Educational Leader | Faith-Based Governance Expert | Safeguarding Advocate
Sr Frances Orchard is a member of the Congregation of Jesus (CJ), a religious institute founded by Mary Ward. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Mary Ward Trust (UK), contributing to the vision of unity between the CJ and IBVM branches of Mary Ward’s institute ahead of their anticipated reunion in 2025.
With a BA in History and MA (Distinction) in Catholic School Leadership, Sr Frances has spent over five decades advancing Catholic education and leadership. She served as Headmistress of St Mary’s Ascot (1982–1998), where she led governance reforms that secured the school’s future as a leading Catholic girls’ school. She later held leadership roles as General Secretary of the Catholic Independent Schools’ Conference, Vicar General of the CJ in Rome, and Provincial Superior of the CJ English Province.
From 2021 to 2023, she was the Lead Religious for Safeguarding in the Catholic Church of England and Wales and a Director of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency. Throughout her career, she has served as a governor of eight Catholic schools and remains deeply committed to education, ethical leadership, and safeguarding within faith communities.