Taking over the headship from Simon Wormleighton, who has retired after nine years, Jonathan Standen arrived at Plymouth College for the start of the summer term. With a degree in ancient history and history, Standen previously spent eight years at the helm of The Crypt grammar school in Gloucester. In that time he steered the school to academy status and achieved ‘outstanding’ in every category in the school’s most recent OFSTED inspection. The Crypt was subsequently recognised as a teaching school and Standen a national leader of education.
“Plymouth College is such a friendly and welcoming school,” he said. “I am a firm believer that pupils who are happy and enjoy their education will put in their best efforts and get great outcomes. Whatever our pupils’ individual interests, Plymouth College supports them so that they excel. If they have a passion for something, we will help them to achieve it, whether it’s academic, sporting, musical, theatrical, debating and so on. The school is brimming with enrichment opportunities, which are so vital to helping young people develop a rounded personality.
“It goes without saying that exam results have to be excellent too and they are; Plymouth College topped a local A-level table last year, which is a fantastic achievement for a non-selective school. This year sees three pupils with Oxbridge offers and another pupil going to the prestigious Royal College of Music.
“The school also has a great reputation locally, as well as nationally and internationally, for its high-performance sporting programmes. A number of our athletes have the Rio Olympics in their sights and I am very much looking forward to being part of that journey in the coming months.”
