We say a fond farewell to departing governors and staff members.
Governing Board
Governors are increasingly important to the running of a school, with ever-heightened responsibility to check the quality of teaching, safeguarding, finance and various other workings of the school. It is a voluntary job, that makes an enormous difference to a school. We would like thank our retiring governors, Chris Snell, Gillian Hooker, and of course Chairman John Ashworth for all that they have done for Westbourne House over the years.
Teachers
We said goodbye to several staff members at the end of term. Firstly to Jenny Lyne, who has taught in the Pre-Prep and Prep School for the last two years, and leaves us for a full time post at Seaford. Also to Jude Swailes, who has taught English for the last two years in the Prep School; she is taking up a post at Devonshire House Prep School in London.
We thank them both very much for their hard work, and wish them well.
Jenny Lyne leaves us after just over two years in which she taught Year 2 pupils in the Pre-Prep and Year 3 pupils with Sophie Pitman. She also made a meaningful impact on our sports programme in both the Prep School and Pre-Prep. We wish her well in her new post at Seaford College.
Ellie Smee made a meaningful contribution as a Reception teacher over the past two years. She will be missed by all and we wish her the best.
Alice Tree has been with us in the science department for seven years, firstly as a biology teacher and latterly as Head of Department. She leaves to help her partner with his business and so sadly will be leaving teaching for a while. Also in science, former Head of Department Barry Pretorius retires from his part-time role, having spent 15 years all told at Westbourne House. Both have made an enormous contribution to the school and overseen an outstanding Science Department, which has produced some superb results as well as giving the children a wonderful grounding for their future studies.
We thank them both for their outstanding service, and wish them the very best of luck for the future.
Head of Pre-Prep Victoria Homewood leaves us after four years in charge, during which time the Pre-Prep has been an inspirational place to visit, always seeming to have some sort of amazing themed display in the entrance hall whatever the time of year. She leaves quite a legacy in the Pre-Prep, and after putting off plans to travel for the time being, has been appointed as Head of Bedales Pre-Prep - we thank her for everything that she has done for Westbourne, and wish her the very best of luck.
Mr Llewellyn has worked at Westbourne for fourteen years, inspiring children to make colourful and interesting work in resistant materials. Everyone will miss his gentle humour and his care and consideration to staff and children. We wish him a very happy retirement.
Mrs Turner worked at Westbourne for nearly twenty years bringing her own inimitable style to Ceramics and Art. The children enjoyed her colourful room and inspiring lessons. As a result many parents are proud owners of ceramic fruit and other delightful objects made by enthusiastic children.
We wish her a happy retirement.
Jill arrived with the first girls joining the Prep School and stayed for 22 years, and we bid her a fond (and teary) farewell at the end of the Christmas Term. Jill led the development of girls’ sports & PE as well as the athletics and swimming programmes, not to mention joining in the annual canoeing trip in recent years (including after she retired this year!). In her time at Westbourne, we had 14 national athletics champions, one national swimming champion and two national netball championship teams. Many of her former pupils have gone on to play for England. However the moments that meant the most to Jill were the individual and team displays of sportsmanship and resilience; the children who never, ever gave up. She leaves behind an inspiring sporting ethos at Westbourne House and will be missed dearly.
Finally, we come to a lady who has served the school with great dedication for the last 20 years. Alice Wilson, affectionately known as ‘Madame’ to us all, actually first started teaching French at Westbourne House as far back as 1989, when the school was still an all boys establishment. She had been working in the business world in Paris, and came to the school as its first female Head of Department. She has been an outstanding, dedicated teacher and a pure enthusiast for the teaching of the French language. As well as taking the famed Year 7 French Trip (organised with military precision), she served as Head of Department and also Director of Studies before working part time for the last two years. We wish her good health and a long and happy retirement.