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Abstract

A popular headteacher is leaving his Islington school on a high note after 12 years.

Mark Miller said he had “very mixed feelings” about taking early retirement from Robert Blair Primary School to focus on new challenges outside the classroom.

The Brewery Road school was judged “good” in all areas by Ofsted after a June inspection and has just passed a £10,000 funding target in its bid to install solar panels on the school roof.

Mr Miller, who lives in Forest Hill, south London, has been a headteacher at three different schools – but has spent by far the longest time at Robert Blair, which has 280 children on its roll.

“I’m really sad to be leaving,” he said. “It’s the people you get attached to – the children, the families and staff I’ve worked with over the years.

“I’ll miss the whole thing. I’ve loved being here. I count myself as very fortunate that I get up – most days – wanting to come to school.”

Mr Miller, 55, did his training at Goldsmiths College before working in Bexley, Bromley and, finally, Islington.

The highlights of his headship include seeing pupils perform at the Lilian Baylis Studios at Sadler’s Wells, the school’s work with charity The Art Room and their involvement with the Cally Festival.

Reflecting on the changing nature of his job, Mr Miller said: “It’s certainly not as hands-on as it was when I first became a headteacher.

“The role has changed radically. So much now is around business and finance, which is great, but it does mean you get to spend less time with the children, but when I do get to, I love reading to children.”

And although Mr Miller said he felt the modern obsession with testing and inspections can go “a bit mad”, he said children now get a much better deal than they did 30 years ago.

“If you had a good teacher you were lucky but there’s much less left to chance now,” he said.

“It’s important that people are checking what’s going on in schools. Schools are measured against some standards, and that’s right – it’s an important job working with children and getting them ready for life and we don’t want to be letting them down.”

Mr Miller is sure to be kept busy once he leaves the school in August, with teacher training, consultancy work and plans in the pipeline to study for an MA in children’s literature.

But the father-of-two is looking forward to the slightly slower pace of life and enjoying painting, gardening and spending more time with his granddaughter.

He will be succeeded by Michelle Bahn, deputy headteacher at Hargrave Park Primary, in Archway.