Goodbye
Gerry!
Picture: Dr Gerry Bedford with Huyton Today reporter Bradley Maher
See also:
- Primary Head Retires (Tony Halpen, Sylvester CP)
- So
long Geoff
(Geoff Crowley, Knowsley Compact)
September 2000 at Hey sees the arrival of a new head- teacher - Ms Mary Belchem - and the departure of the old one (with less emphasis on the ‘old’ perhaps!).
Huyton Today reporter Bradley Maher took time out to interview Dr Gerry Bedford, who has been at the helm of Knowsley Hey School for the last seven years. Since his previous career as a deputy here, for nine years, he has seen many changes in school.
He told our reporter, “I would like to think we are well resourced with an IT provision which is second to none.”
Of the school’s recent OFSTED he spoke glowingly, commenting on the successful teaching, the excellent teaching figures and the positive relationships pupils had with each other. He said, “Everybody who is associated with the school works hard, which gives me a great sense of pride.”
When asked to review his own career with Hey he told us, “My predecessor Brian Donnelly did a lot for the school, every headteacher’s job is to move the school on, and I like to think it’s moved on in some ways. We have had an excellent OFSTED report, parents are waiting to get their children in the school, we are seen as a successful school and results are on the way up. This year’s Key Stage Three results are the best we have ever had.”
He also told us about the proposed City Learning Centre, an exciting multi-million pound project which will be based here at Hey, as a centre for excellence in media, ICT and Performing Arts.
He spoke of the sadness at leaving both a team of committed teachers and support staff and the profession itself, after 20 years of teaching. He said, “I will really miss, above all, the children and my time spent with them. They’re what its all about.”
The future, once he has adjusted to being a non-teacher, promises lots of travel, lots of walking and lots of writing. We await the novel with interest!
Huyton Today reporters join members of the community in Huyton in wishing him well for the future, and are grateful for his hard work, enthusiasm and support in the school. His strong links with Huyton Today have benefited many pupils and the community at large.