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.
@sandknights143 Brilliant attendance and a bright future for our Year 11 students demonstrating an impressive start to the year.
@jorycj A brilliant day for us all! #backtosomenormal #BackToSchool #community #InItTogether https://t.co/r51oSrQZtu
Looking forward to welcoming everyone back for a new school year! A reminder of the arrangements can be found here: https://t.co/xVxoW0sWkA
Looking forward to welcoming our new Year 7 cohort on Thursday #lennox #challenge #pride @VarndeanSchool
Good luck to all students getting GCSE results today. Check our website for latest information about Admissions and the FAQs for GCSE students https://t.co/GqgAwZaYRz