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Catherine Hitchcock, 49, the headmistress of Donhead Preparatory School in Wimbledon, a prestigious private school that costs £20,000 per year, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court. On February 10, she caused cyclist Robert Atkinson to fall and fracture his wrists when she pulled into his path at a mini roundabout. Hitchcock was fined £911 and received five penalty points for the incident. The article highlights her educational background and career trajectory in elite London private schools, including serving as a governor of Putney High School.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On February 10, Catherine Hitchcock, 49-year-old headmistress of Donhead Preparatory School in London, admitted to dangerous driving after she caused an accident that resulted in a cyclist breaking his wrists. The incident occurred on Belvedere Grove in Wimbledon when Hitchcock pulled into the path of Robert Atkinson at a mini roundabout, causing him to fall off his bike but not directly striking him with her Peugeot car. Donhead Preparatory School charges £20,000 per year for tuition and is located near affluent areas like Wimbledon Village. Hitchcock also serves as a governor at another prestigious London school, Putney High School, and owns a property worth around £1.8 million. Her lawyer admitted guilt on her behalf in court but did not attend the hearing herself.
Written for “School Leader Pleads Guilty” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 15497 · logged 2026-09-17
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A headteacher at a top London private school has admitted dangerous driving after she left a cyclist with a broken wrist.
Catherine Hitchcock, 49, headmistress of £20,000 a year Donhead Preparatory School, which costs £20,000-a-year, caused cyclist Robert Atkinson to fracture his wrists when she pulled into his path at a mini roundabout on Belvedere Grove in Wimbledon, south-west London on February 10.
Ms Hitchcock, who is also a governor of Putney High School, did not hit the cyclist with her Peugeot but caused him to fall forward onto his handlebars and off his bike, sustaining his injury.
asserted
him → see → injury
The accident took place in the affluent Wimbledon Village, in between her school, which was previously attended by actor Tom Holland, and her £1.8million house.
asserted
which → take → Holland
She was not in attendance at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon and her lawyer pleaded guilty on her behalf.
asserted
lawyer → plead → behalf
He said she admitted the cyclist had the right of way and she apologised for causing the crash which led to Mr Atkinson falling off his bike.
asserted
Atkinson → say → bike
He added there was a ‘significant distance’ between her car and the cyclist and the injuries were only ‘minor’.
asserted
injuries → add → car
Ms Hitchcock previously had a fully clean licence and was fined £911 and handed five penalty points.
asserted
Hitchcock → have → points
Catherine Hitchcock, 49, headmistress of £20,000 a year Donhead Preparatory School, which costs £20,000-a-year, caused cyclist Robert Atkinson to fracture his wrists
Ms Hitchcock, who is also a governor of Putney High School, did not hit the cyclist with her Peugeot but caused him to fall forward
The headmistress studied geography at the University of Oxford, where she also completed her PGCE.
asserted
she → cost → PGCE
She later undertook further teaching qualifications at University College London.
asserted
She → undertake → London
She began her career at Finchley Catholic High School in 1999 as a geography teacher.
asserted
She → begin → teacher
The 49-year-old joined Donhead Preparatory School, attended by England rugby player Danny Cipriani, in 2015 and was Assistant Headteacher until 2021.
asserted
old → join → 2021
Ms Hitchcock became headteacher in January 2024.
asserted
Hitchcock → become → January
She has acted as governor for a range of elite London private schools and works with the Independent Schools Inspectorate, a Department for Education body to inspect private schools.
asserted
She → act → schools
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