Mrs Taylor-Gooby was appointed Headmistress in April 1999.  She had been a full time member of the English staff since 1991 and Head of Sixth Form since 1995.  Her academic results in the English Department were consistently of the highest standard and, as Head of Sixth Form, she initiated the highly successful Nelson House Society – a comprehensive programme of extra-curricular cultural, social and political activities.

Mrs Taylor-Gooby has wide experience of education, encompassing comprehensive schools, Further Education and adult learning provision.

In 1997 she was awarded an MA with Distinction by the University of London after two years of part-time study.  Her specialisms were Chaucer and the 'Role of Women in Medieval Society'.  She continues to enjoy teaching Chaucer to Sixth Formers, including Oxbridge candidates.

The family - husband, Richard, and children, Katy, Edward, Aidan and Sophie - have lived in Haslemere since 1987.  Katy works for a charity, Edward is an actor and teacher and the two younger children have recently embarked upon careers.

Mrs Hirst joined The Royal School in April 2004 as Admissions Coordinator, having previously worked in corporate event management and television.  She became Assistant Head in April 2010 and Head of the Junior School in March 2011.

In addition to her management responsibilities, she teaches RE to Prep 5 and runs the Junior School’s Current Affairs and What on Earth?! clubs.   She has a particular interest in the concept of ‘reflective’ learning and the way in which characteristics such as resilience, perseverance, humour and questioning can be used to great effect by young learners.

Mrs Hirst has an MA in Modern History from Oriel College, Oxford and an MSc with Distinction in Education and Training Management from the University of Portsmouth.

When she is not at School, Mrs Hirst and her husband Nigel enjoy walking with their dog Hector, gardening and gathering eggs from their four chickens.

Mr Senior was appointed Director of Music at The Royal School in 2001, having previously worked in schools in Durham, Devon and Germany.  He became a Sixth Form tutor (Academic responsibilities) in 2008 and then Head of Sixth Form in May 2011. 

Mr Senior has enjoyed great success in both academic and extra-curricular music, recently achieving 100% A*-A at A level and 100% A*-B at GCSE level. He has conducted the school choirs at the Royal Albert Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral and most recently live on The Alan Titchmarsh Show. 

In his role as Head of Sixth Form, Mr Senior’s philosophy is that the Sixth Form is a bridge between school, university and the world of work and he considers it a privilege to be able to help individual students in developing and implementing realistic career plans as they prepare for life.

In his spare time, he enjoys holidays with his family – wife, Marie and children, Evelyn and Isabelle and playing cricket for Lynchmere CC.