Emma Károlyi reflects on her journey to becoming the first female head of St George’s School Windsor Castle and her vision for the future.
The Path to Education
What inspired you to pursue a career in education?
Education runs in my family – my grandmother was a teacher, and my father taught before becoming an educational psychologist. One of my earliest memories was ‘playing schools’ with my toys and teaching them how to tell the time. I have to thank some of my incredible teachers too, particularly in junior school, who inspired me to go into the profession.
Can you give us a potted history of your roles to date?
During my career, I have taught all prep school year groups from Nursery to Year 8. I taught in the largest Edinburgh day school for seven years, ultimately becoming Head of Year 6. I then moved to East Lothian, where I worked for 10 years, teaching Year 7 and my subject specialism, Latin and Classical Studies, before being appointed as Assistant Head and Director of Studies. Following this, I became Head of the Junior King’s School in Canterbury for seven years.
St George’s School Windsor Castle
What attracted you to working at St George’s?
St George’s is a unique gem of a school, and its warm ethos and values of Kindness, Honesty, and Courage attracted me straight away. With around 300 children from Kindergarten to Year 8, the school is large enough for our students to build secure friendships, but small enough for them to enjoy a more personalised, supportive, and individual approach to their educational journey.
The school’s International Baccalaureate curriculum was also attractive to me: the skills-based approach stretches our young people intellectually, and develops the crucial skills of inquiry, curiosity, collaboration and critical thinking. This thoroughly prepares them for senior school but also life beyond, ensuring our students are genuinely Real World Ready.
Then of course, the iconic location and history. Dating from 1348 when the school was formed, originally to educate the choristers of St George’s Chapel, I love the juxtaposition of being one of the oldest prep schools in the country and one of the most intellectually forward-looking – it’s the best experience possible for our students.
What was the first thing that struck you when visiting the school?
In all my many visits to St George’s prior to starting, the thing that struck me most was the people: our students – their modest confidence and polite manners and their love of and pride in their school – they come into school smiling (and skipping in some cases)! We also have a superb staff team – experienced, dedicated and very caring, nurturing the children as individuals.
Leadership and Vision
How does it feel to be the first female head in the school’s history?
I was the first female head of Junior King’s and now the first female head of St George’s. While it’s special to be the first (twice!), it’s not something I spend time thinking about – there are too many other things to do!
What do you enjoy seeing in a typical class?
I enjoy seeing engaged, happy children focused on their work in a calm environment and their enthusiasm and pride in their learning. Equally, seeing children taking on responsibilities – making speeches, looking after others, being kind, showing empathy and thoughtfulness as good citizens. I love hearing the children’s ideas.
What elements of running the school are you most excited about?
St George’s is a very exciting and unique place, and I love the fact that no two minutes are ever the same. I am excited about working with my team to develop the school further, enhancing the already outstanding opportunities for our students and getting to know everyone in the community better.
How has your first month gone?
The first month has flown by. I have been absorbing everything and listening carefully while getting to know the students, staff, and parents, as well as the wider St George’s community. There have been a number of highlights already, but the one that has been the most personally memorable to date was my installation into St George’s Chapel as ‘Master of Grammar’.
Are you looking to introduce anything new in the coming months?
As a head, it is vitally important to fully understand the school you are leading. As such, my focus in the short term remains to get to know the school inside out, understand what works well, and how we can best continue to evolve to ensure we remain at the forefront of educational change.
With a pioneering IB curriculum, a deeply ingrained focus on student wellbeing, and an enormous breadth of opportunity across performing arts, sport, art, and design, St George’s School Windsor Castle is already extremely well placed to serve the needs of our young people. My job is to ensure it remains so for many generations to come.
For more information, visit St George’s School Windsor Castle.
