It is an exciting day of ‘firsts’ for Lyonsdown School! It’s the first day our entire Lyonsdown community have all been together, back in school, after the Summer term of Remote Education. It is also the first day of school for all of our new girls who are joining our Pre-Reception and Reception classes – an exciting milestone for both them and their families, as they begin their learning journey at Lyonsdown. It is also the first day of term for Lyonsdown’s new Head, Mrs Stanton-Tonner, who joins the School from Holland House.
Unable to hold an assembly or event for all current and joining parents, Mrs Stanton-Tonner instead welcomed the Lyonsdown community ‘back to school’ via a video message. “I am incredibly excited to be joining Lyonsdown,” said Mrs Stanton-Tonner. “I’m looking forward to working with families, staff and governors to do the very best for our children and to take Lyonsdown forward – embracing all girls’ education and further developing the excellent teaching and learning the School has been offering for over 110 years.”
Mrs Stanton Tonner brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to Lyonsdown, having previously been the Head at Holland House. As well as teaching across the primary age range for many years, she has also held a variety of roles at different schools during her career. These include Head of Pre-Prep and Nurseries at Swanbourne House, Head of Francis House Prep School, Director of Studies at the Junior School, North London Collegiate and Head of ICT at Thomas’s Prep School, Kensington.
Whilst it may be her first day of the new academic year as Head at Lyonsdown, Mrs Stanton-Tonner has been working closely with the Governors and SLT since her appointment in January. She has also been working hard over the Summer, along with teachers and staff, to ensure the School can fully open safely. “Whilst Lyonsdown may look a little different in places – because of new one-way systems and all of the sanitising stations – the care for the children and the commitment to their education has not changed,” says Mrs Stanton Tonner. “We are pleased to be offering a full curriculum. There may be some adaptions to some subjects to ensure our safety at all times, but we want to give our children all of the opportunities for which Lyonsdown is known and loved, so they can all enjoy their days at School, as well as learn to the very best of their abilities.”
Mrs Stanton Tonner is excited to meet and get to know all of the children at Lyonsdown during their first days and first week back in School. She is also looking forward to meeting with all current parents, individually and respecting social distancing guidelines, at the School gate over the coming days and weeks ahead. She is also happy to meet with prospective parents, via personal virtual meetings, where she will be able to discuss why Lyonsdown might be the right school for their daughter – how we enable girls to thrive both academically and personally, and prepare them for their first choice senior school – which includes London’s top selective independent and maintained schools.