A New Head Teacher for Longlevens Junior School

As a new school year gets underway, I took the opportunity to meet with Marion Lloyd, the new Head Teacher at the Longlevens Junior School. Marion has been appointed as the sole Head Teacher at the school, following a number of Co-Head partnerships; a trend that the school has adopted in recent years.

Marion lives in Worcestershire, where she was “born and bred”, before leaving for University in Birmingham. Since completing her degree in 1987, she has taught for 28 years and consequently has considerable experience of teaching children aged from two to eleven in a wide range of settings. Throughout her career, she has held several senior leadership positions, the most significant being the headship of two very successful Primary schools in the Worcestershire area. However, after 14 years at the RGS and Callow End schools, Marion decided to pursue an alternative educational role and for 3 years became part of the Ofsted inspectorate. The opportunity to visit a wide variety of different schools has provided her with some valuable experiences, which, undoubtedly, will benefit the junior school considerably.

Marion feels that it is an absolute privilege to be the Head teacher of Longlevens Junior School, a place where every member of the school community is valued and respected. She has received a “fabulous welcome” from Staff, Parents and of course the children, who, even at this early stage have impressed her with their excellent behaviour and positive approach to school life. Marion considers herself to be very fortunate to be in her position as Head at LJS and looks forward enthusiastically to working alongside the excellent Senior Leadership team, the committed staff and the Governing Body to ensure that the children of Longlevens Junior School have the very best that a school can offer.

The school offers the children a very rich and creative curriculum with many areas of specialism available, where the staff set themselves and their pupils the highest expectations in striving for excellence in all areas. A vibrant and stimulating environment is provided where every learning opportunity is maximized, both inside the classroom and outside in the extensive school grounds. The school ethos considers it essential that every child should feel safe, happy, confident and valued. Part of this philosophy is the belief that the best learning results emanate from a close partnership between school and home. Marion is eager to promote this view and looks forward to joining with families to support their children as they continue on their journey through the school.

With the autumn term underway, there is an excited buzz around the school as the Longlevens Out of School Club (LOSC) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year. Located on the junior school site, in the Longlevens Children’s Hub (LCH), which is a purposely designed building, constructed, for the Longlevens Community. The LOSC provides a tremendous service for the Community. It offers flexible childcare, in the form of before and after school sessions for the children of working parents whose children attend the Longlevens Infant and Junior Schools. The LOSC is integral to the whole Longlevens school pathway. It introduces children at the early year’s stage, before they progress through the infants and junior schools and prior to leaving for secondary school. Following the clubs inception all those years ago, the LOSC is proud to acknowledge that it is now caring for the children of Parents who had been through the Longlevens school process previously. More recently, this included a Married couple whose friendship started at the LOSC!

A Celebration Theme Party is planned for October, which will be attended by the whole school, as well as supporters, past and present. Anyone who would like to attend, please check the school web site for more details.

If you would like to arrange a visit to the Hub, or are interested in either an Early Year’s or LOSC place for your child please contact Kathy on 01452 300824 or email: lchadmin@longlevens-jun.gloucs.sch.uk. As this important milestone coincides with the arrival of Marion to the school; as a Community let’s offer our congratulations to the LOSC and wish Marion a long and successful vocation as Head at our Junior Community school.