YOU could be forgiven for thinking head teachers are getting younger every day – in the case of Westbury Park Primary School, on July 2, you would be right as nine-year-old Isla Phillips is in charge.
After taking the morning assembly, Isla is ‘steering’ a meeting with Education Officer Helen Horler at Brunel’s ss Great Britain, joined by the school’s usual Head Teacher Alan Rees.
She will be finding out about education workshops and what is on offer for school visits. All Year 5 pupils at her school visit the ss Great Britain as part of their study on Brunel, so Isla will also have the opportunity to plan her visit next year.
After her meeting at Brunel’s ss Great Britain, she will go to Bristol City Council offices to see Heather Tomlinson, Director of Children and Young Persons Services (CYPS), followed by a visit to the Mansion House to meet the Lord Mayor Christopher Davies and Lady Mayoress Susan Davies. As part of her new role, she is due to talk to new parents and is also on dinner duty.
The Westbury Park pupil beat off fierce competition at an auction of promises, to win the chance of becoming Head Teacher for the day.
Helen Horler, Education and Access Officer at Brunel’s ss Great Britain, said: “I’m really looking forward to meeting Isla, showing her around, and telling her about our education workshops and school visits to the ship.
“In June we ran a record 32 workshops and welcomed 2821 school children to the ss Great Britain. Perhaps Isla will be able to offer advice as to how we can encourage even more schools to visit us!”
In 2007 Brunel’s ss Great Britain welcomed more than 16,000 schoolchildren.
Alan Rees, head teacher of Westbury Park Primary School said: “It’s a great opportunity for Isla to get a ‘behind the scenes’ view of life as a head teacher.
“Isla may find she is slightly younger than the average head teacher - as well as training for three to four years as a teacher, most heads have been deputies before they can apply for heads’ posts. All head teachers need to have passed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), which means the youngest heads are around 35 years old!”
The school’s promises auction raised over £7000, which the school is using to fund a new maths library.
- Call the Education Team at Brunel’s ss Great Britain on 0117 926 0680 for further details on school visits, and workshops.
Bookmark this page
What's this?