A SCHOOL is set to welcome a fourth head teacher in less than three years, as developments continue to grow.

Throughout the past two years, St Bees School has seen major successful developments, including the establishment of two sister schools in China, and plans to create a third school there in September 2022 taking shape.

These schools are all led by St Bees UK, retaining the original holistic vision from 1583 of providing a rounded education.

And with such exciting times ahead, the school will also see headteacher Roger Sinnett take up an extended role within the Full Circle Education Group as Director of Education, overseeing the development of St Bees schools in both China and the UK from September 2021.

Mr Sinnett took over the role from Gareth Seddon, who led the school through its 2018 opening phase and first Ofsted inspection, after 13 years working in China.

Mr Seddon replaced original headteacher Jeremy Hallows, who left three months before the school was due to reopen following its shock closure, which devastated staff and pupils, three years earlier.

While abroad, Mr Sinnett played a formative role in defining a new breed of ‘fusion’ schools, taking the best parts of the English National Curriculum and fusing them with the best elements of Chinese education, giving all children the best of both worlds.

In his new role, he will maintain his oversight of St Bees School, working alongside the school’s senior lead team, but extend his remit to the other three St Bees schools in China.

“I have had the time of my life at St Bees, working alongside such super children and such talented teachers," the proud headteacher said.

"We have achieved so much in such a short time – the growth in maturity of the students speaks volumes. A very special and very positive school ethos.”

“I have one crying eye and one smiling eye – crying because St Bees is such a super place to live and work, and smiling because I can still retain a close working relationship with everyone there."

A new headteacher will be hired in the coming weeks, and will work with Mr Sinnett and the school’s senior team to take the school to new heights.

Mr Sinnett added: “All four St Bees schools follow a similar curriculum, enabling our UK students to spend time at one of our Chinese schools, and vice versa.

"This is our ‘twin-campus concept’, expanding our students’ international horizons and developing a global mind-set."