Teenager takes on headship of village primary
1 Apr 2008
‘I am lucky that I manage to grasp new things easily, so I don’t think I will be overwhelmed by the role’
Gemma Hargreaves, 19, was offered the post at Whittledown Primary in Cumbia at the beginning of March and will take up the headship after the Easter holidays has ended.
Ms Hargreaves sat her GSCEs aged ten, took her A levels at 12 and graduated from Oxford with a first aged 16. After completing a PGCE, she got a job teaching Year 2 at Whittledown Primary school, where she has now been made Head.
Ms Hargreaves described her new job as ‘fantastic’. Asked why she chose teaching as a career, she said: ‘I loved school when I was younger, but because I was on a vastly accelerated programme I missed out on a lot of wonderful opportunities and experiences.’
‘I am lucky that I manage to grasp new things easily, so I don’t think I will be overwhelmed by the role. Plus, the school is fairy small – only three classes’ she added.
Charles Johnson, Deputy Head of the school commented: ‘Ms Hargreaves may be young, but she has proved her worth as an outstanding teacher and will not doubt make an equally strong impression in her new role as Head. We heartily congratulate her on her promotion.’
Discussion
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3 comments
- Posted by: Scholastic
at 03 April 2008 - 07:00The youngest ever headteacher has been appointed to a small village primary school in Cumbria
- Posted by: Dee
at 03 April 2008 - 09:21Oh my word! That’s crazy. I am doing my teacher training and at 20 I still feel like I am too young to be a ‘real teacher’, let alone run a school.
I always feel like the parents will think I’m a helper and won’t take me seriously. She must have some serious power suits!
- Posted by: Carebear
at 03 April 2008 - 09:44Anyone notice the date that this was published? This has GOT to be an April fools joke. For a start, I don’t think Oxford even accept students under the age of 18. I seem to remember some frustrated students in my school who had got their required A Levels by the astounding age of 17, but couldn’t apply to their chosen Uni for another year. I smell a rat, Child Ed…
