It is a real privilege to write to you as the new Headmistress and Executive Director of Richmond Park School. Joining a school community is always significant but joining one with such a strong sense of purpose, ambition, and warmth makes this moment especially meaningful. I am genuinely excited about the journey ahead and the opportunity to work in partnership with you and your children.
From my first engagement with Richmond Park School, it was clear to me that this is a truly special place. There is a strong sense of community, and I would describe it as a big family. The school has a clear commitment to excellence, and a shared belief in developing the whole child. I love that at Richmond Park School education is more than exam grades. It is a school with firm foundations and exciting potential, and I feel both proud and fortunate to be joining at this stage in its journey and helping to develop it to be the best British school in Madrid.
As a Headteacher, I am values-led and deeply committed to creating a culture where every student feels known, supported, and challenged to achieve their best. I also believe strongly in the importance of partnership with parents. Your trust is invaluable, and I look forward to working closely with you to ensure your children thrive both academically and personally. I welcome open and regular communication with parents and will ensure that I give the parents of Richmond Park School the opportunity to meet with me.
In terms of my background, I come to Richmond Park School having most recently served as Headteacher of a British sixth form here in Madrid: Virtus College. During my time there, I led the growth of the school from a small cohort to now being full, with a waiting list. During my leadership the school achieved NABSS accreditation, and the students secured places at leading universities, including, to mention just a few: Comillas, ICADE and Autónoma (Spain), Cambridge, Durham, Warwick (UK) and Duke (USA). I am excited to create unlimited opportunities for our students at Richmond Park School!
Prior to arriving in Spain, I was part of the Senior Leadership Team at Gordon’s School in the UK, where I led the Sixth Form, academic enrichment, and whole-school teaching and learning. This experience strengthened my belief in the importance of research-informed practice, high expectations, and strong pastoral care. Earlier in my career, I worked across further and higher education, leading departments and degree programmes, which has given me a broad perspective on the educational journey and how best to prepare students for life beyond school. I am proud of how my broad educational experience has shaped my leadership and look forward to applying my skill set in leading Richmond Park School.
I consider myself a lifelong learner as someone who is intellectually curious. I recently completed an MSc in Learning and Teaching at the University of Oxford, securing a first-degree classification, and hold a range of qualifications in education, psychology, and school leadership, including the National Professional Qualification for Headship. These experiences continue to shape my approach as a reflective and evidence-informed leader, always striving to ensure the very best outcomes for students.
Richmond Park School is already a vibrant and successful community, and I am excited about what we can achieve together as we continue to grow and develop. My commitment is that every decision we make will be guided by what is best for your children, be it their learning, their wellbeing, and their future.
I very much look forward to meeting you in person in the near future and to getting to know your children as they grow and succeed within our school.
Mrs Sandra Radford
Headmistress
