LVS Hassocks
Catchment Area, Reviews and Key Information

My Mother. She was my class teacher at Primary for three consecutive years. We had a strict rule that nobody would know that she was my Mother, but of course we had the same surname, so I guess that others had cottoned on. She was a woman
from a very working class background, who was not expected to amount to much. She took on four jobs to pay for her teacher training course and 65 years later still kept in touch with her colleagues from that college. Her funeral was full of ex pupils and families. 

Merging two Independent schools in London, restructuring and heading up a new build over Westminster Bridge as a flagship school. These were tough times, working a12 hour day and weekends too. Establishing a common mission and ethos statement, making redundancies, being an architect, designer and nutritionist whilst still running two schools. Commuting three hours a day. Coping with a workload of problems which didn’t get any easier each day. Moving into the new build where on day one the A/C didn’t work, newly appointed staff didn’t show and the timetable collapsed. I look now at the success of that school. Sitting proudly on London’s skyline and wonder how I did it all. I later carried the staff and student body through a period of intense mourning when my administrator was the first victim of the Westminster terror attacks.

A happy place. A school where children and staff want to come into, each and every day and staff aspire to work there. A place which genuinely puts the students and the welfare of the staff at the centre of its work. A school with a big heart. We cannot
display enough kindness in the workplace. Shower people with it but also be clear with the student and staff body about your expectations and the standard you need from them.

Confidence and self belief. The knowledge that they have a can do attitude and that their voice and opinions deserve to be heard because they matter. This means lots of life experience where in a supportive manner they can make mistakes and be guided back to the right path, staff and students alike. A successful school is one where you walk into the reception and the feel is there. The feel of achievements, comfort and purpose. The parents are supportive and yet critical friends who want the school to do its very best. A place where visitors seem to glow with positive praise and the local community is proud to call the school its neighbour.

Learn, grow, achieve, respect, tolerance.