'You can't have a career and be a mum' headteacher tells students

Vivienne Durham says 'women still have to plan for a biological fact'

'I'm sorry, I'm not a feminist. I believe there is a glass ceiling' (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

A leading headmistress has said teachers need to tell girls they need to choose between their careers and motherhood.

Vivienne Durham, who Tatler's Best Head of Public School told Absolute Education magazine teachers should not "lie" about the glass ceiling.

"I'm sorry, I'm not a feminist. I believe there is a glass ceiling - if we tell them there isn't one, we are telling them a lie.

"Women still have to plan for a biological fact - ie motherhood."

She said she decided against having children, partly because she knew she couldn't commit to a family and her job.

In comments to The Telegraph, Ms Durham said girls should not be criticised for choosing one path over another.

"Young girls have massive options these days and some of them will make a decision that they don't want to combine everything and that is as valid as making the decision that you do want to combine everything.

"Some of them will juggle and combine everything and that will be the future for lots of women.

"I certainly want women to have that choice."

She added that society should stop being judgmental about women who go down the "road less taken" and choose not to have children.

Ms Durham is stepping down from the £6,000-a-term Francis Holland Regent's Park school in January, after 11 years as head.