It’s with a heavy heart that I announce I’m leaving the school at the end of the year academic year. I’m heading over to South Australia for a few years to be closer to our family over there. I want to reassure you that the decision to move is primarily for personal reasons– it’s just the right time for us to make the move. 
 
It’s a very difficult decision moving on from a school like Cass– a school which ultimately is so exceptional because of the strength the relationships between children, staff and parents. I love this school and I’m very proud of every child in it. I’m also pleased the staff and governors have moved the school forward and modernised it in the last few years. My departure as Headteacher is merely one small chapter in the long history of our very successful school. We approach the next stage of the future with a very strong teaching team in place, with talented middle and senior leaders who I know will continue to work exceptionally hard and be doggedly focussed on achieving exceptional outcomes for every child.
 
The interesting thing about working in any school is that while you can change the school, the school also changes you. This is an institution with a big personality! I’ve personally developed and grown in so many different ways working with you over the last few years and I hope you feel you’ve gained something from working with me. The main thing I will miss when the time comes to sign off for the last time is the children. It’s an honour being  Headteacher of a school where every child wants to learn and achieve their best. It’s been my pleasure serving them for the last few years. Their talents and skills are remarkable.

As parents and carers you may not know a great deal about the governing body; but let me assure you our governors are an incredibly committed group and have already started the work of recruiting a new Headteacher. Matt Piper, the Chair of Governors, has written to you today to explain more about the process over the next few months. We would really appreciate your active involvement in the process.  This announcement is rather early in the term, but we felt it was necessary so we could find the best possible new Headteacher.

I have been appointed as an Education Director in Adelaide, South Australia where I’ll be helping to improve their school system and working with a number of schools across the state.  I will no doubt use many of the lessons learnt at Cass to help shape the experience for young people in a different part of the world!

Try not to fear change. Our school is about to begin a new chapter and it’s in good shape to have every success in the future. I can assure you it is very much business as usual for the rest of the year. We’re unflinchingly focussed on the hard work of delivering consistently outstanding provision for all children.
​
If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can contact Matt Piper: chair@sirjohncassprimary.org.
With thanks
Mr T Wilson | Headteacher