Chair of Governors

On behalf of the Governing Body, I wholeheartedly welcome you to Ditcham Park School where we look to provide a Ditcham experience that is the richest possible for the successful education of your child.

My involvement with Ditcham Park stretches back to 2002 when we entrusted the School with the education of our son Henry.  We felt that Ditcham would provide all the qualities that we were looking for from a school during those most precious and important years of his education. Henry thrived at Ditcham in so many ways and, following the successful completion of his GCSEs, he left at the end of year 11 as a confident and ambitious young man, ready for the next challenge in his educational journey.

I was so impressed with the School that in 2008 I was absolutely delighted to join the School’s Council of Governors.   In 2014 I became Chair of Governors, a position I am immensely proud to hold.

During my time as a Governor I have been personally involved with most of the Governors’ Sub-Committees.  Currently I chair the Buildings Sub-Committee and sit on the Health & Safety Committee.  In the past I have chaired the Governors’ Marketing Sub-Committee.  I also like to attend the Finance and Education Sub-Committee meetings whenever I can to ensure I have a full understanding of all operational matters affecting the School.

It is my belief that Ditcham Park School has maintained and built on the outstanding qualities and values that originally attracted my family to the school back in 2002. The superb educational opportunities have been further enhanced in recent years with the introduction of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programme, which has subsequently evolved into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).  These developments ensure that when our pupils leave the School they are equipped with the technological skills and knowledge required to face the new challenges that they will encounter in further education and in their chosen professions in this ever-changing World. The core values and ethos of the School are our guiding principles and are fiercely protected, which gives me great confidence in Ditcham both as a current parent and as the Chair of Governors.

Undoubtedly our pupils’ learning experiences, both academically and in sport, are enhanced by the School’s superb location high in the South Downs National Park.  The School’s 16 acres overlook magnificent and unspoilt views to The Solent and The Isle of Wight and it is our privilege to care for and protect this superb environment, which provides a focus for the School’s outdoor learning and environmental awareness activities.

Working alongside my fellow Governors, it is my intention that we remain focused on developing the School to further enhance its facilities and the learning experiences of our pupils, to support our Headmaster and his staff in their aim to provide our very special Ditcham Park education now and long into the future. The School has an ambitious 5 to 10-year buildings development plan, which includes a new Centre for the Creative Arts, many improvements to the existing main school building and enhancements for the delivery of sport including an all-weather pitch.

If you are considering Ditcham Park School for your children please explore our website a little more and watch the short videos but, most importantly, I warmly invite and encourage you to visit our school in person to experience and make your own judgements on its unique educational environment.

If you are a current parent, I am always very pleased to make the time to talk with you about the school, should you wish, and my contact details are provided below.  As Chair of Governors, and a current parent, I attend most School events and I look forward to meeting you at one of these occasions in the future.

Mr Chris Pickett

Chair of Governors.

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The Chair of Governors can be contacted either via the Clerk to the Governors, Mrs Denise Allen,at the School by e-mail denise.allen@ditchampark.com or telephone 01730 825659 Ext 1250; or directly by e-mail chairofgovernors@ditchampark.com, or by post marking correspondence “Private and Confidential for the Attention of the Chair of Governors” and posted to the School address.