EDUCATION
ST LAWRENCE COLLEGE WINS MARKETING / COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR AT THE PRESTIGIOUS 2016 TES INDEPENDENT SCHOOL AWARDS
HEAD OF DUKE OF YORK ’ S MILITARY SCHOOL STEPS DOWN
Chris Russell , Executive Principal and Commandant of the Duke of York ’ s Royal Military School , is retiring from the position at Christmas .
One of his many achievements has been to win back the school ’ s Royal Warrant and Crown , which was lost when the school became an academy in 2010 . This involved a 14-month campaign involving the Palace , Crown Office and Cabinet Office .
In recent years , the school ’ s ceremonial parade has been inspected by Prince Harry , the Duke of Kent , and the British Army ’ s Chief of the General Staff , General Sir Nicholas Carter .
Rachael Hadley-Leonard from AMDIS ( Admissions , Marketing &
Development in Ind Schools ); Melissa Gabbott , Marketing & Admissions
Manager St Lawrence College ; Simon Evans , Comedian and Host
Mr Russell was a governor at the school before becoming its head . His early career included a commission in the Royal Army Education Corps . He said : “ It has been a huge honour and a privilege to lead the school , with the support of an exceptional staff . I have many incredible memories to cherish , and I am particularly proud of the thousands of students who have benefited from the school ’ s unique ethos to become upstanding adults and leaders within their communities .”
The award recognised the school ’ s initiative to sponsor the 2015 ‘ Self : Image and Identity ’ exhibition at Margate ’ s Turner Contemporary and thus reach the gallery ’ s audience of over 125,000 visitors to the exhibition . The collaboration between St Lawrence College and Turner Contemporary was also an opportunity to demonstrate the school ’ s commitment to the arts at a time when arts funding is under threat in the state sector . A new two-year learning partnership has been established with the gallery after the success of the 2015 sponsorship . The judges commented on the powerful message to parents and the community of the school brand .
Winners attended a black-tie event in at the Grosvenor House Hotel , London , hosted by comedian Simon Evans , where over 300 attendees celebrated all that is outstanding in independent schools across the UK .
St Lawrence College marketing & admissions manager , Melissa Gabbott , said : “ It was an absolute honour to collect the award on behalf of the school . It is thanks to the forward-thinking , supportive school management and committed staff that the initiative has been so successful .”
KENT STUDENTS MET ASTRONAUT TIM PEAKE
Six lucky children from Wellesley House School had the opportunity of a lifetime to meet astronaut Tim Peake , and shake his hand , at the Principia Schools Conference held at the University of Portsmouth in November . The Schools Conference celebrated the work done by over a million school students throughout the UK , inspired by Tim ’ s Principia mission .
Tim recounted his six-month journey into space to over 500 excited national school children telling them how he had carried out many science experiments but had so much fun in the weightless conditions . Some of the Wellesley children had already spoken to Tim while he was on board the International Space Station ( ISS ) when he made an amateur radio contact with the school in April 2016 .
Kerry Sabin-Dawson , Wellesley House School said : “ The conference gave the children a wonderful opportunity to see the work that other schools had done during Tim ' s mission and meet many spacerelated organisations , as well as Tim Peake himself . It was a really memorable event which his inspired the children in many ways .”
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