No more science in the sun for David (From Warrington Guardian)

No more science in the sun for David

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HAYLEY TUTT

WEAVERHAM High 's new headteacher knows all too well about the importance of quality resources within a school.

This is hardly surprising when you consider that David Charlton spent two years teaching science to children on the primitive island of St Kitt's in the Caribbean.

The 750-pupil school may have been fairly large, but money and resources were scarce and finding gas and electricitiy for practical experiments was often a struggle.

"Teaching in St Kitt's was a very positive experience although there were very few materials and as a science teacher that was quite hard going," the 41-year-old head explained.

"People were very friendly but all sorts of practical problems arose both in and out of the classroom. "

Weaverham High School, in comparison, is already well equipped for the 21st century with a multimedia design and technology area and almost 150 computer stations connected to the internet.

"The technological status at the school is one of the things that most attracted me to the position of headteacher," he said.

"We are going to be working in a global environment where not only are excellent IT skills necessary, pupils also need to be able to go on learning throughout their lives .

"The impact science has on our lives is immense and also on the increase. Children will need high quality technological skills, and I hope to use my passion for science to influence this."

At the moment Mr Charlton still lives in Lancaster where he was the deputy head teacher at Ripley St Thomas High School for five years.

Prior to that he made use of his degree in applied physics by teaching science at high schools in Wiltshire, Worcestershire and London.

But plans are already in motion to move to Cheshire within the next few months, along with his wife Rosemary, a special needs teacher, and his three children, Andrew, 11, Timothy, nine, and James, six.

"My family see the whole thing as a new adventure, as Cheshire is fairly unknown to them, but one they are looking forward to," he said.

"Life is quite hectic at the moment and my feet haven't touched the ground. Every day I am finding out new strengths about the school from the vast range of things which land on my desk.

"Fortunately my new colleagues have all been supportive and the attitude of the pupils has been very positive."

"It is a case of finding out the school's strengths and moving forward with them."

Born in Birmingham, Mr Charlton replaces former head teacher Goerge Studd, who retired in December after 23 years at the helm.

"Clearly I have l come to a very good school in terms of both academic and extra-curricular activities," he said.

"I think it's important to offer a wide range of activities in sport, drama and music, because if you can get pupils to be successful in some aspect of their lives, it will hopefully spill over into other parts of their education.

He added: "My role now is to bring in fresh ideas to build on the success which has already been achieved, not just for the school's future development, but for the pupils, parents and staff as well."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.