A Middlesbrough specialist teaching assistant has received a Gold Award after serving the same school for almost four decades.
Pam Richards started as a parent volunteer at Sunnyside Academy in Coulby Newham in 1986 and after working for the last 28 years as a specialist teaching assistant, she will retire at the end of the month (December 2024).
The school, which is one of ten primary schools under the umbrella of Ad Astra Academy Trust, recently held a special assembly for the married Mum of two to give her the sendoff she deserves.
Speaking at the ceremony before an audience of staff, pupils and trade union representatives, Headteacher Julie Sutton said: “Pam is a star in our school and has been a huge part of Sunnyside Academy for many years. She is always there for every child; she is my ‘go to’ person in the school.
“She is kind, she is thoughtful and one of the most generous people I have ever worked with. Pam will be a massive loss to the school, but we all wish her a long and happy retirement.”
Schoolchildren sang during the ceremony; individual staff members paid their own tributes, and Pam was presented with Ad Astra Academy Trust’s ‘Star in our Schools’ Gold Award.
Sunnyside Academy is home to just under 300 pupils between the age of three and 11. It is a mainstream school with provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), particularly those with visual and hearing impairments.
Pam Richards said: “My husband and I moved into the area in 1986, and we were looking for a school for our two children (aged 5 and 9 at the time). As soon as we walked in the door, we knew it was the school for us.
“Not long after, I became a parent volunteer which was the beginning of an amazing journey in my life and in 1996 I became a specialist teaching assistant working with deaf students at Sunnyside.
“Being part of Sunnyside has given me the opportunity to work with wonderful children and meet so many lovely people. The experience has also had a huge impact on me as an individual and given me the inspiration to grow as a person.
“Sunnyside is like no other school – it is unique. It is one big family where everyone works together and supports one another.”
Pam, who is also UNISON’s Middlesbrough School Convenor, said that in retirement she’s looking forward to spending more time with her family and meeting up with the lots of friends she has made whilst at Sunnyside. She’s also looking forward to going on holiday during term time for the first time in many years.
Andy Brown OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust, said: “Pam is the first ever recipient of our ‘Stars in our Schools’ Gold Award which demonstrates how significant her contribution has been at Sunnyside.
“Everyone associated with the school is hugely appreciative for everything she has done over the last 38 years, and we wish her the very best for the future.”
Dawn Nicholson of UNISON who attended the special assembly, commented: “Pam has played a huge and invaluable role at Sunnyside, both for the children as a specialist teaching assistant, and for the staff as a trade union representative.
“She has been an integral part of UNISON Middlesbrough for over 30 years and is an absolute champion of school workers’ rights. Pam has not only supported and represented hundreds of UNISON members in schools right across the town, but she has also helped to organise and run our school support staff network and campaigned on many school support staff issues. Pam is definitely a star in her school and in UNISON too.”
The other nine primary schools within Ad Astra are Ayresome in Middlesbrough, Crooksbarn and Rosebrook in Stockton-on-Tees, Barnard Grove, Brougham, West Park and West View in Hartlepool and Deaf Hill and Kelloe in County Durham.
Click on the links below to hear Pam Richards being interviewed by Gary Phillipson on BBC Radio Tees.
BBC Radio Tees – Part 1
BBC Radio Tees – Part 2
BBC Radio Tees – Part 3
BBC Radio Tees – Part 4
12 December 2024