Following on from last week’s announcement of our New Head of Sixth Form, Mr Ellmers, we would like to inform you of the new role that Mrs Porter will be taking on in September. 

Mrs Porter says, ‘Sutton Valence School is a community of which I am proud to be a member. Having worked here for over 23 years, I can say that we are in a stronger position now than at any time in the last quarter of a century.  We have a talented team of staff, fantastic resources and a management team committed and dedicated to the education of young people. Their quick and decisive decision-making meant that within one week of the School being shut due to the Coronavirus, I was learning how to deliver Zoom lessons, enabling me to continue to see and teach my classes during lockdown. We may have a well-equipped sports centre, a new swimming pool and a state-of-the-art theatre, but the fabric of what makes SVS so strong is our sense of community.

My new role of Community Engagement Co-ordinator has been created to coordinate, monitor and develop the School’s social responsibility, community engagement, public benefit and charitable endeavour. This term, I have been auditing the work that goes on, often under the radar and without publicity, and it is truly impressive and wide-ranging. In an ever-accountable world, my remit will be to coordinate, facilitate and publicise the School’s commitment to other organisations, whether that is with local or international charities, our partner schools abroad, the United Westminster Grey Coat Foundation or with other educational establishments in Kent. I will also be working with others to develop our pupils’ understanding of social responsibility through providing new opportunities and challenges as they continue their Sutton Valence journey.

With the unprecedented changes and restrictions currently happening, involving tragedy for so many of us and our loved ones, it has been a reflective time. I do hope that the new normal will be a chance to help our communities reconnect and grow stronger once lockdown is over. There will be challenging times ahead but, more than ever, the School will continue to look outward so that our community can grow and flourish.

I am looking forward to saying a fond farewell to my role of Head of Sixth Form after seven years and taking on the new challenge of Community Engagement Coordinator from September. Please do get in touch if you would like to know more or are in a position to offer help and advice to me in this new endeavour.’