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Teacher Sheila Gibbons |
Home economics teacher ready to taste retirement
AS a working class girl at a secondary modern school in the 1960s, Sheila Gibbons was not expected to have a career, she found herself bundled together with the other “no-hopers” in home economics class.
But four decades later, Mrs Gibbons, who is retiring this week after 12 years as deputy headteacher of Parliament Hill School, is looking back on a 38-year career.
Mrs Gibbons, 59, said: “When I was starting out, home economics was seen as something for girls who were not very good at anything else. But now healthy eating is very much in vogue and every school has got to teach it. It is very important that students leave school knowing how to cook.”
Her culinary demonstrations became so successful that even boys from neighbouring William Ellis School have ventured over for out-of-hours tuition.
“When I was young no one really cared what you thought,” said Mrs Gibbons. “That’s why I say to students now that they have so much opportunity – they just need to grasp it.”
Mrs Gibbons said she will take on some consultancy work to “keep challenging my brain”.
She was given a leaving party at the school on Friday. Headteacher Sue Higgins said: “Working with Sheila has been a professional highlight. She is going to be a very hard act to follow.” |
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