Exeter Junior School welcomes new head

Exeter School is pleased to welcome Mrs Sue Marks to Exeter Junior School as Headmistress from 1 September 2015.

Sue is a very experienced and compassionate primary sector leader who has worked in seven primary/preparatory schools with great energy and enthusiasm.

Her career pathway began as a medical scientist working in Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry. She later moved into education, qualified as a teacher in Essex and has been involved in primary teaching now for over twenty years.

Her work has allowed her to experience teaching across the full primary age range (3-11 years) and take on a variety of positions of responsibility in both state and independent schools. Most recently she has held positions of responsibility as Head of Early Years (2007-2011) and Head of Junior School (2011-2015) at St Joseph’s School, a co-ed independent day school in Launceston, Cornwall.

In 2012, she received The Astra Zeneca Primary Science Teacher Award and was invited to become a Fellow of the PSTT College (Primary Science Teaching Trust), which promotes the provision of excellent primary science throughout the country.

At present, she lives on the edge of Dartmoor with her husband and two children both of whom enjoyed a most successful sixth form experience at Exeter School and are now busy with their further studies. Sue is also a keen runner and has just completed her second London Marathon running for Cancer Research UK.

Sue said Exeter School had an enviable reputation for excellence.

“It upholds obvious values, principles and vision, with an outstanding ability to translate these into a bold, imaginative and successful environment in which our pupils, and the wider community, can thrive,” she said.

“It is a real privilege to be joining such an outstanding school whose aims and ethos I share and have upheld throughout my career in education.

“Over the last few months I have made several visits to Exeter School attending events and meeting with governors, staff, pupils and some parents, in various capacities, to help prepare for a smooth transition in September. On every occasion I have been warmly welcomed by a most friendly, courteous and professional school community. I seek to uphold the excellent work already achieved by Mrs Turner and her team, and will strive to further develop this outstanding success.”

Headmaster Bob Griffin said: “The Governors and I are delighted that Mrs Marks is joining Exeter Junior School. She is a thoughtful, caring and highly experienced primary educator who is very well placed to build upon the success of Mrs Turner’s work over the last decade. I much look forward to working with her.”