Royston’s Meridian School is to bid farewell to a long-serving teacher and former student, who has been an “integral” part of the school for 25 years.
David Atkins – who has been a teacher of maths, head of sixth form, assistant head and, most recently, acting deputy head at the Garden Walk site – is off to a new challenge in Cambridge.
Mr Atkins said: “I have really enjoyed working at the school. It has been an exciting place to work with dedicated, caring staff, talented, community-spirited students and so many supportive parents.
“I will certainly miss Meridian a great deal, but will take countless happy memories with me.
“It has been truly rewarding to see how the school has developed in all the years I’ve been here, maintaining its position as a superb part of the local community.
“At the heart of all this is the pleasure of seeing so many children move from the first schools, through the middle schools to Meridian, where they achieve outstanding personal successes.
“With the high quality new appointments made for this coming September, the school is in a strong position to move confidently forward into the future.
“I very much look forward to hearing how the school continues to drive forward its vision for students to be happy, successful young people who make meaningful contributions to the local, national and global community.”
Acting headteacher Kim Horner said: “It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to David.
“He has been a superb colleague and an integral part of the school for so many years.
“David has made a huge contribution to the life of the school both academically and through community events and performing arts. He will be missed. We wish him every success and much happiness in his new school.”
As the school says goodbye to Mr Atkins, they welcome back a former Meridian School head of english Karen Palmer, who will return as assistant headteacher in September.
She said: “I am delighted to be returning to Meridian and am very much looking forward to working in my home community again in a strategic role.”
Ms Palmer worked at Meridian for seven years in the 1990s and is currently working at a school in Saffron Walden.
In the intervening time she has worked on senior leadership teams in Hertfordshire, focusing on areas such as curriculum, teaching and learning and staff training. She has also led training for the Hertfordshire Music Service and delivered sessions at national conferences, and was also a parent governor at Greneway Middle School for four years.
Ms Palmer added: “My own children attended the town’s schools and I know just how important high quality local schools are. It’s a privilege to be a part of that once more.”
For more on Meridian go to www.meridian.herts.sch.uk.
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