Suzie Longstaff is joining Dukes Education as principal of the new London Park School (LPS). Currently head of Putney High School, GDST, Suzie will be the founding principal of London Park School.
The school will eventually become a new centre of excellence across a number of central London sites north and south of the river, with a London Park Sixth Form planned in Belgravia.
Dukes Education hopes that London Park School will provide an “outstanding, innovative, forward-thinking education for 21st century students”.
Pupil wellbeing, character education, financial literacy, sustainability and SEND provision will be central to the LPS ethos, Dukes said.
Outside of school, students will enjoy immersive programmes in topics such as marine conservation at sea and global climate science in the Alps.
The Dukes Young Leadership Programme will be an integral part of the curriculum, developing confidence and transferable skills in students for the future.
Suzie will oversee all aspects of the new London Park School, working with the heads of each setting to promote sustainability, both in practice and in the curriculum, ensure high academic standards and embed the LPS ethos across each of the individual sites.
All the LPS campuses will combine the scale and opportunities of a bigger school with the community and individual attention of a smaller setting before students can progress to the specialised Sixth Form at LPS in Belgravia.
Suzie said: “I am thrilled and excited to be the new principal of London Park School. It’s not often that you get the chance to rethink and design a school in this way. LPS has the scale, scope and ambition to deliver a truly innovative secondary education for London students.
“As well as providing a rounded education with strong, academic underpinning, LPS will look ahead to the future with a focus on the creative application of digital technology, design thinking and entrepreneurship.
“I think Dukes Education really understands how to build a new type of school that prepares students to meet the demands of our fast-moving, radically different 21st society. I can’t wait to get started.”
Aatif Hassan, chairman and founder of Dukes Education, said: “I am delighted that Suzie Longstaff is joining the Dukes family as principal for London Park School. Suzie has the dynamism, stature, experience and expertise to deliver a truly exciting education for young people at the new London Park School.
“We are radically rethinking what a good secondary education can be at Dukes; the London Park School aims to provide an outstanding learning experience to prepare pupils for tomorrow’s world. And I have no doubt that Suzie Longstaff is the right person to help deliver that.”