Crossword Genius

Principal and master hissed in assembly (12)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

headmistress

'principal' is the definition.
(headmistress is a kind of principal)

'master hissed in assembly' is the wordplay.
'in assembly' indicates an anagram (letters assembled differently).
'master'+'hissed'='masterhissed'
'masterhissed' is an anagram of 'HEADMISTRESS'.

'and' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for headmistress that I've seen before include "Person in charge of a school" , "Female school leader" , "School principal" , "Teacher" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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