10 October 2025 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate Bishop Sarah Mullally

Last week came the announcement that Bishop of London Sarah Mullally has been appointed as the 106^th Archbishop of Canterbury and the very first female in the role. Following a successful career in nursing specialising in cancer care and having been appointed as the Government’s Chief Nursing Officer for England, Bishop Sarah was first ordained in 2001. This auspicious day included time spent at The Archbishop's School in Canterbury and a big thank you to headteacher David Elliott for sharing more about the occasion below.

The Archbishop's School were blessed to be asked to be involved with the announcement of the 106^th Archbishop of Canterbury. This was made all the more special as we discovered that for the first time ever in the history of the church, a female Archbishop was chosen. Students introduced the new Archbishop and prayed for her in front a congregation and the world's media. We were blessed further by a visit from Bishop Sarah to our school in the afternoon where she attended a catering lesson and met with our student Chaplains. It was a momentous day for the church, and our school. Students and staff were excited and inspired by all that took place.

With kind regards

Mr D Elliott
Headteacher
The Archbishop's School
St Stephen's Hill, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7AP

Key meetings attended 

This week I attended the Corporate Management Team and the Corporate Strategic Reset Programme Board. Craig Chapman, AD Fair Access and SEN Processes delivered a briefing for members on the legally complex area of school admissions and the Kent test.

New headteachers and MAT Chief Executives event

Today the annual welcome event for new headteachers, headteachers new to Kent and for the first time new Chief Executives took place. Thank you to Michelle Stanley, Wendy Dunmill and other officers who planned and delivered the event and to TEP and KALE who also contributed. A big welcome to:

• Shern Virdi - Maypole Primary School
• Alistair Hammond - The Orchard School
• Ben Pennells - Sir Roger Manwood's School
• Rachel Buss (Acting) - Stelling Minnis CE Primary School
• Sarah Roberts - Holy Trinity and St John's CE Primary School
• Joe Magliocco - Elham CE Primary School
• Vikki Bowman - Ellington Infant School
• Andrew Newport - Langdon Primary School
• Charlotte Vickery-Booth - Lamberhurst St Mary's CE VC Primary School
• Jennifer Dawes (Jen) - Phoenix Community Primary School
• Tristan Wyatt-Hughes - St Margaret's Collier Street CE Primary School
• Rebecca Andrews - Tunstall CE Primary School
• Christopher Taylor (Chris) - Weald Community Primary School
• Kirsten Collin (Co-HT) - Whitstable Junior School
• Ryan Laker (Acting) - Goudhurst and Kilndown CE Primary School
• Alison Brook - Benenden CE Primary School
• Gemma Jury-Sofi (Interim) - West Borough Primary School
• Sean Johnson (HoS) - Bobbing Village School
• Craig Ward - St Margaret's-at-Cliffe Primary School
• Jonathan Wilden - Tenterden Schools Trust.

SEND update

You will be aware from previous bulletins that we are increasing our work with parents and carers through a variety of channels. As part of our dissemination of the PINS and This is Me Programme which was rolled out in Maidstone last year and is currently being implemented in Swale, an event aimed at parents is being held at the Detling Showground on Thursday 16 October.

And finally... 

Sarah Hammond has moved across to become Acting Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health for six months and I have been asked to take up the role as Acting Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education  over this period. I am putting arrangements into place to cover my duties while I take on this new role and will let you know as soon as these are finalised. In the meantime, please do keep contacting the officers you work with - no changes there.

Best wishes

Christine McInnes
Interim Corporate Director, Children, Young People and Education