Caroline Jordan is to step down as Headmistress at the end of August 2027, following 16 years of “exceptional leadership”, said the private school.

Headington School became part of Headington Rye Oxford in September 2024, following the merger with Rye St Antony day and boarding school.

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Dr Burley is currently Headmaster of King’s High School, Warwick, one of the UK’s leading independent girls’ schools. Under his leadership, King’s High was named Independent School of the Year in both 2021 and 2025, while Dr Burley was recognised nationally as Tatler Best Head of a Public School in 2025.

The appointment marks a return to Headington for Dr Burley, who was Head of English from 2013 to 2016 before moving into senior leadership and headship at King’s High School.

He returns with a strong reputation for academic excellence, pastoral leadership and educational innovation.

It also comes as the school prepares to enter an exciting new chapter under its new name, Headington School Oxford, reflecting its confidence in the future and its commitment to building on its long-established reputation for educational excellence.

Carol Oster Warriner, Chair of Governors, said: “We are delighted to appoint Stephen following a highly-competitive recruitment process. He impressed governors, pupils and staff alike with his warmth, authenticity and clarity of vision.

“His commitment to future-focused education and equipping young people with the confidence, character and adaptability needed to succeed in the future aligns strongly with our vision for Headington School Oxford.

“Combined with his affection for the School and the breadth of experience he has gained since leaving, we are confident he is ideally placed to lead us through the next stage of our development.”

Dr Stephen Burley new headmaster at Headington School (Image: Headington School)

Dr Burley said: “I am honoured and delighted to be returning to Headington School Oxford.

“The school has always held a special place in my heart and I have followed its development with great interest and admiration.

“This is an exciting moment in the School’s history and I look forward to working with pupils, staff, parents and Governors to build on its many strengths and to ensure that every young person leaves with the confidence, character and skills to thrive in an rapidly changing world.”

Caroline Jordan who is to leave Headington School as headmistress (Image: Contributed)

Current Headmistress Caroline Jordan will step down at the end of August 2027 after what will by then have been 16 years of exceptional leadership.

The school will celebrate her significant contribution during the coming academic year while working closely with Dr Burley to ensure a smooth transition.

The Grammy-nominated singer is due to perform in the Great Court at the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Tuesday, June 30, as the new open-air concert series continues its debut run in Woodstock.

Tomorrow’s show will mark his first appearance in Oxfordshire, with the Blenheim Palace Festival launched as a successor to long-running summer concerts on the site.

The 31-year-old, whose real name is Jaten Dimsdale, has risen from online covers to global chart success, earning a Grammy nomination and scoring a major hit with Lose Control in 2023.

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Mr Swims, known for his blend of pop, soul and R&B, will be joined by Canadian singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith as a special guest, with Ruti opening the show.

Tomorrow’s concert forms part of the first-ever Blenheim Palace Festival, a five-date series running from Saturday, June 27 to Saturday, July 4, 2026, in the palace’s Great Court.

The new event began on Saturday, June 27, with Pete Tong presents Ibiza Classics, featuring The Essential Orchestra and sets from DJs Sarah Story and Danny Rampling.

On Sunday, June 28, Alanis Morissette took to the stage with support from Skunk Anansie, extending the festival’s focus on major international names across rock and pop.

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Organisers Cuffe & Taylor, working with MARI Arts & Entertainment, are positioning the festival as a new summer fixture at Blenheim Palace, following the end of Nocturne Live’s ten-year run at the venue.

Headline shows from Mr Swims and Ms Spencer Smith tomorrow will be followed by Katy Perry’s appearance on Wednesday, July 1, and a closing night with Michael Bublé on Saturday, July 4.

American pop star Katy Perry is scheduled to perform a midweek set in Woodstock, continuing the festival’s emphasis on global chart-toppers at the Oxfordshire landmark.

Mr Bublé will round off the run with support from Appleton and The Mariachis, adding a swing and pop finale to the inaugural programme at the palace.

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Tickets for Teddy Swims at Blenheim Palace on Tuesday, June 30, are available via the Blenheim Palace Festival website and Ticketmaster, with seated options and hospitality upgrades advertised by organisers.

Blenheim Palace itself is one of Oxfordshire’s most recognisable landmarks, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to Woodstock every year.

The stately home, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, is set in more than 2,000 acres of landscaped parkland, providing a dramatic backdrop for the new festival.

Its Great Court and sweeping grounds have hosted major outdoor concerts for more than a decade.

She was known for her appearances in the sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born.

A statement on behalf of Dame Penelope’s family said: “We are deeply saddened to announce that Dame Penelope Keith died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey where she had lived for more than 50 years.

“The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”

RIP Penelope Keith. Such a talented actress with brilliant timing and an accent that could cut glass. Loved watching her pic.twitter.com/9WmInFvjCk

— 🇬🇧🐕Rach🍺🏌🏼‍♀️ (@IsItRaquel) June 29, 2026

Among those to pay tribute was the MP Jeremy Hunt who posted on X: “Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Dame Penelope Keith CBE.

“She was a neighbour & friend where she was dearly loved by all who knew her in Milford.

“She helped Britain laugh at itself, one of our best national qualities, &brought happiness to millions.

“RIP dear Penny.”

The career of Dame Penelope Keith

Keith was born in Sutton, Surrey, in 1940, and she went to a Catholic convent boarding school in Seaford at the age of six.

Dame Penelope Keith collected a CBE from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 (Image: PA Wire)

It was here she became interested in acting and frequently went to matinées in the West End with her mother.

Keith joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963 and went on to win the 1976 Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for the play Donkeys’ Years.

She became a household name in the UK playing Margo Leadbetter in the sitcom The Good Life (1975–78), winning the 1977 BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance.

In 1978, Keith won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for The Norman Conquests.

In her later career, she presented some documentary series for the BBC and Channel 4.

She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to the arts and to charity.

Were you a fan of Dame Penelope Keith’s work? Let us know in the comments.