Remembering Mrs Margaret Smithers
HEAD TEACHER 1977 - 1986
When Mrs Smithers was appointed Head Teacher in 1977, she was ideally suited to the job in several ways.
Varndean was in the process of converting from a girls’ Grammar School to a mixed Comprehensive High School. A variety of new skills were required to educate a broader range of students. Mrs Smithers possessed these, having already been a Deputy Head at Dorothy Stringer (then a secondary modern school) and Head of Knoll Girls’ School in Hove.
However, she also understood Varndean’s traditions. As Margaret Stonor, she had been a student here herself, serving as School Captain in 1942-3. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she remained in Brighton and described war-time schooling, including having to race to the air raid shelters at the back of the school when the sirens sounded for a day-light raid.
She successfully guided the fortunes of the new mixed comprehensive for 9 years until her retirement, when she passed the baton on to Pam Bowmaker.
RT @sandknights143: Wow @VarndeanSchool Sweeney Todd what an amazing show! Congratulations Drama & Music..it was epic! #schoolshow #demonb...
RT @Varndean_Geog: Have a wonderful half term, Y11 @VarndeanSchool Geographers good luck with your continued revision and PPE preparation....
Thank you @CarolineLucas for hearing the students protest face to face today, your support really matters. #ClimateAction You can read Darcie, Charlotte and Jasmines speech to Caroline here https://t.co/N1K6Q1VtkN https://t.co/ba0RXnzuSA
RT @EllisVarndean: Delivering Some purple love to Ellis today....thank you from our Ellis tutors to our lovely students. Thank you too to o...