New Head appointed at Kent College Junior School

08 Sep 2020

Kent College is pleased to announce that Mr Simon James has been appointed Head of the Junior School at Kent College following the retirement of Mr Andrew Carter who had been the Headmaster for 20 years and who has overseen the successful growth and development of the Junior School including the launch of the Garden Cottage Nursery for babies from 0 up to 3 years in 2018.

Kent College is pleased to announce that Mr Simon James has been appointed Head of the Junior School at Kent College following the retirement of Mr Andrew Carter who had been the Headmaster for 20 years and who has overseen the successful growth and development of the Junior School including the launch of the Garden Cottage Nursery for babies from 0 up to 3 years in 2018.

Mr James will take up the position at the start of this Autumn Term in September. He is presently the Deputy Head at the Junior School and has been a teacher at Kent College since 2008 where his roles have included Head of Economics and Business and House Parent for Guilford Boarding House at the Senior School.

Mr James is passionate about individualised education at all levels given his experience in both the primary and secondary sectors. He loves to travel with his family, embracing different cultures and cuisines and has a keen interest in sport. Mr James has ambitious plans for the future of the school beginning with the opening of Sydney Cooper Art Studio and extending the GREAT (Gifted Really Enthusiastic and Talented) programme to Early Years and Key Stage 1 where specialist teachers provide a carousel of additional subjects. He will also drive the outdoor learning experiences in the idyllic grounds of the school.

Mr James said “ I am delighted to succeed Andy Carter as the Head who I have worked closely with for the last few years. Kent College Junior is a special school that has played an incredibly important part in the lives of so many. I am excited to preserve the essence of what makes the school unique and lead the school through the next exciting stage of its development. “

Mr James, his wife, Sian and his 2 young daughters, Isabella and Phoebe who are pupils at the school are really looking forward to living on site in the idyllic 14 acre campus that all the students enjoy. The main school building was originally the home of the local Victorian artist Sydney Cooper.

Mr James will be joined by Mrs Blaza, the new Deputy Head, this September.

Mrs Blaza is Oxford-educated (MA Italian and Linguistics) and has over 13 years of primary teaching experience most recently at St David’s Preparatory School in Kent. She has a real passion for modern foreign languages and has lived in Italy and South America.

Mrs Blaza said she is “absolutely thrilled to accept the position of Deputy Head Teacher at Kent College Junior School.” and was “struck by the warm, family feel that was immediately palpable.”