Cokethorpe School in Witney has appointed its first female Head, Dr Sarah Squire DPhil, MA, PGCE, to succeed retiring Headmaster Mr Damian Ettinger after his tenure of 23 years.
Dr Sarah Squire was announced as Cokethorpe’s eighth Head, and first Headmistress, joining the school in September 2025. Dr Squire joins Cokethorpe from d’Overbroeck’s School where she has been the Pastoral Director and Vice Principal since 2020.
Previously, Dr Squire was Deputy Head, Students and Staff, at Oxford High School, having begun her teaching career at Wallingford School. Before teaching, Dr Squire was a lecturer and tutor in Psychology and a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford.
The Chair of Governors of the through-school in West Oxfordshire, John Bennett, said, “We are delighted in the appointment of Dr Squire to be our next Head at Cokethorpe. We have great confidence that we have identified the right candidate to lead Cokethorpe with vision, passion, and integrity.”
Damian Ettinger, who will retire at the end of the school year, added, “After 23 years at the helm of Cokethorpe, years in which the school has grown and gone through many changes, and where my wife and I have raised our children, it has been a difficult decision to make.
“Cokethorpe is a part of our family. It is gratifying to know that Cokethorpe will be in the surest of hands with Sarah as the new Headmistress from September.”
On her appointment, Sarah said, “I am delighted to have been appointed Head of Cokethorpe School.
“The warmth and spirit of Cokethorpe is very special. At every visit, I have been struck by pupils of all ages thriving from the many opportunities available to them and by the individual talents nurtured so purposefully in the classroom and beyond.
“I feel privileged and honoured to be building on Cokethorpe’s strong legacy and am very excited about leading the school into the next chapter of its history.”
