SUGRA ALIBHAI
Principal 
 
“Our aim is for all our students to leave after two fantastic years as confident young people, able to stand on their own two feet, independent learners but also socially self-assured”
 
ABOUT ME
 
"I am a new principal at Woodhouse, having only joined in April 2021. I’ve been really struck by how special the College is. I love that there is a high level of intellectual rigour, a geekiness and joy for learning. It has a great ethos of preparing students for university and providing that safe steppingstone. But alongside that there is space for the students to grow and express themselves, to become young adults and have agency.
 
Agency is a massive part of my educational philosophy. There’s the freedom that academic success gives you in terms of doors being opened but true agency comes from being able to make decisions for yourself and live a happy and fulfilled life. I think what Woodhouse does incredibly well is give students the space to make those decisions. A space where they can grow and learn from mistakes. When they go on to university, they are really well prepared because they’ve had those opportunities to make decisions about how they learn, what they prioritise and what they are really passionate about.
 
I also like the commitment the college has to educating the whole person in the widest possible sense. Extracurricular enrichments have always been very important to me. I am so excited about Woodhouse being able to provide those opportunities again post pandemic. To provide an environment where young people can start living and having a bit of fun in their day-to-day existence.
 
I grew up in north west London and really value my education. My parents didn’t have the same opportunities that I had. My mum grew up in Uganda and she had to leave school at a young age to work. Her wages supported my aunts and uncle to be educated to a really high standard. I have therefore always been keenly aware of the lottery of life. Some people have the privilege of a great education and some people don’t. I see the power of education to change lives and having that perspective is why I got into teaching.
 
The underlying philosophies and values of Woodhouse College really resonate with me. Our mission statement talks about a transformational education experience for the community. That opportunity for young people here is not about to change. My predecessor John Rubinstein has left a wonderful legacy. There is a high level of pastoral care here, our staff know their students well and there is a strong sense of community. All of those things will stay."
 
 
Sugra came to Woodhouse from Isaac Newton Academy, an Ofsted rated ‘outstanding’ all-through school for students aged 4-18 in Ilford. She had been there since its early days of inception in 2013. As well as teaching maths, she was Vice Principal and Head of Sixth Form. She has been teaching for 16 years since earning her master’s degree in Economics from the University of Edinburgh.