Dear Swiss Cottage School Community – Families, Staff Team, Professional Partners,
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that I will be finishing at Swiss Cottage School at the end of the academic year. This was a difficult decision to make and marks the end of a significant chapter for me after 13 years with our school.
We get where we are together. Thank you for the vulnerability, expectations, questions, ideas, and problem solving. The beauty of this school is the way we see the potential of every child together through our shared lens. The power of this school is the expectation we have of society to value their talents and role as equal citizens.
It was a privilege to weave the legacy of Swiss Cottage School to its role as a beacon of what special needs education can be and should be. We have worked together to create this community of equal partners focused on the absolute best for every child and young person. The expertise of the incredible staff teams and multi-agency professionals is enabled by your trust in the partnership.
Thank you for your openness. The magical memories alongside the tougher moments have made us better as a school. Your questions have been my conscience and guided hard decisions that were needed to get it right for this community.
It was important to me that I shared the news with you and our staff team together this morning. We have created a unique school, and it will continue to flourish with the continuity in leadership the Governing Body has ensured. It is difficult to write this news, and I look forward to catching up with you in person across the summer term.
Thank you, and especially our phenomenal pupils, for shaping who I am. I wish you the best of luck as the school grows from strength to strength.
Yours Sincerely,
Vijita
Dear Parents and Carers,
We hope this finds you well as we reach the end of the Spring Term. Our Principal Vijita Patel joined in 2012 and will be finishing her 13-year career at Swiss Cottage School in August 2025. The Governing Board and Local Authority completed recruitment last week for an interim role to lead Swiss Cottage School across the next academic year.
We are pleased to announce that the Interim Principal of Swiss Cottage School will be Syra Sowe. The Governing Board and Syra have agreed a new structure and are pleased to confirm that Andria Zafirakou is appointed as Interim Associate Principal. We will plan to join a Parent/Carer Coffee Morning in the Summer Term to answer questions and celebrate the appointments.
Sincerely,
| Jonathan Hilliard KC | Professor Brian Butterworth |
| Chair of Governors | Vice Chair of Governors |
