School honour for departing head

A HEADTEACHER who dedicated three decades of her life to a Nuneaton school will continue to inspire generations in the years after her retirement.

Sally Saunders has been at the helm of St Nicolas C of E Academy for 30 years and, on her last day, staff and students decided to ensure her efforts did not go unrecognised.

They threw a surprise assembly for the head of school, literally rolling out the red carpet for the teacher, who first started at the Windermere Avenue-based place of learning as a reception teacher.

Members of the Parent Teacher Association also created an award as a legacy to her, ‘The Sally Saunders Award for Contribution to Spiritual Development,’ which will now be given out to a selected Year 6 pupil during the leavers assembly.

The pupils themselves stunned their beloved head teacher during a last ever assembly, singing a song in her honour to the tune of Jingle Bells, then a student from each year group was asked to say a few words to Mrs Saunders, explaining what she has meant to them.

Staff were keen to pay their own tributes too, saying: “She is famous around the school with the children for a smile that wears a different lipstick each day. She has been a pillar of the school to many families over the years.

“She has seen many changes to the physical appearance of the school - seeing it change from a First School to a through primary. One thing has not changed, and that is her dedication to the children who walk through the doors of St Nicolas.

“Over the years, Sally has organised building projects around the school - The building and launch of our extension The St Nicolas Studio. She has secured funding through lottery bids for projects to improve the school grounds, for example the outdoor gym equipment on the playground.”