{{short description|British educator and academic (born 1939)}} {{BLP sources|date=April 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Marie Stubbs | honorific_suffix = <small>DSG</small> | image = <!-- just the filename, without the File: or Image: prefix or enclosing brackets --> | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1939 | birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|Month DD, YYYY|Month DD, YYYY}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | style = ''Lady Stubbs'' | other_names = | occupation = Headmistress, author | known_for = Reforming a British secondary school following placement on 'special measures' by Ofsted and supporting better leadership in education. | notable_works = ''Ahead of the Class'' (Book) | spouse = Sir William Stubbs<ref name="BBC Stubbs">{{Cite news |date=27 September 2002 |title=Profile: Sir William Stubbs |publisher=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/2282569.stm |access-date=23 November 2020}}</ref> | children = 3 daughters | website = {{URL|www.mariestubbs.net}} }}
'''Marie, Lady Stubbs, DSG''' (born 1939) is a British educator and academic, mostly known for being the headmistress who held headship at The Douay Martyrs School in Ickenham, and then reformed St George's Roman Catholic Secondary School, in Maida Vale, London.
==Career in education== ===Early career=== Marie Margaret Stubbs was born in Glasgow, and became head teacher at Douay Martyrs School in Ickenham. She was also responsible for the running of secure unit for girls in South London.<ref name="Biodata for Lady Marie Stubbs">[https://inspirationalspeakers.co.uk/inspirational-speaker/lady-marie-stubbs/ Biodata for Lady Marie Stubbs]</ref>
===Headmistress of St George's=== The school had been put on "special measures" by Ofsted, meaning that it was considered to be well below standard and subject to regular inspection. The students had serious behavioural problems and there was low morale among the staff, due in part to the murder of a previous headmaster, Philip Lawrence, who was stabbed to death when intervening in a fight at the school gates.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stubbs |first1=Marie |title=How does a school cope with the murder of a teacher? |url=https://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/1/488/how-does-a-school-cope-with-the-murder-of-a-teacher- |website=The Tablet |access-date=26 December 2021}}</ref>
A new headteacher, Margaret Ryan, was appointed and later resigned.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anarchy-quite teacher's new role |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/anarchy-quit-teachers-new-role-1197739 |website=Manchester Evening News |date=17 February 2007 |access-date=26 December 2021}}</ref> As a result, Lady Stubbs was asked to leave retirement and given a contract of seventeen months to reform the school or it would face closure.<ref>{{cite web |title=Violent school opens under new head |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/665491.stm |publisher=BBC |access-date=26 December 2021}}</ref> Seventeen months after her appointment as headmistress, the school was taken off special measures, once believed to be impossible by some and was no longer considered to be failing.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Triumph of Traditional Values |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/the-triumph-of-traditional-values-114457.html |website=The Independent|location=London |date=9 April 2003 |access-date=26 December 2021}}</ref>
In regards to Stubbs' term, Paul McGuire of the ''South China Morning Post'' wrote "there is little doubt that the single-minded determination of [Stubbs] [...] had a fundamental impact on the school's improvement."<ref name=McGuire>{{cite news|last=McGuire|first=Paul|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/433882/common-sense-helps-saviour-st-georges|title=Common sense helps saviour of St George's|newspaper=South China Morning Post|date=2003-11-08|accessdate=2023-01-02}}</ref> McGuire stated that "tension and controversy", with "some of it acted out in the national press" had occurred during Stubbs' term.<ref name=McGuire/>
===Second retirement=== Following her experience at St George's, she wrote the book ''Ahead of the Class'' which outlines her time at the school as well as her opinions on the need for good leadership of headteachers in order for schools to succeed. She quoted about education: ''"You should sit down and decide what makes a good education for the children. Every child should be intrinsically valued."'' In 2005, ITV made the book into a two-hour drama with Julie Walters in the role of Lady Stubbs.
==Personal life== Lady Stubbs has been married to Sir William Stubbs, formerly Head of the QCA, since 1963.<ref name="BBC Stubbs"/> The couple divide their time between London and Banbury, Oxfordshire. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lady Marie Stubbs |url=https://www.inspirationalspeakers.co.uk/speaker/lady-marie-stubbs/ |website=Inspirational Speakers |access-date=26 December 2021}}</ref>
==Honours==
* Member of the governing body of De Montfort University, which awarded her an honorary doctorate * Catholic Woman of the Year (2002) * Nominated as Scotswoman of the Year (2005)<ref name="Biodata for Lady Marie Stubbs"/>
===Decorations=== * 40px ''':-''' Dame of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great (DSG)
==Styles== *'''1963'''–'''1994''' – Mrs Marie Stubbs *'''1994'''–'''present''' – Marie, Lady Stubbs
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130613210347/http://mariestubbs.net/ Official website] *[http://www.cyc-net.org/today2003/today030411.html www.cyc-net.org]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stubbs, Marie}} Category:1939 births Category:Living people Category:English Roman Catholics Category:British writers Category:Schoolteachers from Glasgow Category:Women school principals and headteachers Category:Women heads of schools in the United Kingdom Category:People associated with De Montfort University