A NEWLY appointed headteacher is delighted to have been handed the opportunity to give something back to a school which she says taught her so much.
Staff and pupils at Evenwood Primary School have welcomed Lindsey Vollans who join the school in January following her predecessor Helen Sutherland’s departure before Christmas.
Cockfield born and bred, Mrs Vollans says she is “over the moon” to be back at the primary school where she was a class teacher more than 20 years ago.
Having first taught at the school in 1996 as a supply teacher in the nursery, Mrs Vollans was given a contract the following year and remained there until 2001.
The mother-of-three said: “I got so many opportunities that it put me in really good stead to go on to be a deputy headteacher after here.
“I feel like I owe Evenwood School. That is part of the reason I said yes when I was asked if I would be interested in the position here.
“Teesdale means something to me. It matters to me that the children here get every opportunity that life can throw at them.”
After five years at Evenwood, Mrs Vollans went on to become deputy headteacher at Howdon-le-Wear Primary School, before taking the headship at St Michael’s Primary School, in Bishop Middleham.
She was one of the youngest headteachers in the county when she was appointed there 13 years ago.
She said: “I really feel like I owe Evenwood because it gave me the platform I needed to move on.
“I learnt so much during my time at Evenwood. I jumped at the chance to come back.
“The children’s behaviour is impeccable and they are so well mannered. I can see that people here have got even more potential than they are already showing. We want to harness that and build on it.”
Mrs Vollans spoke highly of the school’s unique community focus which she says is unlike any other school.
She said: “It is a really close knit community and the school is very family orientated. That says everything.
“I think this school makes a massive effort to go that extra mile in supporting families and that is the ethos which I believe in.
“I don’t know any other school where people pull together and work for the benefit of the kids. I honestly believe that what people give here is a real one-off. They go above and beyond and give their heart and soul.”
Mrs Vollans is now keen to build on the school’s nurturing ethos and keep it moving forward.
One idea in the pipeline is to introduce a toddler group which would extend provision in the school’s nursery. She would like to hear from parents about what the needs of the community are and look at ways of meeting those needs.
Former nursery teacher and current fundraising co-ordinator at the school, Jill Swinbank, was also at the school during Mrs Vollans’ previous stint as a class teacher.
She added: “When I heard Lindsey was coming back I was over the moon. I just feel like she has the right attitude and her beliefs are what we want in this school to be able to move forward even more. I think we have hit the jackpot.”
