It is with mixed emotions that the students and staff at Royal Harbour Academy begin their Easter break as it is also the time when they are saying goodbye to headteacher Simon Pullen, who is retiring from his post after more than a decade at the helm of the school.
The Royal Harbour Academy community surprised Mr Pullen with a helicopter fly over both sites this afternoon (April 2).
Students who entered a reward raffle joined their headteacher for the experience, where they flew over Thanet and the two sites. All students and staff members at the school took to the school fields and lined up to spell out R H A and waved their farewells to Mr Pullen.
The Royal Harbour Academy has thanked Gary Blake at RSP Manston, for facilitating the experience.
Simon Pullen has worked in East Kent for some 30 years becoming the headteacher for Royal Harbour Academy when it was first formed in 2015.
The Royal Harbour was formed through a merger between the old Marlowe Academy and Ellington and Hereson schools and Simon was the headteacher overseeing this new educational development in Ramsgate.
When the school first opened the number of Year 6 students putting Royal Harbour as their first choice for secondary education was about 40 and it is now over 240, a successful turnaround under Mr Pullen’s leadership.
Three years ago the school joined Coastal Academies Trust, entering partnership with five other isle schools: Dane Court Grammar School, King Ethelbert School, Hartsdown Academy, Cliftonville Primary and Newington Primary.
The network of schools working in partnership across the region has allowed them to strengthen their education and share good practice.
The Trust says Mr Pullen has been able to make a significant contribution to the Coastal Academies team as well as his own school and he will be much missed by his colleagues.
Mr Pullen wrote to parents in January to tell them he was retiring, saying: “It has been an honour to serve as Headteacher and I am proud of how the school has improved during my time here.”
Kate Greig, CEO of Coastal Academies Trust described Simon as a truly committed, passionate leader who works tirelessly for the good of all students. She added: “His moral purpose is unquestionable and he is a highly valued leader across Thanet. It is very sad to say goodbye to him but we wish him a happy and long retirement.”
Kristian Lasslett will become Head of School from next term and Martin Jones, the current headteacher at Dane Court Grammar School, will become Executive Headteacher.
Kristian said: “Simon has been an incredible leader to work for and he has led the school through a period of huge improvement. I am more determined than ever to ensure that Royal Harbour Academy continues this exciting journey of improvement.”
Well done to Mr Pullen and all concerned especially the children who have made RHA a school to be proud of.
I wish him good health and happiness in his retirement.