A few words from Richard...
It is my pleasure to write a few words of introduction as the new Headteacher at Dorothy Stringer from September 2011. For the last six years I have been working at King George V School in Hong Kong, which is an international school with 1760 students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Working in Hong Kong has been an exciting time for me both as an educator and personally. I have been exposed to different ideas about what all students can achieve when you create the correct culture and ethos. Prior to KGV I was a Deputy Head in two comprehensive schools in Brighton. I have enjoyed all the schools I have worked in and feel fortunate to have had such varied experience.
My home is in Brighton and my family are all looking forward to returning to live in the community which we know well. I am delighted that my two youngest daughters will also join me at Dorothy Stringer next year.
Dorothy Stringer is an outstanding school for many reasons including the excellent academic achievement of students and the wide opportunities it offers outside the classroom in areas such as sport, performance, creativity and service. Its reputation for taking good care of students in a safe and happy environment is equally important to me. I believe that schools need to care for the emotional well being of their students and understand their personal needs. We must create an atmosphere where students can be themselves and their voices are heard and this is a clear strength at Dorothy Stringer. It is a happy community where it is safe to learn and where everyone can play their full part both inside and outside the classroom. While we have high expectations and are ambitious for our students, we also know that for them to succeed, we need to provide a caring, supportive and challenging environment in which they can grow and flourish into rounded, unique young adults.
Dorothy Stringer is proud of what it has achieved and the legacy of Trevor Allen is an enormous one for any Headteacher to live up to. I am privileged and excited to have been given the opportunity to work with students, staff, parents and the wider community to ensure that this is a lasting legacy and that we also challenge ourselves to continue to look for ways to improve and so unlock the potential of our students and inspire them to achieve more than they dreamed was possible.
Richard Bradford
