After many years of service to Putney High School, we want to pay tribute to Catharine Boardman as her term of office as Chair of our local governing body draws to a close.

Catharine has served on our governing body since 2009, holding the post of Chair since 2017.

Throughout her long association with the school, she has played a key part in major planning and development, supported our players on the Lacrosse pitch and shown a keen interest in the wellbeing of our student and staff community.

Between 2010 and 2012 Catharine took a pivotal role in the fundraising for our state-of-the-art Sixth Form Centre, as Chair of our Sixth Form Development Committee. With her support, we were able to achieve the ambitious fundraising target of £300K and complete the project successfully, ensuring splendid facilities for generations of sixth formers to come.

More recently, Ms Boardman has been instrumental in our plans for the school’s new Science, Music, Drama and Debating Centre, due to open in winter 2021 – attending regular meetings of the planning committee and offering insights which have helped to shape the vision for this key part of Putney’s future.

Away from the boardroom, Catharine has been a regular fixture on the lacrosse pitch. Her long-standing passion for the sport has made her a loyal supporter and she has devoted many hours as a hardworking lacrosse umpire. It was during her time on the governing body that Putney succeeded in securing our grounds at Wimbledon Rugby Football Club in 2016 enabling girls to play home fixtures.

Catharine has had three daughters at Putney High School: Georgina (class of 2016) went on to Durham University to read History, Emily (class of 2018) went to Birmingham to study Psychology and most recently, Phoebe (class of 2020) who is currently travelling around Africa before going on to Newcastle University.

Catharine will be succeeded by Mrs Prudence Lynch, former Head of Kensington Prep School.