PUPILS SAY ‘ADIOS’ TO RETIRING HEADTEACHER
Sandra, who has taught in Spain and South Korea, is leaving
A Fun-loving Staffordshire headteacher is retiring this week after more than 30 years in the profession.
Sandra Mitchell has been the executive headteacher at Seabridge Primary School for 13 years.
The 60-year-old taught in Spain and South Korea before finding herself in Staffordshire – first at Dove Bank Primary School in Kidsgrove and then Seabridge.
Sandra has now been nominated for an Our Heroes Award in the Education Star category by her colleague Michelle Cartlidge.
Michelle, who is a higher level teaching assistant, said: “We can’t give her the send-off she truly deserves because of the lockdown restrictions. She is such an inspiration to us all and a lovely lady.
“She has worked for over 30 years in many areas, supporting our staff and other schools that have needed support.”
Sandra began her career teaching drama and English at a secondary school in Humberside. She saw an advert for a job to teach at an English school in Barcelona, and jumped at the chance.
While there she met her husband and fellow teacher Steve, to whom she has been married for 30 years. After three years in Barcelona, they moved to teach in South Korea.
Sandra said: “After travelling we found ourselves back in the UK and in Stoke-on-trent. I’m massively going to miss Seabridge and our community that we have built there.
“But it is a very successful and wellestablished school and I know that no matter what, it will be in good hands.”
Despite her years of experience, when the coronavirus pandemic hit and schools began to close, Sandra says it was ‘chaotic’ and said many adjustments had to be made.
“We stayed open for our key worker families as our main priority was the children and their loved ones. It all felt very last minute and chaotic and at first we weren’t sure what to do.
“We were following guidelines and acting on whatever new information came out. We changed our staff rotas and made sure to stay open over the Easter holidays to keep cover available. It has been tough, but a very rewarding experience for everyone.
“With our trust we have also been working to deliver food parcels to the vulnerable, as well as sending uplifting care packs out to children and their families, including items such as bubble bath and shower gel.
“Parents have been fantastic and we are all very grateful for their support. We have been doing online learning and keeping in touch with students through online competitions and challenges.”
She added: “We are very proud of our school radio and we have had a lot of guests.
“It is run by year six students and they take requests and interview guests from the school, including pupils who have been on a residential, and special visitors too, such as Eddie Hall and Jonny Wilkes.
“Results are important, but it’s never been about being in the top 20 schools, for example.
“There are other things that matter just as much – such as confidence, communication and a love for learning. It’s why we do things like our radio, as well as a lot of work with the elderly.
“Our school motto is ‘working together to be the best we can be’.
“We teach our pupils that this is their community, their family. I am really pleased with the strong ethos that we have created and maintained.”