Fairlawn Primary School in Montpelier has said farewell to its founding headteacher, Julie Molesworth.
Julie was appointed early in 2015 to help set up the new primary school to meet the need for places in the area.
The school opened in the Grade II listed former Fairfield Grammar School building in September of that year with a class of 30 and grew to a happy and successful school of 260 children aged four to 11.
Julie, who trained and taught in state schools in Australia before working in two independent schools in the UK, introduced a curriculum at Fairlawn that focused on STEAM – science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. The school’s results are consistently above Bristol and national averages for outcomes at all age groups, with the emphasis is on developing the whole child rather than just on the academic side, with forest school, outdoor play, creativity and curiosity to the fore.
“I have been fortunate to be able to build the staff team here and create a supportive and consistent environment,” said Julie.
“Starting a new school is hard work – there is a lot to do and only you to do it – but it does give you the opportunity to put in place what you think is going to work. You create the ethos and culture and staff buy in to it. You bring people along with you.”
Julie, who has two grown-up children, is planning to start her retirement with a trip to Japan and Australia in the autumn.
The current head of school, Siobhan Lennox-Brown, who has been at the school for seven years, will become Fairlawn’s headteacher in September.
Lynn Robinson, chair of governors at Fairlawn School, which is part of Venturers Trust, said, “The success of our school over the past eight years is largely down to Julie’s dedication. Her warm and wise approach is appreciated by children, colleagues, parents and carers. Hundreds of families have cause to be grateful to her.
“Fairlawn is well set to continue to thrive thanks to the solid foundations she has put in place. We wish her a long and happy retirement.”