A graduate of Keele University, Mrs Chapman gained joint honours in French and German, and took up her first teaching post in 1976 at Woodford Lodge School in Cheshire — one of the largest schools in the country at the time.
She moved in 1984 to another large school in Cheshire, Alsager School, where she was head of modern languages and became a senior teacher. In 1996 she moved to the Mark Rutherford School in Bedford, to take on the role of deputy head, and arrived at Bridgnorth Endowed School in 1999.
Mrs Chapman said one of the highlights of her time in Bridgnorth was seeing the school become one of the first in Shropshire to achieve specialist status as a technology college.
“Specialist status brought so much to the school that we wouldn’t otherwise have had,” she said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. It has been a privilege to work with so many talented staff and students, and this is the area of my work that I will miss the most.”
Reflecting on her years at the school, she added: “A lot of the enjoyment is in what I see young people achieving, and feeling part of that. Listening to a concert performance, and seeing young people shine in school productions makes me feel very privileged.”
Mrs Chapman said she would be taking “a breathing space” but planned to continue working, possibly in the field of education. Mrs Chapman will hand over the reins to Phil Loveday, currently deputy headteacher at Bishop Holgate School in York, who will take over in January.
