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.
A big well done from the whole of #TeamVarndean to Milo for his brilliant monologue which he wrote and performed himself! Ms Bartley and @LennoxVarndean are so proud! https://t.co/VEjxZwWZco
I'm hugely excited to announce the line up of guest authors for our upcoming series of Year 7 Reading Webinars - including some old friends and some new faces! @chrisriddell50 @alexsheppard @aishabushby @simonjamesgreen @ldlapinski More to be announced... @VarndeanSchool https://t.co/K1FRIWXHpA
Our school points are in from last term and the winner is....@EllisVarndean! Well done to Ellis for all their hard work and determination, Mrs Fairbank, Ms Knights, Mrs Ball and Mrs Mills will be so proud! https://t.co/znYocXxUqF
Varndean students are taking part in the Varndean Community Challenge at home to keep learning fun and exciting. This month, the #challenge is cooking! See below for some of our students wonderful culinary creations! https://t.co/WsXiWoUDfE