Broad Chalke Primary School headteacher Amanda Brockway retires

Amanda Brockway has been the headteacher of Broad Chalke Primary School since 2013. 

Prior to this she was the headteacher of Chilmark and Fonthill Bishop Primary School from 2004 to 2012.

Mrs Brockway, who has been a headteacher for 18 years and a teacher for 17 years before that, said: “It has been a privilege to be a part of so many children’s lives in the Salisbury area.”

Fulfilling a dream

The former South Wilts Grammar School pupil, who has had a teaching career spanning nearly 35 years, says it was always her dream and ambition to become a headteacher and “create a school combining high academic standards but also with real enjoyment in learning”.

“I feel like I’ve fulfilled that dream and I’m really grateful for the opportunities I was given to be able to do that,” said Mrs Brockway who started her career at Broad Chalke teaching just one day a week, working her way up to become a senior teacher before leaving to become headteacher at Chilmark and Fonthill Bishop for nearly nine years.

“It was my dream to return to be head at Broad Chalke."

Mrs Brockway, a former pupil at Fovant Primary School, said she was inspired by her time at the village school and wanted to “make a difference to other people’s lives”.

“I just wanted to create a school, which if I was a child I would want to go to. I think at Broad Chalke with an outstanding team of staff I truly believe we have created something truly special in Broad Chalke which will carry on for future generations.”

“Both of the schools where I was head were rated outstanding by both Ofsted and SIAMS during the time when I was in charge.

"That is a great credit to everybody that both schools achieved that. It is always about the team and I was very lucky to have a fantastic team in both my schools.”

Inspiring pupils and Covid-19

On what she will miss most she added: “I will miss the children without a doubt and miss talking to them in my assemblies. I always tell my pupils to strive to be the very best version of themselves and to follow their dreams, and if they keep focused and work hard they will achieve their dream.”

The headteacher was nominated as a Journal pandemic hero by one of the parents for the “complete dedication, incredible hard work and professionalism” showed throughout the pandemic and in particular her inspiring newsletters.

“Being a headteacher requires a lot of resilience at any time but particularly during Covid it has meant that we’ve had to really dig deep as a team,” she continued.

“I feel as a team at Broad Chalke it brought as even closer because we had to work so hard to support one another and to support all of our families. I will miss my team very much.”

Time for a new chapter

Mrs Brockway also told the Journal she was “incredibly proud” of the school and its reputation built by her and her team over the years but added: “Now it is time to think about the next chapter in my life.”

She was given a special send off including a ride on a steam engine when Father Christmas visited the school on Wednesday December 15, which she said was “amazing” and a “massive surprise”.

The whole school also gave her a lovely goodbye in the playground with songs from the choir specially written for her. One pupil also wrote and composed a song for Mrs Brockway.

“They gave me a wonderful send off and made me feel very overwhelmed by all the love and support and gratitude shown by the pupils and staff, parents ad governors.”

“My greatest joy is seeing children turn into young people and living happy and fulfilling lives," added Mrs Brockway.

In her retirement she will be having a nice rest before embarking on a new chapter when she launches a new career.

'Dedication, commitment and perseverance'

Chair of governors Louise Hall said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Brockway for the dedication, commitment and perseverance she has displayed throughout her teaching career and, especially as headteacher at Broad Chalke for the past nine years.

“Mrs Brockway has successfully led our teaching staff and the wider school community with compassion, professionalism and always with the children’s best interest at heart. She has shown outstanding leadership throughout, and especially in the past eighteen months of daily, daunting challenges faced within school.

“We are indeed fortunate to have enjoyed such excellent leadership from our headteacher during what has been an unprecedented challenge for all elements of our school.

“Broad Chalke School has gone from strength to strength under Mrs Brockway’s supervision. This success can be benchmarked by our educational results, sporting achievements, drama productions and extra curriculum activities.

“Mrs Brockway has nurtured the children to be confident and happy with values to aspire to be the best they can be. We thank Mrs Brockway hugely and wish her a long, happy, healthy and well deserved retirement to spend with her family and friends.”

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