SCHOOL pupils got together to thank much-loved teacher Sarah-Jane Chalker, who is leaving after seven years.

The 29-year-old joined Kennet Valley School in Lockeridge in September 2014.

Since then, she has gone to inspire countless classes with her creative and fun teaching style. Her Year 6 class explained that Miss Chalker had gone above and beyond during lockdown and that she would be missed very much.

Her last day at the school is today (April 1.)

Bella summed up the teacher as “just amazing”.

Teaching assistants Helen Bushnell and Hayley Alexander said the Sarah-Jane had a strong sense of trust with her classes, and that she “just clicked”.

Hayley said: “She just clicks with the kids. She's friends with everyone.”

Helen added: “The children really trust her – it's part of the reason why she’s so loved.”

Kennet Valley recently went from a ‘requires improvement’ ranking to ‘good’ status under Ofsted rankings.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

Sarah-Jane said: “It’s a really good community and all the kids have done so well over lockdown. They’ve become so resilient.

“I’m leaving the school to become assistant head at another school.

"I’m really, really going to miss the kids. It’s like a family here.

"My Year 6 class are just amazing and I’m just so happy we could all be back together before I go.”

Headteacher Emma Russel, added: “She was a bit green when she first joined, but she has matured into the very best teacher.

"She’s passionate about making sure that class is exciting and approaching things in her own way. She binds everyone together here. She wants staff and children to succeed.

“We are so happy for her new job, but there’s no-one in this school who won’t really miss Miss Chalker.”

SCHOOL'S SUCCESS

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

Kennet Valley School went from a Requires Improvement Ofsted status in 2017 to a Good grade last year.

“We very carefully plotted how we would move forward,” explained Mrs Russell.

 “It was really important we didn’t do things just to tick boxes for Ofsted. We all talk about the importance of the whole child and not just teaching to the test, so we never lost site of that to get a good in Ofsted.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

“We did lots of training for staff but lots of the stuff we did were just little tweaks. “More than anything, we know we want to be a happy school - as children learn best when they’re happy

“We worked really hard to make sure our pastoral care didn’t drop during lockdown, and to make sure people still felt connected to the school.

“For my teachers, I hope they know how I appreciative I am of them - and of what an amazing Kennet family we are part of.”

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

When asked, school children had plenty to say about their favourite parts of school.

Mia said: “I was really happy to be back to see people and my teacher again.”

Jasmine added: “It good to spent more time with other friends and make some new friends again.”

Others explained that fun teachers, exciting lessons and help with difficult subjects, like maths, made them really enjoy their time at school.

Catalyna also explained that there had been lots of activites put on by teachers during lockdown, but that it was good to get back.

She said: “There was things like Joe Wicks and his work-outs in the first lockdown, but I think in the last one people just wanted to get back to seeing each other.

“It’s much better all together!”