The headteacher of St Mary & St Michael Catholic Primary School is retiring with the school to share a headteacher with Notre Dame du Rosaire from September.
Helen Willets has worked in education for 30 years and under her guidance the small Delancey school has flourished said ESC, with it receiving consistently strong outcomes in both Ofsted and Catholic Schools Inspections.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to lead St Mary & St Michael Catholic Primary School for the past eighteen years, where faith, learning and community have flourished together,” Ms Willets said.
“St Mary & St Michael Catholic Primary School has been an enormous part of my life, and I am retiring with many wonderful memories and friendships that I have made along the way.”
Ms Willetts’ years of teaching and leadership have been rooted in her strong Catholic faith and values, shaping not just the academic direction of the school, but its moral and spiritual foundation, added ESC.
Kim Hutchison, the Head of Primary Leadership and Development at ESC said the work of leading St Mary and St Michael staff and students will now be carried out by Mary Robertshaw, who is the headteacher of Notre Dame.
That means, from September 2025, Mrs Robertshaw will be the executive headteacher of both schools.
“We are truly grateful for the many ways Ms Willetts has led, taught, supported and inspired generations of pupils,” said Ms Hutchison. “Her legacy will remain at the heart of the school for many years to come, and we want to thank her for her decades of service.
“We are also grateful to Mrs Robertshaw for taking on this new role, ensuring that the
excellence Ms Willetts has established at the school can continue. As Ms Willetts and
Mrs Robertshaw already work closely together, we anticipate that this handover will
be very smooth.”
Mrs Robertshaw also has more than thirty years of experience in teaching and school
leadership, including the last six years as Headteacher of Notre Dame.
Commenting on her new role she said: “I am excited to begin this new chapter. Ms Willetts will be leaving St Mary & St Michael in an extremely strong and positive position, and I look forward to working alongside the senior leaders, staff, children and parents as we continue to strengthen and celebrate our thriving Catholic school communities together.”