It is with considerable sadness that Sutton Valence School announces the departure of Headmaster, Bruce Grindlay, after 12 years of exemplary service to the School and its community.

Mr Grindlay will be leaving at the end of the current academic year to take up the position of Principal of Rugby School Thailand in September 2021. This is a very exciting move for him and his family.

Rugby School Thailand opened in 2017 on a 74-acre, purpose-built campus in countryside south of Bangkok. Today, it educates 800 day and boarding pupils aged from two to 18 in its Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior Schools, preparing them for IGCSE and A-level studies and entry to universities across the world.

During his time at Sutton Valence, Mr Grindlay has actively driven the School forward to enjoy enormous success in so many areas. Pupil numbers have risen steadily, coupled with impressive year-on-year improvements in academic attainment. The School is increasingly recognised for its sporting prowess and the creative arts go from strength to strength. His personal and professional belief in the importance of community has underpinned everything he has done at Sutton Valence and the value of this is clearly visible in the way pupils, staff and parents work together every day.

As Mr Grindlay said in his recent letter to staff and parents, “Sutton Valence is a very special community and a wonderful school. It has been an honour and a privilege being able to lead it for the past eleven years. The School will always have a very special place in the hearts of all of the Grindlay family and it will be very hard for us to leave.”

Recruiting a new head to take over the reins from Mr Grindlay will not be easy, but the Governors are confident that Odgers Berndtson, the executive search company they have engaged, will quickly identify a short-list of strong candidates.