Meeting Members of Staff…

Posted: 22nd November 2018

Mr R Porter.

We are delighted to welcome Mr Porter, who joins us in the Music Department as clarinet and saxophone teacher.  He is an award-winning performer and composer and has performed at many prestigious venues across the UK. Here he tells us about himself:

‘I received a distinction upon completing the MA Jazz Performance course at The Royal Academy of Music, where I had the privilege of studying with world-class performers/educators including Stan Sulzmann, Julian Siegel, James Allsopp, Iain Ballamy, Pete Churchill, Barak Schmool, Kit Downes, Liam Noble and Nia Lynn. I am a graduate of the Leeds College of Music (LCoM) BA Jazz programme with first class honours, and was awarded ‘The George Murphy Trophy for Jazz Saxophone’ in 2013.

Highlights of my career so far a 2017 live performance on BBC Radio 3 with Nick Smart, Kit Downes, Tom Herbert and Martin France, alongside other students from The Royal Academy of Music; a 10 month weekly residency from 2016-17 at The Jazz Café (London); a 2013 performance with my own project at the Royal Albert Hall ‘Elgar Room’ as part of the Proms Plus Late Sessions, which was later broadcast on BBC Radio 3; a 2013 UK tour with the same band, playing at venues including Dempsey’s (Cardiff), Seven Jazz (Leeds) and The Lit and Phil (Newcastle).

I am also an experienced educator. In addition to teaching at St Augustine’s Priory, I also teach one-to-one instrumental lessons at DLD College and Durston House School. I have led workshops in jazz and improvisation for the National Youth Jazz Collective (NYJC), and has completed mentorship schemes for both NYJC and The National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO).

I would like to add that I am very much enjoying teaching at St Augustine’s Priory and sharing my love of music with the pupils!’

Categories: Junior Senior Sixth Form Whole School
Strengthening Our Community: The Return of Boys to our Preps and Pre-Preps

We are excited to share that, from September 2026, boys will begin moving up from our Nursery into Reception, marking the gradual reintroduction of boys into our Prep and Pre-Prep School.

This step reflects growing interest from families who value our strong holistic ethos and unique grounds and setting and would like their sons and daughters to share their educational journey together.

At St Augustine’s, our strong sense of community, academic excellence, and deep care for each individual child remain at the heart of everything we do. This is a natural evolution of our school rather than a change to who we are, building on our strengths and allowing us to offer the same joyful, inspiring education to even more children.

Interested in learning more about our school?
Join us for one of our upcoming Open Days! You can book your visit via the Admissions section of our website.

  • Prep & Pre-Preps Open Day – School in Action (Nursery to Year 6)
    Tuesday, 23rd September
    10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

  • Senior School Open Day (Year 7 and above)
    Saturday, 20th September
    10:00 AM – 12:00 PM