A Warm Welcome

Sutton Valence School (SVS) has been inspiring pupils since 1576. Our greatest strength is our community. Staff, pupils and parents enjoy mutual respect and kinship that allows each individual to embark on a unique educational journey; a journey fuelled by self-confidence, hard work and high academic standards.

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It is about the journey you take along the way...

Nursery From Age 2+

Prep From Age 4+

Senior From Age 11+

Sixth Form From Age 16+

Discover Our History From 1576 to now

1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000

15
00

1568

William Lambe becomes a Clothworker

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1576

The School is founded.

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1580

The School Opens

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1583

The School Takes Shape

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1584

Clothworkers’ First Visit

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1586

Headmaster’s House Built

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16
00

1602

Early Challenges

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1607

Local opposition

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1608

School rules published

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1619

Robert Sharpe's death

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1638

School's reputation grows

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1645

The Non-arrival

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1645

Thomas Philpot dismissed

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1645

More local opposition

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1658

Samuel Garrard dismissed

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1660

Keeping it in the family

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1676

The Centenary of the School

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1679

Richard Nicholls is dismissed

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1681

Richard Forster - The first 'Golden Age

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1685

Cambridge Connection

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1698

First Old Suttonian Headmaster

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17
00

1712

Return to the Classics

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1723

Ecclesiastic Leadership

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1745

The Clothworkers impose themselves

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1746

More upheaval

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1770

Period of stability

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1781

Clothworkers' Unsatisfactory Visit

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1786

The end of Hardy

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1787

Griffin's Early Promise

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1789

Griffin Forced to Leave

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1790

Positive Reports

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18
00

1804

Window Tax

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1807

Ismay's Impact

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1816

Death of Ismay

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1820

Infrequency of Clothworkers' visits

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1824

Lambe's Garden

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1829

The Rugg era

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1835

School in Crisis

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1839

A Change of Direction

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1840

Annual Prizes

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1848

Death of Goodchild

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1850

Milligan's Legacy

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1860

School Closes

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1874

Rugby Football Union Membership

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1883

Purchase of The Upper and Cricket development

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1893

Sporting Success

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1899

Old Suttonians in the Boer War

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19
00

1901

Introduction of Hockey

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1902

The School moves to Margate

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1909

First International Cricketer

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1910

Westminster, St. Margaret's and Centre Block built

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1918

Counting the cost of war

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1929

The Chapel opens

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1934

Fives courts Opened

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1936

Holdgate Converted

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1945

Counting the cost of another war

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1947

World War II Memorial

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1950

Almshouses Converted

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1961

Further Expansion

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1976

Quartercentenary celebrations

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1980

Groves Hall Opens

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1981

First Sponsored Walk

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1982

Computers Introduced

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1983

Co-Education

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1986

Sutton House Built

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1996

Merger with Underhill

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20
00

2001

New Sports Centre

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2006

Maths and ICT Block

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2007

Theatre upgraded

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2008

New Swimming Pool

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2010

100 Years with UWS

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2018

New Reception

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2019

Foundation merger

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2022

Boarding Refurbishment

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2023

New Nursery Building

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2024

Strategic Plan launched

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