The headteacher of the Hasmonean High School for Girls, Katherine Brice, is to retire next January after six years in charge.

During her tenure, the school was rated good with outstanding features by Ofsted, ranked outstanding for Jewish studies and this year was one of the top 20 comprehensives in the country for GCSE and A-level results.

The former deputy head of City of London School for Girls said it had been had been “the most amazing privilege” and “honour of my life to serve as headteacher of such a great school”.

Hasmonean, she said, was “a school like no other and I am so thankful for the opportunity to have been part of its journey. In particular, learning about the richness of Orthodox Judaism and participating, however imperfectly, in many of the festivals and celebrations has been both a revelation and a pleasure.”

Katherine Brice

Andrew McClusky, chief executive of the Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust, said her “exemplary leadership, wonderful grace and good humour will be very much missed by the whole Hasmonean community. We very much hope that she will enjoy a very well-deserved and fulfilling retirement.”

The trust’s chair of trustee Gary Swabel and the school’s chair of governors Steven Blumgart, added, “Mrs Brice has demonstrated wisdom, intelligence, insight, compassion and huge resilience. She has acted as a role model of decency and we are truly indebted to her. We are sure that the entire community will join us in thanking her for the tremendous amount that she has given to Hasmonean during her time here.”

A search for a successor is under way.