 She started her career as a geography teacher at Luton Comprehensive School, and then became deputy head of St Christopher School in Letchworth.She was appointed head teacher of Queens' School in Hertfordshire, and moved to Holland Park School in 1995.She was the founding director of the Clore Social Leadership Programme from 2008–15, and the chief executive of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) from 2000-08.