Each month we invite a headteacher or college principal to share their views on education. This month we are delighted to speak to Jo Duncan, Head of Wycombe Abbey. students at this outstanding girls school achieved 76.54% A*/A grades at A-Level in 2025, earning them top UK girls school and a coveted Best-Schools Crystal Award.

What first sparked your interest in education when becoming a teacher?

When I was at school, my career aspiration was to become a lawyer. I think I was particularly influenced by the 80s TV series LA Law! When I was deciding on my degree course, I went to talk to my RS teacher to ask her about the study of Theology at undergraduate level and in that conversation she told me that one person from her A Level class every year became an RS teacher, and she thought that this year it would be me. I told her I had no intention of becoming a teacher. However, during my degree course (joint honours in Theology/English Literature) I had the opportunity to go to Eastern Europe in the summers of my second and third year to teach English. There were few resources – just a blackboard with chalk and a class full of willing pupils - and I absolutely loved it. By the time I was in my final year at St Andrews I had decided that teaching was the career for me. I didn’t even consider anything else. I applied to do my PGCE at Homerton, Cambridge and went from there.

How did your own teachers influence your teaching style?

I was educated at a girls’ grammar school in Northern Ireland, and I had some excellent teachers throughout my time. Those who inspired me did so through their deep knowledge and love of their subjects, most notably the RS teacher mentioned above, but I was also influenced by my English and History teachers, these were subjects which I took at A-level. They influenced my teaching style because they encouraged me to read widely, ask questions, and enjoy learning and that is something that I have tried to do with my pupils.

What makes a great school?

I think a great school is built on a firm foundation and has a clear vision for the future. It’s a place with learning at its heart and a genuine focus on young people who are growing and developing into young adults. A great school is far more than excellent examination results and outcomes, it’s about people, community, friendship, and it’s based on a shared set of values. In the case of Wycombe Abbey these are trust, encouragement and mutual respect.

What is your favourite part of the school day?

Every day is so different that this question is difficult to answer, but my favourite part of the school week is first thing on a Friday when we have Big School - basically school assembly - when the whole school comes together. I lead it but many people speak, including girls who share initiatives or talk about things they’ve done or future plans. We give out awards and celebrate success. I also enjoy seeing the School come together on a Friday afternoon for Whole School Singing, it’s such a nice way to end the working week with enthusiastic singing from the pupils.

What’s your favourite interview question for a prospective student?

One of my favourites is, ‘If I had a magic carpet and I said you could use it to go anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?’ Their answers are always fascinating.

If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be?

If I could change one thing it would be to enable every pupil to be able to participate in our Global Links program. We currently have a number of exchange opportunities with boarding schools in Australia, Canada, US and India but they are limited in number and and girls have to apply for them. I think it’s a great learning experience to spend time in another culture and particularly in another school to really start to understand it as well as to learn about yourself.

When you tell people you are a headteacher, what is their reaction?

I have many conversations about being a Headteacher, especially when I have to share my address and postcode because it is ‘The Headmistress’s House, Wycombe Abbey’. People are intrigued more than anything else and find it fascinating that I might live at School as well as being a Headteacher. I’ve been a Head for 18 years now so it’s less of an issue, but previously people always commented, ‘you seem too young to be a Headmistress’, which was probably true.

What positive message would you want to give to the world?

I think there’s a lot of anxiety, especially amongst teenagers, for a whole range of reasons but my positive message to young people is that life is a fantastic adventure to be lived. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, far from it, but it is something to be cherished and enjoyed.