Our Principals

Julia Southby

"I have been in working in some form of education all over the world for over twenty years now – the idea of learning and developing has always been of interest to me.  I started as a teacher with my first job in Brasil aged 18 and then gradually stepped over to the administration and management side of things. 

I've been at Bellerbys Oxford since 1998 and took on the post of Principal at the beginning of 2006.  I love the international flavour and diversity of my day at work – students from all over the world dropping into my office to talk about a million different issues, seeing them leave us at the graduation ceremony, going on to their chosen pathway.  Seeing how the privilege of education can offer so much choice and open so many doors is a wonderful way to earn a living.

My family and I live just outside Oxford and often spend the weekends visiting different parts of the UK.  I love to read and always have a book or two on the go and we often go to the cinema.  I have a real wanderlust and feel very lucky to have visited so many countries and seen so many incredible things, even now our holidays usually take us to somewhere new to explore!  I like to keep active and generally have a busy social calendar to keep me on my toes."