Southville Primary School head teacher Sandie Smith retires after nearly 50 years with Bristol schools
Posted on: 23 Jul 2018Sandie Smith has been Head Teacher of Southville Primary School since 2004 and retires from teaching this week after 48 years service with Bristol schools. The school will be celebrating her retirement today with a family picnic on the last day of school term. A strong believer in building connections with children and placing an emphasis on enjoyment, and achievement, in learning, Mrs Smith will leave behind a nurturing school that values personal growth as much as academic performance.
While Southville Primary has always been at the heart of Southville, Sandie managed to take the school from one-form to three-form entry in 2015 allowing it to open up to a wider BS3 catchment area. She cites this as the greatest challenge of her career which involved the development of a modern, purpose-built site for the school’s Key Stage 2 children (aged 8-11) on Myrtle Street, just off North Street. Not only does the expansion it means children in South Bristol are able to complete their primary education in one of the best-equipped settings in the city, but throughout the project Sandie maintained the school’s high standards and child-centred approach, retaining Southville Primary’s Ofsted rating of ‘Good’.
Sandie said: “Southville Primary has been an exciting school to work in and is based in a community that is never still, always buzzing with energy, ideas and increasing in diversity. The children, families and wider BS3 community have been fantastic and I hope that those leaving Southville Primary are able to move to the next stage of their education as happy, confident, independent learners. It has been a privilege to work with so many hard-working, friendly, helpful and caring staff in a variety of schools, but the magic ingredient has been so many wonderful children with their different personalities and abilities. They have been the inspiration that has kept me in teaching for so long and I hope that in some way I have been able to make a positive contribution to their lives and futures.”
Sandie’s influence on Bristol’s educational landscape extends to her eldest son, Adam Smith, who is currently Headteacher at Wansdyke Primary School in Whitchurch. Her second son, Ollie, was disabled and sadly passed away at the age of 11 giving Sandie a particular interest in and empathy towards children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). She said:
“I really believe that this area is grossly underfunded. I’ve always had a connection with children with SEND and we’ve had many families come through our doors. When we get a breakthrough, it’s really rewarding. It’s not just about seeing them through school, but seeing them move on and growing into independent children. That was the magic thing for me with the children; it was seeing them do well.”
Over the last 14 years, Sandie has forged lasting relationships between Southville Primary and local events such as the Southbank Arts Trail and Bedminster Lantern Parade. She is proud to have maintained a very full school programme that includes trips, museum visits, forest school education, cycling proficiency and international food week, in spite of constantly changing expectations from Ofsted to ‘get results’ with ever smaller budgets.
Sandie has been a much-loved Head Teacher of Southville Primary School and will be missed as she embarks on her well-deserved retirement, aged 69. She looks forward to travelling, playing tennis, taking clarinet lessons, spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and perhaps turning her had to writing:
“It has always been a demanding job, but I have found it incredibly rewarding, motivating and sometimes hilariously funny to the extent that I have threatened to write a play when I retire!”
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Sally owns Fun Warehouse, an independent fancy dress, balloon and party shop in Bristol's Galleries shopping centre. She lives in south Bristol with her husband and two young boys who, naturally, love dressing up! Sally is a two-time World Beach Ultimate (Frisbee) Champion but now only has time to throw Frisbees for her dog.
