Thank you, Mrs Lloyd-Harris!

3rd January 2014

Thank you Mrs. Lloyd-Harris but hopefully not goodbye!

Alison Lloyd-Harris has been a much-respected figurehead in the Breamish Valley for many years. She has been teaching at Branton Community First School for over 23 years and has been Headteacher for the last 12 of those. She is much loved and respected by her former pupils and their families, a fact that was made evident by how many of them wanted to show their respect and gratitude when she announced her planned retirement earlier this year.

What more fitting way to say a very big thank you to a lady of such high regard than to throw an After Show Party in the Green Room. Many of the guests had been stars of her previous “Grand Productions” but also present were her family and friends, past and present staff, many of her colleagues from the district, her present and former governors and most importantly the families that have been the school community for generations.

Alison has steered a steady course over her many years, despite the school facing the threat of closure just a short while ago. She has always had a clear focus, regardless of other distractions. For her, the pupil’s education, happiness and wellbeing have always been the priority. Being a teaching head in a small school is not an easy lot, even in good times, with so many other responsibilities weighing on her capable shoulders. Her focus has seen the school through the hard times and into a much brighter future with its now well-established community nursery the school is flourishing and will have almost twenty children in 2014 between upper school and nursery. The school received a glowing OFSTED report earlier this year, which is thanks to her great leadership and her ability to always put the children’s needs way before her own.

One of her most appreciated achievements has been the writing and directing of the annual “Grand Production” in which every pupil has played a part. Her productions have always contained local humor and a genuine message of the true meaning of Christmas with the importance of being good and kind to all. It is hoped that she will continue to support the school and has been asked to write and direct next year’s performance.

So it is a huge thank you from all of those to whom you gave your love and patience Alison we wish you a very long and happy retirement. However we also hope you will remain a friend of the school for many years so it is not goodbye just thanks so very much from us all!

Laura Capper
Chair of Governors