Surrey


<p><em>Say hello to Hayley Robinson, who became Head of RGS Surrey Hills in April 2024, having previously stepped up as Acting Head. A big believer in holistic education, Hayley is firmly of the view that happy children are successful children &#8211; and she’s focused on helping pupils thrive both in and beyond the classroom. She’s also pushing sport up the agenda across the school, particularly girls’ football, and is happiest outdoors, whether that’s cycling, playing padel or out on the hockey pitch.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1505" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/04/RGS-Surrey-Hills-Hayley-Robinson-SQ.jpg" alt="Hayley Robinson, headteacher at RGS Surrey Hills." class="wp-image-65195" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/04/RGS-Surrey-Hills-Hayley-Robinson-SQ.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/04/RGS-Surrey-Hills-Hayley-Robinson-SQ-797x800.jpg 797w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/04/RGS-Surrey-Hills-Hayley-Robinson-SQ-997x1000.jpg 997w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/04/RGS-Surrey-Hills-Hayley-Robinson-SQ-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/04/RGS-Surrey-Hills-Hayley-Robinson-SQ-768x771.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hayley Robinson, headteacher at RGS Surrey Hills.</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-long-have-you-been-at-rgs-surrey-hills"><em>How long have you been at RGS Surrey Hills?</em></h3>



<p>It will be my third year come September. It’s been a transformational journey already, and we’re only just getting started.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-top-3-things-to-tackle-in-your-inbox"><em>What are the top 3 things to tackle in your inbox?</em></h3>



<ol>
<li>Admissions &#8211; every enquiry matters and deserves a fast, personal response</li>



<li>Staff support &#8211; making sure people feel clear, confident and valued</li>



<li>Strategic opportunities &#8211; the things that move the school forward, not just keep it running</li>
</ol>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-30-second-elevator-pitch-for-your-school-sell-it"><em>30 second elevator pitch for your school – sell it!</em></h3>



<p>RGS Surrey Hills is a school where every student is known, challenged and inspired. We combine the warmth and individual attention of a small school with the ambition and opportunity of a much larger one through the RGS family. Whether it’s academic success, global experiences, or pathways like our football programme with Chelsea, we are about opening doors and building confident, capable young people who are ready for the world.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-would-you-like-to-star-as-you-in-the-movie"><em>Who would you like to star as you in the movie?</em></h3>



<p>Someone like Gillian Anderson or Suranne Jones. 😊</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-ve-been-given-a-1m-donation-for-the-school-what-will-you-spend-it-on"><em>You’ve been given a £1m donation for the school, what will you spend it on?</em></h3>



<p>A high-performance centre that blends academics and wellbeing: a space for strength and conditioning, sports science, and quiet study. Somewhere students can push themselves, but also learn how to sustain that performance long term. A 4G pitch. A swimming pool.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-your-own-childhood-school-days"><em>Describe your own childhood school days</em></h3>



<p>Busy, structured, and full of expectations. I worked hard, did what was asked, and was probably more serious than I needed to be, but it gave me a strong foundation.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-the-common-theme-of-hayley-robinson-s-school-reports"><em>What was the common theme of Hayley Robinson&#8217;s school reports?</em></h3>



<p>“Energetic and capable, but needs to speak up more.” I’ve made up for that since.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-worst-teachers-at-your-childhood-school-and-why"><em>Favourite/worst teachers at your childhood school and why?</em></h3>



<p>My favourite teachers taught me English and Spanish &#8211; they saw potential before I fully saw it myself. They pushed me through their own passion and enthusiasm, but also made me feel safe to try. The worst were the ones who were not connected to their subject nor the people in the room.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-and-worst-subject-at-school"><em>Best and worst subject at school?</em></h3>



<p>Best: English &#8211; I loved ideas, interpretation and critical thinking.<br>Worst: Physics &#8211; I respected it more than I understood it.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-you-go-to-uni"><em>Where did you go to uni?</em></h3>



<p>University of Manchester and subsequently the IOE at UCL.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-did-you-study"><em>What did you study?</em></h3>



<p>English and Spanish Joint Honours, followed by a PGCE and MEd.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-your-high-and-low-of-student-life"><em>What was your high and low of student life?</em></h3>



<p>High: The independence and friendships &#8211; realising you can shape your own path.<br>Low: The moments of self-doubt when you’re figuring out who you are and where you fit.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-weren-t-a-head-what-would-you-be"><em>If you weren’t a head, what would you be?</em></h3>



<p>Probably building something &#8211; either a business or a school group. I like creating, improving and growing things.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-what-s-on-your-work-desk"><em>Describe what’s on your work desk…</em></h3>



<p>Organised chaos! A laptop, multiple notebooks filled with ideas, a cup of tea, paperwork, and a constant stream of post-it notes with reminders and student names.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-what-s-in-the-top-drawer"><em>And what’s in the top drawer?</em></h3>



<p>Mechanical pencils, the next notebook, and the essentials to get through a long day. Nothing glamorous &#8211; just practical.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/05/Film-the-pursuit-of-happyness.jpg" alt="The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith." class="wp-image-60135" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/05/Film-the-pursuit-of-happyness.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/05/Film-the-pursuit-of-happyness-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/05/Film-the-pursuit-of-happyness-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/05/Film-the-pursuit-of-happyness-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/05/Film-the-pursuit-of-happyness-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8216;The Pursuit of Happyness&#8217;, starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith, is a film that every child should see according to Hayley Robinson. </figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-play-book-and-film-should-be-on-every-child-s-cultural-bucket-list"><em>What play, book and film should be on every child’s cultural bucket list?</em></h3>



<p>Play: <em>An Inspector Calls</em><br>Book: <em>To Kill a Mockingbird</em><br>Film: <em>The Pursuit of Happyness</em></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-best-school-trip-you-ve-ever-been-on"><em>What’s the best school trip you’ve ever been on?</em></h3>



<p>As a student &#8211; Spanish trips to explore Spain and its culture. As a teacher &#8211; a whole school watersports trip at a previous school.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-your-favourite-books-in-childhood-uni-and-now"><em>Tell us your favourite books – in childhood, uni and now.</em></h3>



<p>Childhood: <em>Matilda</em> &#8211; strong, independent, slightly rebellious<br>Uni: <em>Birdsong</em> &#8211; powerful, emotional, thought-provoking<br>Now: <em>Fleishman Is in Trouble</em> &#8211; sharp, insightful and very real</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-want-to-hide-from-the-kids-and-staff-for-half-an-hour-where-do-you-go"><em>If you want to hide from the kids and staff for half an hour, where do you go?</em></h3>



<p>Somewhere quiet with a view &#8211; ideally outside. A short reset makes all the difference.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-song-you-sing-at-full-volume-when-everyone-s-gone-home"><em>The song you sing at full volume when everyone’s gone home?</em></h3>



<p><em>Mr Brightside</em> by The Killers.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-advice-would-you-give-to-the-younger-hayley-robinson"><em>What advice would you give to the younger Hayley Robinson?</em></h3>



<p>You don’t have to rush everything or do it all at once. There is time.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-your-current-students"><em>And your current students?</em></h3>



<p>Be brave enough to try, to fail, and to try again. The world doesn’t need perfection &#8211; it needs people willing to step forward and make a difference.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



<p><strong><em>RGS Surrey Hills is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 11–18, set on a 26-acre countryside campus near Dorking in the Surrey Hills. Formerly Box Hill School, it is now part of the Reigate Grammar School family, with a strong local community alongside a diverse international cohort. <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/school-reviews/rgs-surrey-hills-mickleham-dorking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read our review here.</a></em></strong></p>



<p><em><strong><a href="https://rgs-surreyhills.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RGS Surrey Hills</a>, London Road, Mickleham, Dorking RH5 6EA. Tel:&nbsp;<a href="tel:01372 373382">01372 373382</a></strong></em></p>


Head’s up! Hayley Robinson, RGS Surrey Hills

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