FROM THE NEW DEPUTY HEADS ( CONTINUED )
I KNEW I WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE
The reputation of Sevenoaks students as being dynamic , ambitious and hard-working preceded itself and it was no surprise to see these attributes in evidence right from my first day . More striking , though , was the clear sense of kindness , collaboration and mutual respect which cut across both student and staff bodies ; I knew I was in the right place . As a Deputy Head Pastoral , my role is a simple one : to ensure that the school is looking after its students well and enabling them to flourish , both individually and collectively . What a pleasure , then , to find myself in a school which was running its own Wellbeing Week early in the Michaelmas term , and also in the final stages of securing the Wellbeing Award for Schools ! It was not all to be plain sailing , however , and I soon found that one of my key challenges was working out where on earth I was supposed to be or where anyone else was . S became my most feared letter . S block , SEC block , OS , GSC , MPS , Sackville , The Space ; where and what were all these places ? Happily , there were plenty of kind and patient staff and students on hand to point me in the right direction .
Alongside getting to know staff , and in particular , building relationships with the amazing pastoral teams here at Sevenoaks , my favourite moments have been those opportunities to spend time with the students and get to know what makes them tick , whether running with them in Knole Park , watching them glide past me in the staff / student football match or just seeing how they respond to life ’ s big questions in my Year 8 Core Critical Thinking class . The students are so thoughtful and outward-looking and it is a genuine pleasure working with them . They have interesting things to say and want their voices heard . The same is true of the staff body ! I have very much enjoyed my first year at the school and am looking forward to working with the students and staff over the coming years to provide pastoral care of the highest level .
Jon Lidiard , Deputy Head Pastoral
6 SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2021-2022