A tribute to changemaking GDST alumna Dame Stella Rimington

The Girls’ Day School Trust pays tribute to Dame Stella Rimington, alumna of Nottingham Girls’​ High School. A true trailblazer, Dame Stella broke barriers as the first female Director General of MI5 and went on to become a best-selling novelist. She embodied the GDST value of fearless – leading with courage, integrity and vision. Her legacy will continue to inspire generations of GDST girls and young women to become leaders and changemakers.

stella rimington
Dame Stella Rimington visiting her old school and meeting current students and staff from Nottingham Girls’.

“Dame Stella Rimington showed us what fearless leadership truly looks like. Educated in an all-girls environment free from gender stereotyping, she role-modelled what’s possible when girls are encouraged from an early age to be ambitious and take intellectual risks. Equipped to challenge discrimination and overcome barriers, Dame Stella used her voice and power to drive equity and change. Her legacy will live on in the spirit of our students and alumnae.” — Cheryl Giovannoni, Chief Executive, GDST

 Dame Stella Rimington (13 May 1935 – 3 August 2025)