New Sidmouth College principal shares her expectations for school after first term

Staff and students are raising the bar and expectations says Sidmouth College’s new principal as she completes her first half term in post.

Sarah Parsons said she has enjoyed every day since taking over in September and that the school collectively have ‘risen to the challenge’ to provide a high quality education for youngsters.

As principal, she hopes to continue developing a strong community link, inspire students to exceed their own expectations and make Sidmouth College a great school.

Mrs Parsons said: “When I came in I made it really clear I was bringing new expectations for the students. They have risen to that challenge I set them.

“We talked a lot about that before I got the job and I think I have followed through. I spend a large of amount of my day in classes and every day I am just overwhelmed at the quality of what is taking place.

“All that I have wanted to do has been achieved because of the hard work of the staff and the students who have taken on board everything I have asked of them.”

Since September, the school has held a recording breaking open day, a public consultation for its new modern classroom block, and discussed a range of new and existing A-Level courses it will be offering at its sixth form open evening on Tuesday.

The mother-of-two previously worked at Holyrood Academy in Chard for 12 years and was a deputy head at the school, which has been rated ‘outstanding’ in its last two Ofsted reports.

Mrs Parsons, who is a keen sailor, said: “Coming here [from Holyrood] with those expectations, I know what it takes to improve a school. My aim is to make Sidmouth College a great school, it’s a good school, but to make it great we are looking at the aspirations of the students and their skills to strive and achieve their grades but also exceed them and take the opportunities they are given.

“We want the students to leave as well rounded individuals that have the best results and they are ready for life and to give them all the tools they need to be successful. For me it’s how we can make a real difference to young people and giving them improved life chances to get the best jobs and provide them with a really high quality education.”