Avening headteacher retires after 10 years at the top (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Popular headteacher at Avening school near Tetbury retires

11:20am Wednesday 25th July 2012 in School News By Charlotte Shepherd

AVENING headteacher Diana Boulton is stepping down from the village school after 10 years at the helm.

Mrs Boulton joined the school in 2002 and took it through a major refurbishment and three successful Ofsted Inspections.

Chair of governors, Derrick Ind, said: “It has been a privilege to have worked with Diana over the past ten years even if it has been a struggle to keep pace with all of her ideas and enthusiasm. She will be greatly missed but we all wish her well in the myriad number of goals she has set for herself in the coming years.”

Jane Rushton, deputy head at St Mary’s School in Tetbury, has been appointed as headteacher at Avening and will take over in September.

 

* OLIVIA ASKS THE QUESTIONS:

The oldest pupil at Avening School, Olivia Evans (Year 6) who is 12 in September, interviewed Mrs Boulton to find out how she was feeling as she approached her last day of term:

Olivia: “Which event that you have organised at school are you most proud of?”

Diana: “Oh…that’s a tough one…it’s got to be all of the art projects we’ve done and all of the Christmas productions.”

Olivia: “What will you do when you leave Avening School?”

Diana: “I will be doing a five-week course teaching English as a foreign language, mostly to other grown ups”!

Olivia: Will you be going on holiday?

Diana: “I will, yes, I’m going to Canada to see my eldest son. I will be staying there for a month and a bit.”

Olivia: “What will you miss most about Avening School?”

Diana: “The children – of course the staff as well - but the children particularly!”

Olivia: “What won’t you miss?”

Diana: “Just being responsible for everything and everyone!”

Olivia: “Do you have a favourite visitor to the school?”

Diana: “We’ve had so many, but Sir Andrew Motion, it just has to be him”.

Olivia: “What was your favourite school production?”

Diana: “I think ‘Alice’ (Christmas 2011). ‘The Tempest’ was very good but I loved the way that Alice all came together what with all the dances and the songs. I loved the way that we had the different Alice’s coming on and off of the stage – it worked well.”

Olivia: “Which year was your busiest?”

Diana: “My first one! What with all of the organising and we refurbished everything. The windows, the carpets, the ceilings, the toilet block, the walls – everything!”

Olivia: “What do you think is you greatest achievement at Avening School?”

Diana: “I am very proud of such a busy, happy school. It’s also now secure for the future so that hopefully there will be a school here for many years to come.”

Olivia: “What are your favourite subjects?”

Diana: “English, I’d done a degree in it, so obviously Literacy but…the arts as well, visual and performance.”

Olivia: “What are your favourite things about Avening School?”

Diana: “All of the people. The children, the staff and the parents. Everyone.”

Olivia: “Sum up your time here in three words.”

Diana: “Just three? Oh why did you have to make it so difficult for me! Three words – hard, rewarding and enjoyable!”