New Year, New Beginnings

Good Morning Everyone.

A belated Happy New Year to you all. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your families.

This is my first Friday Dojo post of 2024 and for me, personally and professionally, it is going to be an emotional one.

In July this year I will turn 60. (Thank you if any of you are now thinking “Ooh he doesn’t look it!”).

By the end of the Summer Term I will have been teaching for 38 years and will have spent 25 of those years as a Headteacher.

It has been in my thoughts for a few years now that I would retire from teaching at the age of 60 - and that is indeed what I intend to do.

I will, therefore, be retiring and leaving Heptonstall School on the last day of this academic year-July 19th 2024.

It will be a huge wrench for me after 16 years as Headteacher at this school and I really do appreciate what a change it will be for the children and staff too.

I think you all know how much I love the school. I love my colleagues and the children. I enjoy my interactions with all of you very much. We really all are a family. However, nothing can go on forever. For me – and the school – the time is right.

I will be leaving the school in a very strong position with a brilliant team of staff and governors, a very good Ofsted Inspection just behind us and the support and financial backing of The Family of Learning Trust. The future of Heptonstall School is very bright indeed.

The Trust and our Governing Body have already started the process to replace me from September 2024 (this is why I am telling you today as I did not want you find out any other way) and I/The Trust will of course keep you informed as to progress.

It is not now the time for me to say much more about my feelings and my years at the school. That is for later.

I will be telling some of the older children my news today. I thought for Acorn children the concept of “in six months’ time” might be too hard to understand so I will not directly tell them -but please do explain it to them if you wish.

As for now, be assured that I will continue to give my all between now and July to ensure Heptonstall School keeps on being the very best and happiest school you could wish your children to attend.

Taking out any holidays I have worked out that from Monday next week I have 112 working days left with the children, parents, governors and staff of Heptonstall School.

I plan to savour each and every one of them.

With my very best wishes,

David Perrin