About the GDST
The Girls’ Day School Trust is the UK’s leading family of 25 girls’ schools including 23 independent schools and two academies. In all of our schools, academic excellence is a given – at the GDST we develop character beyond the curriculum.
We focus not only on what is learned but how it is learned. Ensuring our girls are confident and fearless, determined to show what they can do. Nothing holds our girls back – they’re encouraged to embrace every role and subject. As a result, they trust their own abilities and are alive to every opportunity. This is the GDST Difference.
We concentrate on creating an environment where all can thrive and learn from one another. Physical and emotional wellbeing is paramount, which is why every GDST school provides an incredible array of extra-curricular activities and pastoral and wellbeing programmes.
GDST schools
- Belvedere Academy
- Birkenhead High School Academy
- Brighton Girls
- Howell's School, Llandaff
- Newcastle High School for Girls
- Northampton High School
- Norwich High School for Girls
- Nottingham Girls' High School
- Oxford High School
- Portsmouth High School
- Royal High School Bath
- Sheffield Girls'
- Shrewsbury High School
People
Cheryl Giovannoni
Chief Executive
Cheryl Giovannoni joined the Girls’ Day School Trust as CEO in 2016. Born and brought up in South Africa, Cheryl’s first career saw her leading some of the world’s largest companies in the advertising and creative industries in the WPP Group. She was CEO of boutique design agency Coley Porter Bell, European President of global brand consulting firm Landor Associates, and UK CEO of advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather London.
Cheryl has spent much of her career supporting women in the workplace, helping them thrive and push the boundaries, often in male dominated industries. Over many years, she has dedicated time to mentoring people from all walks of life, in the GDST family and through the WACL mentoring programme.
She is passionate about the power of education to solve the world’s most intractable problems, and the role women play in creating an equal and better world for all.
Joining GDST – an organisation dedicated to educating girls – was a dream role for Cheryl. As Chief Executive of one of the UK’s largest charities, Cheryl is responsible for 25 schools and nearly 20,000 students across the UK, leading a talented workforce of 4,000 teachers and support staff, all committed to the mission of helping girls learn without limits.
With the GDST having surpassed it’s 150th anniversary in 2022, Cheryl’s ambition is to continue to build on the organisation’s powerful legacy as the global leader in girls’ education, pioneers in and shapers of the future for the next 150 years and beyond.
A yoga devotee and eternal optimist, Cheryl lives in London and has two daughters; one who has recently entered the teaching profession, and the other who has just graduated and is beginning her own journey into the world of work.
Kevin Stannard
Director of Innovation and Learning
Dr Kevin Stannard joined the GDST from University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) where he was Director of Education.
He was responsible for initiatives and international education reform projects including the introduction of the Cambridge Pre-U in both state and independent schools, the promotion of bilingual education in Spain and the Netherlands and the development of a new curriculum for model schools in Egypt. He has also been an advisor on curriculum reform to the Singapore Ministry of Education.
Before joining CIE, Kevin taught at a number of independent schools including Eton College, where he was Head of Geography. While there he wrote a number of geography textbooks, conducted research on a range of geographical themes and was responsible for UCAS applications.
Marianne Clarke
Director of Marketing & Engagement
Marianne is a former broadcast journalist who has worked at the BBC in on-air and leadership roles. She was the editorial lead on numerous radio, TV and online outlets and has served on the senior leadership teams of BBC News and BBC England.
Marianne led the ‘Women in Leadership’ programme for BBC News and delivered groundbreaking work to accelerate the career progression of women across the whole organisation. The results were presented at the World Economic Forum. She has worked extensively with partner organisations to realise the opportunities of collaborative working.
Marianne is a passionate advocate for all-girls’ education rooted in her own experiences. This led her to the position of Director of Engagement & Development at one of the country’s leading girls’ schools before joining the GDST in June 2024.
Simon Haywood
Chief Financial Officer
Simon is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales with over 25 years of hands on financial, accounting and management experience with most of his time spent in Private Equity backed businesses.
Simon joined the GDST in June 2024, having gained extensive experience in K-12 school positions, which included several roles in the Cognita Schools group and Affinitas Education. His commercial and management experience will support the ongoing development of the GDST strategy, as we continue to extend our reach and increase the number of students within our schools ‘where girls learn without limits’.
Simon has a keen interest in technology, automation and stakeholder engagement, which will ensure the GDST continues to realise efficiencies as the tech and AI landscape evolves.
