School's out for ever as Fleet head retires

A 40-year career in education ends tomorrow for Christine Wright, executive head teacher of Fleet Wood Lane Primary School.

But after nearly 19 years of working with hundreds of children and staff at the school in Fleet, Mrs Wright was given a fitting send-off during a celebration day on Tuesday.

The event came just five months after the school was rated "Good" in a report by Ofsted following an inspection in January.

Mrs Wright, married with two children and a grandchild, said: "It was a very emotional day at our celebration assembly on Tuesday at it was a complete surprise when a family picnic lunch took place to mark my retirement.

"The school was smaller when I first arrived, with not so many children and we didn't have the buildings we have now.

"But Fleet Wood Lane has always been a village school and I always said that it's large enough to be able to offer the expertise from our staff, shown in the Ofsted report we had recently.

"At the same time, the school is small enough for all of the staff to know all of the children and for all of the children to know all of the staff. "

In its report of February 2018, an Ofsted inspector said Fleet Wood Lane was a school where "relationships between pupils and teachers are very positive".

The report went on: "Parents and carers report high levels of satisfaction with the school, pupils spoke positively about the range of creative learning activities and leaders have implemented a comprehensive range of policies and procedures designed to ensure the safety and welfare of pupils."

Mrs Wright said: "This is my fifth school in 40 years of education and I will miss all of it.

"But I do feel that parts of education are changing, and not for the better, so I want to spend time with my family and travel a bit."

School council and staff members, in a joint statement, said: "Mrs Wright has ensured that Fleet Wood Lane Primary School has been filled with laughter, fun and learning for the last 18-and-a-half years.

"She will be remembered for her smile, her dedication and ability to create a school that ensures that every child is valued.

"We hope she knows that the legacy she is leaving will live on in the school for many years to come."

In a statement, chairman of governors Pastor Ross Dean said: "Christine Wright has been head teacher for 18 and a half years.

"During that time, she has led the school through all of the many changes imposed by Government and various agencies, from the National Curriculum to caring for the many trees in the playground.

"The previous chairman of governors, the Reverend David Bratley, told me that Christine came well recommended by her previous school and that, at interview, she was the candidate who stood out as being someone special.

"I have had the privilege of working with Christine for about ten years and have found her to be a person of great integrity, with the ability to deal with everything that happens.

"Christine is perhaps unique in having many of the young teachers who joined the school as Newly Qualified Teachers up to 18-plus years ago still happily teaching at the school, whilst also taking on more management-type roles.

"During her time at the school, she successfully led the school through three good Ofsted inspections and I know that all governors will miss Christine’s wise counsel.

"We wish Christine and her husband John well as she prepares to retire later this month and trust that she does so knowing how much children, staff and governors wish that retirement may be both long and satisfying for them both."