Retiring Head will miss the days that involved everyone
Plays, trips and sports days will always be fondly remembered by inspiring teacher
FOR many years, one of the highlights of headteacher Sue Heath’s academic year at Wyke Primary School has been the whole-school trip.
Last Friday was her last as she accompanied the school’s 200 children to the magisterial splendour of Hampton Court Palace during her final month as a teacher.
On July 23, with the heartfelt thanks of parents and staff ringing in her ears, she will step down after 10 years at the helm of the school off Guildford Road, in Normandy.
“I will be very sorry leave,” said Mrs Heath. to “I have been very happy here; it’s been a part of me for 10 years, but it’s the right time now and I’m looking forward to it.”
Mrs Heath, 65, has been a teacher for more than 30 years and arrived at Wyke after a spell as deputy head at a school in Reading.
“It certainly will be nice to be able to go on holiday during school time,” she said. “Of course, I will miss so many people – parents, staff and all the children.
“One of the lovely things is watching them enter the school and then develop all the way through it.”
The teaching profession has changed almost beyond recognition since Mrs Heath first entered it, with the introduction of the National Curriculum and an explosion in the demand for paperwork.
“It’s not recognisable as the same job,” said Mrs Heath. “The level of responsibility and accountability of teachers is much, much more than it used to be. That comes with a lot of paperwork.”
She said the amount children were required to know today was also ‘vastly different’ from previous decades, and even young pupils had a far better awareness of the learning process they are involved in.
Following the latest Ofsted inspection in January 2012, the school received an overall ‘good’ rating.
Mrs Heath, who lives in Sandhurst, said the moments she looks back on most fondly are those which involved the whole school.
“All those Christmas plays were fantastic,” she said. “To watch the children performing is wonderful. I loved the whole-school trips as well, and the school sports days.
“I have just really enjoyed being part of the Normandy community,” she added. “The village is very much part of the school and we are a very happy community together. That is what is important.”