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 @MusicVarndean1: The big day is here! Tune in to @BBCRadio3 from 2-4pm TODAY to hear our Young Composer Jacy De Sousa's interview being...
Congratulations to all @VarndeanD silver participants @VarndeanSchool for completing their 3day expedition section. They all showed amazing resilience in some atrocious weather to complete over 20 hours of walking in the New Forest. Fantastic achievement.
RT @VarndeanD: What a contrast. Yesterday's torrential rain replaced by warm breeze and sunshine. Ponies enjoying it almost as much as the...