THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD
When I first visited Sevenoaks , the snow was on the ground , the sky was blue , and the campus was deserted . This was where I did my first ever Covid test ! It was an unusual start to a job ; I was joining the school having not met any Sevenoaks pupils , nor seen the school in action .
Luckily , from day one the school ( and indeed the town ) has exceeded my expectations . The pupils are delightful and always welcoming , charming and very helpful , especially when I was frequently lost on campus and couldn ’ t find where I was going ! The international nature of the school and the surrounding area is very noticeable and this results in a delightfully cosmopolitan atmosphere .
Thinking back to the very first days , I remember having to come to terms with a lot of initials , because all staff are known by their initials here . I was delighted that the food was exceptional (!), and still enjoy meeting teachers for the first time over lunch . From the first inset day I could tell that my educational outlook was aligned with Sevenoaks ; we share the desire to ensure that students and staff flourish .
I am pleased to report that I have the best job in the world : watching outstanding concerts and breathtaking plays , cheering matches from the sidelines , going on DofE walks , seeing the CCF in action and playing in staff versus pupil matches . It is the nature of my job that I have a lot of varied tasks : running to the cashpoint for money for train tickets , driving a minibus and welcoming refugees on campus are just some memories from the year . A particular highlight was having to jump into a boat to take over when the boat ’ s helm fell out ( and into the very cold lake without a wetsuit on ).
Facing page : The six Deputy Heads Top : Clare Ives ( centre ) Above : Sally Walmsley
Without a doubt I am most proud that we have had an almost normal co-curricular year , and that we have been able to get trips up and running , with a full schedule for next year . There is a huge passion for co-curricular at Sevenoaks and I am delighted to be a part of it .
Sally Walmsley , Deputy Head Co-curriculum
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2021-2022 5