“Charlotte House provides a bespoke education; we are committed to achieving excellence for all the girls and teach them that resilience and perseverance are key traits if one is to succeed in life. Our girls leave us with a font of knowledge thanks to our specialist teachers. However, more importantly they move on with a tool kit for life consisting of self-confidence, an enthusiasm for learning and goals and aspirations for their future.”
Penny Woodcock
Headteacher of Charlotte House
I have been at Charlotte House Prep School since 2010 and have over twenty years teaching experience.
Charlotte House provides a bespoke education; we are committed to achieving excellence for all the girls and teach them that resilience and perseverance are key traits if one is to succeed in life. Our girls leave us with a font of knowledge thanks to our specialist teachers. However, more importantly they move on with a tool kit for life consisting of self-confidence, an enthusiasm for learning and goals and aspirations for their future.
We understand how busy many of our parents are; our morning club starts at 7.35am with breakfast available and the after-school facility runs until 6pm with a light tea served at 4.45pm.
Our 11+ results to leading secondary schools demonstrate how well we prepare our girls; secondary schools often tell us how they welcome our girls as they are so well organised, polite and able to think for themselves. We have a long history of all girls being offered places at their chosen schools and 32 academic scholarships have been awarded since 2017.
The school motto, I am, I can, I ought, I will gives our girls the very clear message that they are capable of achieving great things and they do exactly that!
Charlotte House is a forward thinking school still built on traditional values. This winning combination means we provide our girls with all the social and academic tools they need to become independent, successful and confident caring women.
At Charlotte House we recognise the importance of strong links between home and school and there are many opportunities for you to visit us and find out more about your daughter’s progress.
We are a dynamic school whose girls achieve great things.
Penny Woodcock BA QTS
Headteacher of Charlotte House
Penny’s Biography
“Since 2015, Penny Woodcock BA QTS (King Alfred’s University Winchester), previously deputy head for four years. Grew up just round the corner and attended St Clement Danes, although she caught the teaching bug long before that: ‘I had this probably slightly mad, really fun, teacher in primary school and that was it!’ Cut teeth at co-ed state school, Eastbury Farm, in Northwood, then moved to The Beacon in Amersham, a large boys’ prep, where she was housemistress and assistant to the head of middle school, before joining Charlotte House in 2010.
Has taught the whole curriculum from nursery up to year 8, although it’s English and drama that really float her boat – we watched her in action, enthusiastically directing the year 6 rehearsal of a modern Midsummer Night’s Dream. A hands-on head, you’ll also regularly find her covering lessons and getting stuck into playtime with the girls. Apart from anything else, she believes it directly impacts on the girls’ behaviour, impeccable by all accounts: ‘If they didn’t know me and I told them they’d just disappointed me, why would they care?’ She has been a SENCo, promotes British sign language in prep schools and is an ISI inspector.
A world away from the more puritanical heads we meet, she is warm, laid back, only too willing to admit her imperfections and anxieties (including to the girls) and laps up the inevitable comical side of prep school life. She is also savvy, progressive and not afraid of having difficult conversations. Parents adore her: ‘If I could take her with us when we go to secondary school, I would.’ ‘I don’t like her, I love her – she is so involved with the children, dressing up as the queen on historic day, going on all the residentials and is basically their school mum.’ Staff: ‘The best head I’ve ever worked with.’ Pupils: ‘Easily the kindest person I know.’
In her spare time, she enjoys Pilates, walking her dog and – you guessed it – going to the theatre.”
The whole place fizzes with energy and happiness and the only real criticism is that there isn’t a secondary school.
I am delighted to announce that Mrs Giliomee will become my successor, officially taking over the reins as Headteacher at Charlotte House in January 2027. Her impressive background and seasoned leadership within the independent sector make her exceptionally well-suited to lead our school into its next chapter.
Penny Woodcock
Mrs Giliomee brings a wealth of experience from preparatory environments. She has spent a significant amount of her career at Ashfold School in Buckinghamshire. At Ashfold, Mrs Giliomee’s trajectory was marked by a series of high-impact senior leadership appointments. While her experience spans the entire educational journey from Early Years to Year 8, she was specifically entrusted with the Headship of Pre-Prep. In a large, high-achieving preparatory school, this is a pivotal executive role; Mrs Giliomee was responsible for the strategic direction, academic standards, and pastoral integrity of the school’s foundation.
Her portfolio at Ashfold was remarkably diverse, including:
Mrs Giliomee is currently the Deputy Head of Broughton Manor Prep School. In this role, she leads on all aspects of school life within a large, vibrant, and diverse community. This position has further sharpened her expertise in school-wide strategic planning, staff mentorship, and the delivery of a rigorous yet nurturing academic curriculum.
Beyond her professional accolades, Mrs Giliomee offers the invaluable perspective of a “Prep school parent,” as her own children attended the schools in which she taught. This gives her a unique, 360-degree understanding of the high expectations and the warm, family atmosphere that Charlotte House families value so dearly. Mrs Giliomee’s journey has been defined by a pursuit of excellence and a deep commitment to ensuring every child feels seen, heard, challenged, and supported so all thrive.
Penny Woodcock
