SST Maidstone opens doors to founding cohort of students

Valley Invicta Academies Trust’s (VIAT) brand new School of Science and Technology Maidstone (SST) opened its doors for the first time, this morning (8 September), to the founding cohort of 192 Year 7 students.

The school was formally handed over to the Trust in May, marking the end of the 18-month construction project, led by BAM, and a six-year plan for VIAT to build a new school.

The state-of-the-art building has 11 Science rooms, six Computer Studies suites, along with specialist Music, Drama and Design Technology provision.

VIAT Chief Executive, Julie Derrick, said: “Seeing our brand new school open for students today was an absolutely fantastic experience for us all. Today is the culmination of six years of hard work and dedication, and I am confident that students, parents and staff will now reap the benefits. This is a hugely exciting time for the Trust and we feel incredibly fortunate to have this fantastic extension to our main VIAT campus. I hope every single one of our founding cohort of students feel welcome and as excited as we are. I have no doubt that our Headteacher, Van Beales, and her outstanding team, will do a fantastic job in moving the school forward in the coming weeks, months and years.”

VIAT Chief Operating Officer, Richard Hayden, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to see students start to use this amazing new school. The vision has always been to create something unique for the local community and I am confident that we have done exactly that. The school will be an incredible facility and resource, not only for the students, but also for staff and stakeholders, moving forward.”

SST Headteacher, Van Beales said: “Today is an exciting and significant day for all of us. I feel privileged to be leading such a wonderful school and I am grateful for the support we have had from our parents so far. We are delighted to welcome our students for the first time today. As our founding cohort, they will always be an important part of the history of the school, and the Trust, and my team and I can’t wait to get to know them all and create a supportive, creative, enthusiastic, happy school community together.”

A formal opening for the school will take place in November 2020.