Hautlieu’s Head to retire

Monday 27 January 2014

After 18 years at the helm of Hautlieu, Lesley Toms is retiring from her post as Headteacher at the end of the academic year.

Ms Toms, a former Hautlieu pupil herself, will be leaving after 39 years in the teaching profession. Her announcement comes at the end of a two-year period in which she has headed up both Hautlieu and Highlands College as part of an effort to explore closer collaboration between them.

No announcement has been made about the results of that two-year period, but Education Minister Pat Ryan is chairing a steering group that will make recommendations about possible changes to the future structure of vocational and academic education for over-16s.

In a statement announcing her retirement, Ms Toms paid tribute to the staff and students that she had worked with over the years.

She said: "I am immensely proud of what Hautlieu students and staff have achieved over many years and feel privileged to have played a role in the education of so many people. Hautlieu’s success is very much a team effort and I have been fortunate to have the support of tremendous staff, governors and parents, all of whom have helped make this a rewarding job and one that I still enjoy very much. I would like to thank all my colleagues, past and present, for their valuable support."

Ms Toms began her career in the UK and returned to Jersey in 1991 to take up the role of Deputy Head at Grainville Secondary School. She then became Vice-Principal of Jersey College for Girls before moving to Hautlieu in 1996 as head teacher.

Director of Education Mario Lundy - who is also due to step down from his job at the end of the academic year - said : "Lesley Toms has been an outstanding head teacher who has made an invaluable contribution to education in Jersey. Not only has she led a highly-regarded and successful school, she has done it with great dedication and an unwavering focus on the best interests of her students. She will be greatly missed both as a valued colleague and an inspirational head teacher. We wish her well in her retirement."