Bouquets for Woolton Hill teachers at farewell party

Gill Roberts, the headteacher of St Thomas’ Infant School for the past 16 years, and Janet Bradley, the school’s deputy headteacher for 23 years, were honoured at a party organised at the school last Thursday morning by the PTA.
The chairman of governors, Steve Smith, said that both would be greatly missed by the school community, having devoted all their energy, enthusiasm, and passion into providing the children in the local area with the best possible start to their education.
However, they would leave behind them, a magnificent school ethos and legacy, and an excellent team of teachers to take the school forward, maintaining the very high standards set by both:, he said.
“Under their excellent management Ofsted and diocesan inspectors have repeatedly assessed the performance of the school as ‘Outstanding’ since 2000. To maintain this standard over such a prolonged period has been widely recognized as an exceptional achievement,” said Mr Smith
Mrs Bradley and Mrs Roberts, who said that they had enjoyed good times at the school, were “overwhelmed” by gifts from the staff, governors and PTA, including gift vouchers, hand-painted plates, handmade jewellery, flowers, handmade scarves and retirement cakes made by a parent, plus many more gifts from parents and pupils.
Before the St Thomas’ Infant School post, Mrs Roberts was headteacher at Calcot Infants School for 13 years. Mrs Bradley taught at Fir Tree Lane Primary School and John Rankin Junior School in Newbury before joining the staff at St Thomas.
Taking up the reins as interim head teacher next term, will be Sue Elliott, as a recruitment process for a permanent headteacher gets under way. A deputy will then be appointed by the new headteacher.
Mrs Elliott, who is headteacher at Silchester Primary School, said that her deputy headteacher Neil Reeves, would be acting headteacher at the Silchester school until her return.
“Mr Reeves has been deputy at Silchester for seven years and the two of us have worked very closely in leading the school during that time. He is very experienced and is looking forward to a new challenge,” said Mrs Elliott.
“The governors and I have every confidence in Neil and know that the school is in good hands. He also has an excellent team of staff working with him.”