Three long-serving senior members of staff are to step down from their roles at Greneway and Meridian schools in Royston at the end of the academic year, as a new leadership team has been announced.
Greneway’s deputy head Cheryl Bowyer and assistant head Terry Graves, and Meridian’s acting headteacher Kim Horner are leaving their posts, with Gordon Farquhar taking the helm of these schools and Roysia middle from September.
A Royston Schools Academy Trust spokeswoman told the Crow: “After 19 years at Meridian School as deputy head, Kim Horner has decided that the time is right for her to move on to pastures new. Latterly, as acting head for the last two years, she has led the school during a period of significant change in Royston.”
Catherine Fage, chair of Meridian governing body, said: “In all her time at Meridian, students have been at the heart of all her activities, including her absolute focus on teaching and learning, being an exceptional teacher of religious studies, inspiring students to achieve their best and to be enriched by extended opportunities, and leading on student wellbeing.”
Miss Horner said: “I have very much enjoyed being part of the school’s evolving journey of success, with the support of a dedicated, ambitious leadership team.
“I look forward to hearing about the exciting developments in the Royston schools that will continue to offer opportunities for the town’s young people to grow into happy, successful young adults. I wish the new head Gordon Farquhar and the trust much success in the future.”
Miss Bowyer and Mr Graves will be taking early retirement at the end of this term. Miss Bowyer joined Greneway School 37 years ago, and has served as a Year 5 and 6 teacher, leader of Key Stage 2, deputy headteacher and acting headteacher.
Mr Graves joined Greneway School 27 years ago and within that time has led as head of PE and as an assistant headteacher.
The RSAT spokeswoman said: “The school community recognise the significant contribution of Miss Bowyer, highlighting her care for pupils and staff and how she strives for excellence in all she does.
“The school’s extraordinary success in PE and school sport – and the fantastic opportunities that this has given pupils – owes a lot to Mr Graves’ foresight, passion and dedication. Many former pupils come back to visit and keep in touch to let Mr Graves know how they are doing and to check whether their school sports records are still standing!
“Miss Bowyer and Mr Graves have been extremely influential in developing the Greneway ethos and have worked hard at building good relationships with the local community and parents.”
Current middle schools headteacher Laura Rawlings said: “Miss Bowyer and Mr Graves are great leaders who have been instrumental in Greneway School going from strength to strength. Striving for excellence and teamwork is the legacy of the ‘Miss Bowyer and Mr Graves era’! I have enjoyed working with them and wish them a happy and well-earned early retirement.”
Miss Bowyer said: “I can honestly say that I’ve had a really happy and fulfilling career at Greneway. I’ve been privileged to work with some amazing people who have helped to develop me as a teacher. The ethos of Greneway has always been something special and I’m certain the many strengths from all three schools will help to shape the new school going forward. I wish everyone every success for the future – exciting times.”
Mr Graves added: “In 34 of teaching and learning, my time at Greneway has been immensely rewarding and I feel honoured to have been part of such a fantastic team of people over 27 years. With the school being such an integral part of the Royston community, it has always been a privilege to be part of Team Greneway. I will be sad to leave, but I feel ready for the next set of challenges in my life and wish all involved next year and beyond all the very best.”
RSAT has today confirmed the leadership team for next academic year, who “will aim to build on the strong foundations of the three schools to develop a through school approach”.
The schools trust has confirmed the new leadership team for next academic year under Mr Farquhar will see Laura Rawlings become deputy head.
His assistant headteachers all come from Meridian – Zoe Andrews, currently the school’s acting deputy head, head of sixth form Clive Crisford, and Karen Palmer, who is currently Meridian’s assistant headteacher.
The new extended leadership team consists of Allan Gee, currently an assistant headteacher at Greneway, Jonathan Hirst – currently leader of Greneway Year 8, Kuljit Jandu, leader of school at Roysia, and Faye Maryan, Roysia’s leader of mathematics.
After last year’s proposals to merge into one school from 2018, RSAT announced in April that Roysia and Greneway middle schools and Meridian School and its sixth form centre will remain as three separate sites with a view to merging in September 2019.
Under the proposals, Roysia and Meridian sixth form centre would close and the Garden Walk site – where Greneway and Meridian schools are currently – would be the location of the new through school for students from Year 5. Sixth form provision would be provided via an alliance with Knights Templar School in Baldock.
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