Heather says farewell after 33 years

HEATHER MAY

AN assistant principal has said farewell to the school she joined as a newly qualified teacher 33 years ago.

Heather May started at Hathershaw College as a home economics teacher in 1984 after graduating from Liverpool University.

She went on to have a number of roles including head of year, head of the technology and most recently assistant principal responsible for pastoral care. She also played a key role in the Bellfield Avenue secondary being awarded special technology college status in 2000.

"I ended up here because I liked the people. It's a friendly school and staff who come here do tend to stay for long periods," explained Mrs May (55) who is is originally from Yorkshire and has two sons.

"The school has changed massively over 33 years with the emergence of new technologies, becoming a technology college then an academy, but it has still retained its caring ethos.

"I have loved working with the students and the staff, and the fact that I have had the opportunity to develop my career in many different roles."

Mrs May, who is retiring, continued to teach home economics which developed into textiles, adding: "When I first started there used to be a flat where pupils could learn life-skills like cooking and washing. It's changed massively from then to what we do now with creative textiles."

She is now looking forward to being able to take holidays during term time, visiting her eldest son who lives in Dubai and having more time for fitness classes.

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"I also want to resume the many textile crafts I like to do as hobbies and possibly longer term look at teaching textile crafts to adults," she added.

Hathershaw College principal Dave McEntee described Heather as "fantastic" and added: "She's done a great job managing pastoral support in the school and she's definitely going to be very much missed."