A Bristol headteacher who spent nearly 50 years in schools all around the city has left a heartfelt message for her pupils before retiring.
Sandie Smith, who has been headteacher at Southville Primary School for the past 14 years, will be waving a fond goodbye to the classroom on Monday (July 23).
Mrs Smith, who first started teaching at St Anne’s Junior School in 1970, said she will miss the children who came under her care.
“It has been a privilege to work with so many hard working, friendly, helpful and caring staff in a variety of schools, but the magic ingredient has been so many wonderful children with their different personalities and abilities,” she said.
“They have been the inspiration that has kept me in teaching for so long and I hope that in some way I have been able to make a positive contribution to their lives and futures.”
Her son, Adam, has also been inspired to teach and now heads up Wansdyke Primary School in Whitchurch.
Making the connection
Growing up in Somerset, Mrs Smith knew she wanted to teach from a young age. After qualifying as a teacher at the City of Portsmouth College of Education in 1967, she moved to Bristol and started working at St Anne’s Junior School in 1970.
“When I started there were very few electronic devices in schools. There was no photocopier - we had a Banda machine,” she said.
“We had a radio and TV but nothing you find in classrooms now.”
In 1973, Mrs Smith moved to Whitehall Primary School and had her first son Adam a few years later.
Her second son Ollie was born three years later, but was disabled and passed away when he was just 11.
It gave Mrs Smith a particular interest and empathy towards children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families.
“I really believe that it is grossly underfunded. I’ve always had a connection with children with SEND and we’ve had many come through our doors here,” she said.
“When we get a breakthrough, it’s really rewarding. It’s not just about seeing them through school, but seeing them move on and growing into independent children.”
Mrs Smith spent the next nine years supply teaching in schools - mostly in South Bristol, where she still lives - and sharing childcare duties with her husband Roger, who worked for the fire service.
Going back
In 1986, she took the leap and went back into teaching, resuming a full-time role at Gay Elms Primary School. It was there she was first appointed deputy headteacher and she moved to Southville Primary for her first and only headship in 2004.
“As a teacher and headteacher, I loved making that connection with the children and seeing them progress. One of the things I love doing is taking a hands-on approach and helping children to figure things out,” she said excitedly.
“That was the magic thing for me with the children. It was seeing them do well.
“I met one of my first pupils in Debenhams recently and she’s now got a lovely family and her son is doing his degree.
“We shared many memories. When it’s your first class, you wonder if you were doing the right thing. She left me with the feeling that I did.”
Her influence extended to her family, and Adam knew when he was a teenager that he wanted to teach.
Mrs Smith said: “When he had done his A-levels, he was looking at offers from universities, and he said he wanted to be a primary school teacher. He got his qualifications and went from there. I’m proud of him - very proud he chose to become a teacher.”
'I will miss it'
Southville Primary grew from a one-form entry school to three-form during her time there, and it was a challenge maintaining the high standards.
“The pressure from Ofsted, changes in curriculum, tests, inspections and all that is not good for people’s wellbeing,” she said.
“It is constantly changing expectations and that is very unhealthy for the school community, including the children.
“Children, families and the wider community have been fantastic and I hope that those leaving Southville Primary are able to move to the next stage of their education as happy, confident, independent learners.”
As one door closes, another opens, and Mrs Smith, now 69, will be looking forward to retirement. She leaves next Tuesday, with school breaking up on Monday.
“There are a lot of other things I want to do. I would like to travel, I want to play more tennis and I would like to go back and play the clarinet.
“I will miss it all here. I will miss the people, the staff team here and all the others I’ve worked with in the past. They are fantastic people who give their best everyday.
“We have a fantastic PTA and the school community has been fantastic.
“I have very fond memories of all the schools I’ve worked in. I will miss the children and the liveliness of school.
“I’ve never regretted becoming a teacher. It has always been a demanding job, but I found it incredibly rewarding, motivating and sometimes hilariously funny.”
