9:07am Monday 14th July 2008
By Harry Walton
WESTFIELD Technology College in Weymouth is facing the end of an era with the retirement of three key members of staff.
Headteacher Phil Silvester, deputy-headteacher Wendy Pearce and senior teacher Mike Salt have given 44 years service to the college.
Mr Silvester, 51, was recently awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List and came to Westfield 15 years ago from Tyntesfield special school in Rugby.
He said the new headteacher Andrew Penman, who is head at Five Islands School on the Isles of Scilly, will start at Westfield in January 2009.
Mr Silvester added: "I suppose I am retiring, but not fully because I will be looking for new challenges through consultancies.
"I am also emigrating to France to run a gite bed and breakfast with my wife, Glynis, just outside Cognac in brandy country.
"I have been sat in this chair for 15 years, so I feel in need of a bit of a break, but I am walking away from the best job I have ever had .
"What attracted me to Westfield was that Dorset is such a lovely county and the job came up at a time when I was ready for headship and was looking for a major career and a really big challenge. Westfield certainly provided that and more.
"I am particularly proud of two outstanding Ofsted inspection reports for Westfield and the fact that we were the fifth special school nationally to gain specialist status.
"I will miss the children clearly and, almost in equal measure, the staff who I am very attached to. They are a bit like an extended family. They are also a highly skilled and dedicated team.
"I have learnt so much in my time here. What an incredible journey, what an adventure!"
His deputy, Wendy Pearce has been at Westfield for 17 years and he said of her: "Wendy is as good as it gets, a true professional."
He also praised Mike Salt, who has been at Westfield for 12 years and said: "Mike is simply one of the best teachers I have ever had the privilege to work with."
Chairman of governors Kathryn Gould said: "They have all made a fantastic difference at Westfield while Phil's leadership has made the college what it is today.
"They have all been here a number of years and they will all be sorely missed.
"All of them have commitment and vision and many children and parents owe them an awful lot."
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