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13th May 2013
To all Parents/Carers of Wallasey School
Dear Parent / Carer and Student Mr Duffy’s Retirement Having planned to retire at the end of the summer term last year, Governors asked Mr Duffy to stay on for a further year to provide continuity and stability. We were delighted when he agreed and we have no doubt that the school community benefited from him doing so. I write now to inform you, and the wider community that Mr Duffy has decided to retire at the end of this term, July 2013, after nine years of outstanding service to the school since September 2004. We will be extremely sorry to see him go. Governors have asked Mrs Cawood, Deputy Headteacher, to take up the post as Acting Headteacher until a permanent appointment is made. We are delighted that she has agreed and can confirm that she will be in post from September 1st 2013. Governors will act swiftly by placing adverts as soon as possible to appoint a permanent replacement for Mr Duffy. However, Governors are very pleased to inform you that Mr Duffy has agreed to continue to support the school in an advisory capacity for a period of time to assist with this transition and the future development of the school. Mr Duffy has worked in the Education Service for forty years, starting in Salford moving to Birkenhead, Liverpool and now Wallasey. Twenty three of those years have been as a Headteacher in three Secondary Schools. We know that in each he has made a positive impact and not least in Wallasey School which is enjoying the best examination results ever in the school`s history. On behalf of the Governing Body I wish to thank him for his significant and positive contribution to this school and we wish him well in his retirement. Yours sincerely
Mr G Dunn Chair of Governors
Thank you everyone! I have been privileged to work for forty years in schools with many hundreds of terrific students and great staff. So, reaching the decision to retire has not been an easy one, especially from a school like Wallasey School. My third headship has brought wonderful opportunities and has provided me with some of my most treasured moments. There have been sporting successes to cherish, theatrical, musical and artistic events to set the heart racing at the talents of our young people, amazing challenges provided through schemes like Duke of Edinburgh, the 4x4 Challenge, Tan-YGraig, Ski trips, New York trips and others of course. This summer there is a Malawi expedition! There are also the stunning memories from Grease: the School Musical in 2009. What an experience! The thrill of seeing the happy smiling faces of our students on exam results days over recent years will remain with me forever. To think we had only 16% of students achieving top grades back in 2005 and now we celebrate 80%. Importantly the 54.5% of 5 A-C grades including English and Maths is truly satisfying. Let’s hope we break 60% this year! Some thought we wouldn’t achieve such stunning results – but we have. The thing that will always remain with me are the people here. A fantastic Governing Body so ably led by Geoff Dunn who has provided strong support to me and the school. The Leadership team and all staff who work tirelessly in every area of the organisation to improve the school and the life chances of young people; the parents and friends of the school who, over many years, have stood by me and helped us improve and, of course the brilliant students who are a joy to be with. I leave the school in a strong position and this has guided my decision to move on. I also believe that the school is no longer the ‘sleeping giant’ as it was once described. I believe it is alive, healthy and determined to achieve more success in the future. I wish Mrs Cawood and her staff every best wish and I know the school is in extremely safe hands. Between them there is vast experience and skill that will ensure great things for the school. Thank you Wallasey School and its wider community for making my nine years here some of the happiest and fulfilling in my forty years of working in schools. I will miss it all. Keep going from Good to Great but within that Caring and Achieving manner that is the Wallasey School way, where every person matters. Yours sincerely
Philip Duffy Headteacher