Sutton Valence School

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Sutton Valence
Sutton Valence School

Sutton Valence School is a co-educational day and boarding school for ages 2-18, set in 100 acres The School’s roll is currently 500 of which 150 are boarders.

Sutton Valence School is an independent, co-educational day and boarding school situated in the heart of the Kent countryside, where each cares for all and individuality is cherished. It is part of, and overlooks, the picturesque village of Sutton Valence whilst being five miles from Maidstone, the county town of Kent, and within convenient travelling time from central London. Whilst not fiercely

selective on entry, its value added statistics are impressive. For those subjects Sutton Valence offers at A Level, the school is in the top 15 per cent nationally for adding value, managing to bring out the academic potential in every pupil. Equally impressive is the breadth of education on offer and the fact that academic achievement is only one measure of success. Individuality, confidence, poise and the strength of character to meet the complexities of modern living with equanimity are the hallmarks of a Sutton Valence pupil. Our co-curricular and leadership journeys are vital components of what we call our Total Curriculum. Somewhere in every child’s education they need to learn the vital skills of self-discipline, focus, commitment and effort and not everyone learns these sitting in a classroom. Our sport, music, drama, charity work, Duke of Edinburgh scheme and the Combined Cadet Force all help with the acquisition of these skills, allowing the pupils to build self-esteem and confidence through really achieving and being recognised for their obvious talents. We also strengthen the vertical bonds of our community by having our younger pupils learn from and work with our older pupils. Class sizes are small and the overall pupil-staff ratio of 9:1 enables Sutton Valence pupils to benefit from the close guidance and individual attention of teachers. The Eurostar station at Ashford makes access to Europe straightforward and Heathrow and Gatwick airports are within an hour’s drive from Sutton Valence. Sutton Valence Preparatory School occupies its own site in the neighbouring village of Chart Sutton and currently has 300 pupils between the ages of two and 11. SVS has a committed Governing Body whose mix of skills, experience and personalities bring a breadth of wisdom to its decision making. Sutton Valence School is part of the The United Westminster and Grey Coat Foundation.

23/08/2026

Following our celebration of this year's outstanding Sixth Form results, we are taking a closer look at some of the subject successes behind them.

We are delighted that 100% of Art pupils achieved A*-B, with 45% achieving A*.

A wonderful achievement that reflects the creativity, dedication and hard work of our pupils, supported throughout by our talented staff.

Congratulations to everyone involved!

20/08/2026

At Sutton Valence School, we are thrilled to celebrate outstanding GCSE results for 2026 building on the success of last week's excellent A Level achievements and university placements.

This year, once more, over half of the GCSE grades awarded were at levels 9, 8 or 7 (equivalent to A*-A), with over one third of all grades awarded at levels 9 and 8, reflecting the excellent achievement of so many of the cohort.

Beyond these impressive results however, the School is particularly proud of the significant 'value-added' progress, which highlights the remarkable improvement pupils make when they study here.

Headmaster James Thomas expressed his pride, stating: “We are so pleased to share this highly impressive set of GCSE results for last year’s Fifth Form (Year 11) pupils. Across a broad range of subjects, pupils have secured superb outcomes. They were most fortunate to have wonderful support from their teachers and families who are all equally proud. These results provide a strong foundation as the pupils step into Sixth Form life and beyond and we congratulate them”.

Head of Senior School, David Sansom commented: “Following a significant amount of hard work and commitment to their studies, these results are so pleasing for these pupils. As a year group they also engaged so significantly with the wide ranging extra-curricular programme here at Sutton Valence. There is every confidence that they will excel moving forward and we look forward to seeing and hearing great things. Well done to them all.”

13/08/2026

Congratulations to our Upper Sixth pupils on their outstanding A Level results.

We are delighted to celebrate their achievements, with 97% of pupils securing places at their first or second-choice university, 62% of grades awarded at A*-B, and one in three grades at A* or A.

These results reflect the hard work, resilience and ambition that have characterised this cohort throughout their time at Sutton Valence and mark the beginning of exciting new opportunities ahead.

Headmaster James Thomas said:

"Results day is one of my favourite days of the year because it is a chance to celebrate all the people involved on the journey. This year's Upper Sixth has been a fantastic group. They have embraced every opportunity, contributed enormously to School life and worked tirelessly to achieve their goals.

While this is very much their moment to celebrate, they have not reached it alone. I would like to thank our dedicated staff, whose expertise, encouragement and commitment help every pupil fulfil their potential, and our families, whose support throughout the journey has been invaluable. We are incredibly proud of all they have achieved and look forward to seeing what comes next for them."

Head of Senior School, David Sansom said:

"I am absolutely delighted with these results and, above all, thrilled for our pupils. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with so many of them throughout their time at the School, watching them grow into confident, capable young adults who are now ready to make their mark on the world. The achievement of having one in three grades at A* or A is truly outstanding and reflects the dedication, resilience and ambition of our pupils.

We are equally proud of those pupils whose achievements demonstrate the significant value added by our educational provision, securing grades and university destinations that would likely not have been possible elsewhere.

We congratulate every member of the year group on their success and wish them all the very best for the future. We look forward to following their journeys and hope they will remain in touch with the School in the years ahead."

Congratulations to all our Upper Sixth pupils on their well-deserved success. We wish them every happiness and success as they begin their next chapter.

05/08/2026

Congratulations to our Head of Corps, Monty T (Upper Sixth), on being awarded the prestigious Captain General Trophy at the National Champion Cadet Competition.

This exceptional honour is awarded to the highest-performing Combined Cadet Force (CCF) cadet in the country, recognising excellence in leadership, resilience, teamwork, instructional ability, fieldcraft and navigation.

To be recognised among the very best cadets in the UK is a remarkable achievement and a testament to Monty's hard work, commitment and leadership.

Congratulations, Monty, on this well-deserved achievement.

30/07/2026

Sutton Valence School is delighted to be hosting Changeling Theatre on Friday 21st August for its fantastic production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Critics have been full of praise for the show, so don’t miss out on seeing it in the beautiful setting of Prefects’ Lawn. The venue is perfect for a late summer night’s evening of Shakespeare whilst overlooking the Weald of Kent.

Tickets, which are priced at £25.00 (or £15.00 for under-18s) are limited due to the capacity of the venue, so please book soon to avoid disappointment -
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/much-ado-about-nothing-changeling-theatre-tickets-1985364389333?aff=oddtdtcreator”

28/07/2026

Congratulations to our SVS pupils who recently represented their Talent Academies at the England Hockey Talent Academy Festival, one of the country's leading junior hockey events, bringing together some of the top young hockey players from across the UK.

Representing East Grinstead TA were Lara L and Lottie H, while Sydney W, Lulu G, Ella G, Wian B, Cian N and Seb H represented Sevenoaks TA.

A fantastic achievement to be selected, well done to all involved!

21/07/2026

At the end of term, we marked the end of the School’s 450th anniversary celebrations in style with the final event of the year- the 450 Gatsby Ball. The event, held in a marquee overlooking the Weald, welcomed over 220 guests from across the School community – including our leaving Upper Sixth, their parents and staff. They were treated to a delicious three-course meal, followed by fireworks and dancing.

We are hugely grateful to the amazing 2026 Ball Committee for all their hard work, particularly given the conditions in the marquee during the heatwave in the build up to the event.

17/07/2026

At the final Head’s Assembly of the Summer Term, Blue Gowns were awarded to pupils who have earned two Blue Badges. This term’s recipients were Theo B (Fifth Form), Charlie H and Mason S (Third Form), Edward P (Lower Sixth), and Ella G, Oliver S and Bode S (Fourth Form).

Blue Gowns may be worn at School events and in Chapel, recognising a significant achievement within School life. Congratulations to all the recipients on this fantastic accomplishment.

13/07/2026

During the last week of term, ten pupils represented SVS at the National Prep School Athletics Championships at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

Competing against some of the country's strongest young athletes, Theo L (First Form) won a bronze medal in the Long Jump. Theo, Ben L and Margot S also achieved new personal best performances in their events.

In the relays, the U13 girls' team qualified for the national final and set a new team best time of 57.5 seconds in their heat. The U13 boys' team also recorded a new team best of 54.8 seconds, narrowly missing out on qualification in a highly competitive race.

Well done to all ten pupils on a fantastic achievement representing the School at a national level.

10/07/2026

This year's SVS Sports Day was a fantastic celebration of athletic achievement, teamwork and House spirit. Pupils from across the School competed in a full programme of track and field events, giving their all despite the summer heat.

Congratulations to all competitors, our House winners and those who set new school records.

House Results

1st Lambe’s
2nd Founders’
3rd Clothworkers’
4th Holdgate

New Records

Guy B (Third Form)– Inter Boys 1500m (4.31 mins, equalled record)
Ella G (Fourth Form) – Inter Girls Javelin (24.99m)
Nathan N (Fourth Form)– Inter Boys Discus (30.99m)
Matthew A (First Form) – Junior Boys 800m (2.27 mins)
Max H (Lower Sixth) – Senior Boys 800m (2.10 mins)

Thank you to everyone involved in making the day such a success and to those who came to support.

Address

North Street
Sutton Valence
ME173HL

Telephone

+441622845200

Website

http://www.svs.org.uk/

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