Principal's Welcome

Welcome to Stratton School.

It is an enormous privilege to be the Principal of Stratton School, and I am incredibly proud of the school we are becoming.

I joined Stratton as Principal in September 2022, bringing with me over 20 years of experience in education. I am an English teacher at heart, but throughout my career I have been fortunate to work across a wide range of roles, including Senior pastoral leadership, Special Educational Needs leadership as a SENCO, and subject leadership. These experiences have shaped my belief that truly great schools combine high academic expectations with excellent pastoral care, strong relationships and a genuine understanding of every young person.

At Stratton, everything we do is underpinned by three simple but powerful values:

Be Kind. Be Engaged. Be Ambitious.

These are much more than words. They define the culture we are building together.

Being Kind means treating others with respect, compassion and consideration. We want Stratton to be a school where everyone feels safe, welcomed and valued, and where young people learn the importance of contributing positively to the community around them.

Being Engaged means taking an active part in school life. In lessons, clubs, sport, the arts, leadership opportunities or the wider community, we want our students to participate, contribute and make the most of every opportunity available to them.

Being Ambitious means believing that success is possible and having the determination to achieve it. We set high expectations because we believe passionately in the potential of every young person. Our job is to help students discover what they are capable of and give them the knowledge, confidence and character to pursue their ambitions.

A school on an incredible journey

Stratton is a school with a proud history, but we are also a school looking confidently towards the future.

We are on an incredible journey of improvement, with an increasingly strong culture, high expectations and a clear ambition for Stratton to become an exceptional school for its community. There is a real sense of momentum here, and Stratton is fast becoming the amazing school that I know it can be.

I am incredibly proud to lead that journey.

At its heart, our ambition is straightforward: every young person deserves an excellent education and the opportunity to succeed. We challenge our students to be the very best versions of themselves and promote a culture in which achievement, hard work and personal development are celebrated.

Our curriculum combines a strong academic core, including English, mathematics, science, humanities and languages, with excellent opportunities across the arts, technology, sport and other areas. Beyond the classroom, we want students to discover new interests, develop their talents, build confidence and experience opportunities that broaden their horizons.

Just as importantly, we want Stratton to be a place where students feel that they belong.

A calm, safe and purposeful environment is fundamental to great learning. We therefore have high expectations of behaviour, attendance, engagement and conduct, alongside pastoral support that recognises that young people sometimes need help to overcome challenges. Strong relationships between students, staff and families are central to getting this right.

Joining the Stratton community

We recognise that starting secondary school is a significant moment for children and their families. It should be exciting, but we understand that it can sometimes feel daunting too.

Our responsibility is to make that transition as positive as possible, building a strong partnership with families from the very beginning. We want parents and carers to feel part of the Stratton community and confident that we share the same goal: helping their child to be happy, successful and prepared for the future.

Ultimately, I want every student who comes through our gates to leave Stratton not only with strong qualifications, but also with the confidence, character and ambition to make a positive contribution to the world around them.

There is a tremendous amount happening at Stratton and an enormous amount to be excited about. I warmly invite you to visit us, meet our students and staff, and experience our school for yourself.

I hope you will quickly see what makes Stratton special, and why I am so proud of the school we are becoming.

Be Kind. Be Engaged. Be Ambitious.

Sam Farmer MA CANTAB. PGCE. NPQH
Principal
Stratton School