wing.  The new swimming pool opened in 1969.

The Preparatory Department finally returned to Grangethorpe from its wartime accommodation in Didsbury in 1973, and the infants had their own exciting new building, the present Star Block.

Moving with the times, Miss Cottrell instigated a uniform committee; the school tie disappeared, and the Sixth Form were allowed to wear their own clothes.

Miss Bozman took an MA in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at the University of St Andrews.

When she was appointed Head Mistress, the School was still scattered between buildings in Didsbury, and she had to plan for the return to Grangethorpe in 1949. Unfortunately, the new building was far from ready.

An Old Girls’ Federation Newsletter described the chaos: “A tide of tarmacadam threatened to cut off those gathered at morning assembly in the gymnasium, corridors were a pitfall of tar, holes and woodblocks, the deafening sound of pneumatic drills accompanied lessons.  Staff and girls grew harassed and weary, but Miss Bozman kept us all sane by her unflagging energy, her sense of humour and her tactful soothing of jangled nerves.”

Sadly, Miss Bozman died only a year after her retirement.  The Bozman Rose Garden outside the C wing, which we all still enjoy today, was planted in her memory.

Dr Clarke took a first in Modern Languages at Girton College, Cambridge and was awarded an honorary LL.D from Aberdeen University in 1943.

During her headship, the School was a very lively place, maintaining high academic standards and a flourishing extra-curricular programme, including a League of Nations Society, a Guide Company and regular inter-school debates with MGS.

Her greatest achievement was to steer the School through the challenges of World War II.  She managed the temporary evacuation from MHSG’s home in Dover Street to Cheadle Hulme in 1939 and the School’s relocation to Grangethorpe Road in September 1940.

To everyone’s dismay, the fabulous new school was bombed in December 1940 on the first night of the Manchester Blitz. Fortunately, the Christmas holiday had begun, and no one was hurt, but the School was reduced to rubble.

Dr Clarke recalled the staff who crunched through the rubble to rescue books and equipment and found rented accommodation for the School in Didsbury.  School began again in January 1941 and not a single day’s teaching was lost!

Sara Burstall was a scholar in Mathematics at Girton College, Cambridge.

A committed suffragist, she took part in the 1913 Suffrage Pilgrimage and she recalled being showered by stones thrown by a crowd of women in Stockport!

Under her pioneering leadership, the School curriculum expanded to include Chemistry and Physics, as well as Biology and Botany. Languages included French, Spanish, German, Portuguese and Russian. MHSG also led the way in its housewifery and secretarial courses.

Miss Burstall gradually introduced school uniform, starting with a regulation sailor hat with a yellow school ribbon.  The ivy leaf was introduced as the school’s emblem and was first worn by the hockey team in 1901.

Miss Day was only 29 when she became MHSG’s first Head Mistress.

She had a first class Cambridge certificate with distinction in Divinity, French and Greek, the highest educational test a woman could take at the time.

She was initially reluctant to leave London for the North and was surprised when she came for interview to see trees and hear a thrush singing!

Sixty girls had enrolled on the first day, but by the time she retired, 3,680 girls had attended the School, and many had gone on to study at Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester and other universities.  She had raised the standard of girls’ education so far that MHSG became a model for other schools to follow.