A headteacher who oversaw the creation of Cheney School in Headington has died aged 92.

Mildred Sowerby began her teaching career in Manchester and moved to Oxford to become headmistress of the Central Girl’s School in 1954.

She remained at the helm when the school became Cheney Girls’ Grammar School on its relocation to Gipsy Lane, in Headington, five years later.

Friend and former colleague John Hudson, now principal of the College of International Education, said former pupils commented on Miss Sowerby’s ability to make each pupil feel valued and instilling in them the will to achieve their individual aspirations.

Her aim was to create an environment in which each girl could realise fully her potential, Mr Hudson added.

He said: “She gave great encouragement to the girls and her colleagues.”

Marjorie Perry, who was Miss Sowerby’s personal secretary for 22 years, said: “She was driven by a strong sense of duty towards the girls.”

Former teacher Ann Smith said: “The girls felt and greatly appreciated her commitment to them.”

In 1972, came perhaps her greatest challenge when she was entrusted with the responsibility of not only merging Cheney Mixed with Cheney Girls’, two selective schools, but also, a year later, of incorporating Headington Secondary Modern School as the first step along the path towards comprehensive school status in 1974.

There were many teething problems but throughout this difficult process Miss Sowerby lost neither her sense of humour nor her vision of the future, Mr Hudson added.

Miss Sowerby retired from teaching in 1976.

Since her university days she harboured a deep interest in art, music and literature.

The cello was her favourite musical instrument and she became an accomplished player.

As a Friend of the Ashmolean and a founder member of the Oxford University of The Third Age she was able to pursue and develop her interests.

Miss Sowerby, who never married or had children, was born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in 1916, and grew up in a working class family.

Her father was a carpenter for the London & North Eastern Railway.

She worked hard to gain a scholarship to Bishop Auckland Grammar School, and then read French and Latin at Durham University.

Friends said her realisation of the benefits of a good education gave her a sense of vocation and a strong feeling of duty towards the young people for whose education she felt responsible.

Her early teaching career was in the North of England and at 33 she became headmistress of a secondary modern school in Manchester.

One of her early battles was with a parent who kept her daughter away from school so that she could introduce her to the skills of stealing handbags from unsuspecting shoppers, Mr Hudson added.