Bracknell

One of Bracknell Forest’s longest serving headteachers is retiring at the end of this term.

Jenny Fowler leaves Winkfield St Mary’s Primary School, Bracknell for the last time this month after 17 years as headteacher.

Under her leadership Winkfield St Mary’s has become one of the leading primary schools in the borough achieving an excellent Ofsted inspection report for its last inspection in 2001.

Jenny has also pushed hard to develop sport at the Bracknell school and she campaigned to retain the school swimming pool which was modernised in 1996. She believes swimming and sport generally are important in helping children learn about healthy lifestyles and building self esteem.

She said: “Every child learns to swim by the age of seven and I see that as one of my main achievements at the school. It’s no surprise that we’ve done so well in swimming galas over recent years.

“Academically the school has gone from strength to strength and our results speak for themselves. That’s the benefit of having a top class team here at school and I am proud to say I have appointed every one of them since I started.

“The Education team at the Council and our governors have been so supportive over the years, particularly chair of governors Brian Cooley.”

For four years before her appointment to the Winkfield Row school she was deputy headteacher at Crowthorne CE Primary School.

Before coming to Bracknell Forest Jenny did her teacher training in Newport, Monmouthshire before taking up teaching posts at schools in Exeter, Plymouth, Ealing and Merton.

So will she miss her old life? “I can honestly say I have never been bored for one day in this job but the workload now is huge,” she said.

“While I won’t miss that I will definitely miss the camaraderie with colleagues and the children too of course. In some ways I will be sorry to leave but I am so pleased I do so with the school on a real high.”

With retirement just around the corner Jenny’s now planning how to fit her passion for yoga, at which she’s soon to be a qualified instructor, around her other ideas for the future but not before a long awaited holiday to Ichia near the Italian island of Capri.

Gillian Harbut takes over as headteacher of Winkfield St Mary’s Primary School in September.

For more information about Winkfield St Mary's Primary School visit: www.winkfieldstmarys.ik.org

Bracknell Forest Borough Council