was hugely committed to their welfare . All boarding houses develop a personality that reflects the person running them and this was certainly the case in PG where you could always identify its warm , friendly , well-ordered character .
In 2004 Arabella left Park Grange and became the school ’ s Sixth Form Registrar . Her ability to present such a positive , enthusiastic ‘ face ’ for the school made her perfect for this role . In 2008 she was promoted to the position of Director of Admissions . Making sure Sevenoaks has the right number of students of the right ability and character is an incredibly daunting task . Arabella was outstanding . Her ability to build and foster relationships so effectively with prospective parents is a key reason why she was so successful .
ARABELLA STUART
Generally , when you write something like this for a teacher , it is about their work at the school but for Arabella , this is more about her life at the school . For 35 years Arabella has given all anyone could ever give to Sevenoaks School , and she has done this in such a calm , assured and good-humoured way . I do not think I have ever seen Arabella cross . Every challenge is met with a smile and a steely determination to get things right .
Arabella joined the school in September 1987 as a Biology teacher , and she quickly established herself as a lively , enthusiastic teacher who contributed to the department in an innovative way . She published a textbook in 1996 to support the teaching of coordinated science .
Arabella then began her long-term relationship with Park Grange boarding house in 1993 . Beginning as house tutor , she became Housemistress in 1998 . Arabella developed a very deep relationship with all aspects of PG . She loved the girls in the house and
Arabella has incredible administrative skills which are so important in making the admissions team work effectively . She also has an incredibly clear vision for how she wants things to be , along with the ability to manage strategic change . The introduction of group interviews for prospective students – a move copied by several competitor schools – and her decision to use pupils to take sole responsibility for showing visiting parents around the school on open days are clear examples of this . She took on the role of Head of Marketing at the same time , and the innovative alternative prospectus , Continuum , showed both her creativity and her willingness to do things differently .
Arabella was very good on the ground , attending countless admissions fairs and meeting prep school heads . Everyone on ‘ the circuit ’ loved her and this was shown by the warmth and respect she was shown by Admissions staff at other schools .
Arabella is an international person . She has a British father and German mother and she travelled all over the world in the early part of her life . Her work in admissions on the international school market was exceptional . Arabella ’ s wit , smile and warmth will be remembered in Europe , Asia and Africa as it will be closer to home in Sevenoaks .
Alex Smith
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