A new headteacher set to take over at a top Hampstead private school this month says leading the school has always been her ambition.

Georgina Masefield, 42, will begin as headteacher at North Bridge House Senior School, in Rosslyn Hill, at the start of next term.

It is her first headteacher role, having previously taught at the secondary school for 12 years, heading the English department from 2004 to 2010.

She said: “I think I’ve always wanted to lead North Bridge House, ever since I walked through the door. I think it’s an incredibly special place.

“I think it’s a very exciting new era. I’m thrilled to be part of shaping North Bridge House’s future.”

Mrs Masefield takes over as headteacher from Alexandra Ayre, who stood down earlier this year to focus on her newborn child.

The new headteacher took her first teaching job at North Bridge House in 1998 and left as head of the English department in 2010 to become an education adviser at Cognita, the company which runs the Hampstead school.

In her time away, the school has undergone some dramatic changes.

Last September, North Bridge House merged with the Royal School Hampstead, an all-girls independent school, which was taken over by Cognita.

As part of the takeover, North Bridge House Senior School moved from its old site in Gloucester Avenue, Primrose Hill, into the Royal School Hampstead’s building in Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead, in September.

Pupils starting at the new site in September were treated to brand new facilities following a £5million redevelopment project of the old Royal School Hampstead site.

There has also been a revamp of the curriculum on offer to boys and girls who attend the £4,500-per-term school.

Mrs Masefield, a lifelong Muswell Hill resident and former Channing School pupil, said: “I think the new building is an absolutely spectacular opportunity to utilise our enhanced curriculum.

“I want a relentless improvement of standards. The heart of a school is the quality of teaching and learning and I’m definitely striving for excellence in that particular area.”

The mother-of-one believes building relationships with each and every pupil is an extremely important part of the new role.

“I’m very excited about my first assembly on the first day back,” she said. “It’s very important for the pupils to know a little bit about me and I think it’s very important for me to get to know them individually.

“It’s very important that I know the aspirations and the hopes and the dreams that make up the individual child.

“I think that’s absolutely key to what North Bridge is about. A headteacher is a teacher at heart and teaching is something one has a calling to do. I think it’s the most rewarding job.”

The school will be holding an open morning on April 17 to give parents a chance to meet Mrs Masefield and find out more.