Head's Welcome - Devonshire House

Introducing Mrs O’Brien – New Head of School from September 2026

I am currently Head of School at St Michael’s in Highgate and have spent over 20 years working in North London primary schools. 10 years of those were as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), a role that has deepened my commitment to ensuring every child feels supported, valued, and able to achieve their very best.

I care deeply about providing high-quality teaching and creating a school environment where children feel happy, confident, and inspired to learn. I believe that when pupils feel known and encouraged, they flourish, not just academically, but as individuals.

Outside of school, I am a mum to three boys, two of whom are now grown up and independent, which gives me a real appreciation of how quickly children grow and how important these early school years are.

I am truly delighted to be joining Devonshire House in September and am very much looking forward to meeting all the pupils, staff, and families. I am excited to spend time in school over the summer term, getting to know the community and beginning to build the strong relationships that are at the heart of any happy and successful school.

Head's Welcome

A Message from the Head, Mr Keighley-Elstub

When I talk to visiting parents, there is often a sense that they are weighing up diametrically opposed options. Which to go for? The serious, academically ambitious, machine of a school, at the expense of a happy school experience? Or the happy school which favours a more bohemian approach? You can have both here. We occupy the rare mid-ground. Academic rigour and a happy, balanced, nurturing childhood. The two are not mutually exclusive and you don’t have to choose between them.

At Devonshire House, your child will fly academically precisely because they are known and loved as an individual through bespoke relationships. Critical thought and nuanced argument are possible because your child has developed the unpretentious self-esteem that opens minds and allows for fearless learning. Your child will leave us equipped to navigate their future at their chosen senior school because their wellbeing has mattered as much as their grades.