17 July 2025
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students/Annwyl Rhieni, Gwarchodwyr a Myfyrwyr
Fond farewells
Ordinarily, my blog celebrates the efforts and accomplishments of our students. However, on this final week, it is a celebration of some legendary staff who have hatched plausible escape plans this August. Please join me in bidding a fond farewell to the staff who are departing from Llanishen High School this summer to embrace pastures and adventures new. The members of staff below have delivered over 94 years of service to the students, past and present, of LHS. I invited each member of staff to share their onward destination and some of their favourite memories from their time at LHS. Here they are in their own words, in reverse order of years served…
A farewell from Mr Harry Powell, Teaching Assistant in Learning Support
During my two years at LHS, one of my funniest memories was the moment that Mr Emanuel woke from a snooze to find himself being dive bombed by a flock of seagulls. We were on route to the Isle of Wight with Year 7. Mr Emanuel regretted lying back on that bench and closing his eyes, due to Mr Bennett covering him in bread crumbs!
I have a lot of fond memories here, but raising nearly £2,000 for the Little Princess Trust through our couch to 5k event will always be very special to me!
What’s next? I am leaving Llanishen to do my PGCE (teacher training) in PE! It was always my aim to become a qualified PE teacher and I am very thankful for the experience I have gained at Llanishen high!
I will miss so many things about the school. I have been able to forge great relationships supporting pupils in lessons. I will miss this a lot! I will also miss staff members as I feel I have made friends for life during my time here! I will also miss helping coach the Year 8 rugby and football teams alongside Mr Morgan. Having been involved with them for two years now, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with them and it’s amazing to see how far they’ve progressed! I have also learnt a great deal from Mr Morgan which will be extremely valuable in my future as a teacher!
A farewell from Mr Dan Bennett, Teacher of PE
I’ve been at Llanishen for 4 years. I have so many funny and fond memories. I’ve particularly enjoyed the relationships that I’ve built with the boys on the annual Italy trip. They’ve all been great, but the first trip that included an uncomfortable delay on the airport floor, and half the luggage going missing, was quite traumatic. But it was also testament to the great humour and resilience of team LHS!
My immediate plans now are to get out and see the world! I’m starting in South America for 4 months before moving on to Australia. I’m going to miss the PE Department family and the school as a whole!
A farewell from Mrs Sarah Goddard, Senior Science Technician
I joined Llanishen from the NHS in September 2018. I have far too many funny and fond moments to commit to paper, but a large proportion of them involve supplying Mr Jayne with the means to cause fire and explosions! We have had an absolute blast over the years (pun excused!)
I am moving to be a Senior Science Technician in a Sixth Form college, starting in September. I will miss the Chemistry team (especially Mr Jayne), as well as the Science team and all the lovely friends and colleagues around the school that have made my time so happy.
A farewell from Mr Dan White, Deputy Headteacher
I have worked at LHS for almost 10 years. I started life here as Head of Maths and have progressed through other roles on the senior leadership team, culminating in my current post as Deputy Headteacher.
One of my funniest memories was pranking Mrs Healan into believing she needed to give Mr Shore the kiss of life. I think you had to be there for that one. Another moment that really tickled me was a discussion in a meeting about finding an office for our Youth Mentor to conduct interviews with students. A member of the team suggested we use the art department’s dark room (I know we are short on office space, but it is absolutely pitch black in there!).
I’ve got too many fond memories to list. The many sports days, school productions, the Italy trip with the PE department, and the recent Ski trip spring to mind. Ultimately, my fondest memories have been seeing various LHS students getting their results in the Summer and seeing the journey they’ve been on since arriving in Year 7.
I do also look at the school fondly on a daily basis, particularly when I reflect on how far the school has come and how much it has improved over the last 7 years.
I am now departing to take up the post of Headteacher at St Julian’s High School in Newport. I will miss a lot of things. I still haven’t fully processed that my time at LHS is coming to an end. It is the people, the staff and pupils, I will miss the most. The LHS community is truly a special place and one I have been proud to work at for the best part of a decade.
A farewell from Mr Tom Price, Head of Science
I joined LHS in September 2011 as a newly qualified teacher in the science department. I was lucky to start under the guidance of Mr McManus and Mr Matthews, who were brilliant mentors and set the tone for what turned out to be a hugely supportive, inspiring, and rewarding place to work.
What have been my funniest moments here? There are too many to choose from! I think I’ve laughed every day I’ve been here, whether with colleagues or during lessons with the pupils. It’s been a real joy to work in such a lively and fun environment.
In terms of my fondest memory, I have no single moment, but results days at GCSE and A level always stick with me. It’s great to see students get the rewards for all their hard work, especially those who’ve had to overcome challenges to get there.
In September, I’m off to Mary Immaculate High School to take up a new role as Assistant Headteacher. It’s a step I’m really excited about, but Llanishen will always be a big part of my journey – it’s shaped me as both a teacher and a leader, and I’ll always be grateful for that. I expect I’ll need a half-and-half scarf for the inter-Cardiff school sporting fixtures next year!
I’ll especially miss teaching A level Biology and working with our fantastic A level students. Their curiosity and enthusiasm have made those lessons really rewarding. I’ll also miss my colleagues, particularly the science team, who have been a great source of support and friendship over the years.
I won’t miss the hours spent ordering, testing, and tweaking practicals with the technician team, getting everything ready for GCSE and A level practical exams, and making sure everything works perfectly on the day (which it always did!).
A farewell from Mrs Romana de Graaf, ALNCo Assistant
I have such mixed feelings as I leave LHS. I left The Netherlands in the year 2000 and I have been in Wales for 23 years. Of my 17 years in Cardiff, I will have spent 15.5 years in LHS.
I started in February 2010 and by May time, everyone knew who I was because I drove my car off the road into the car park where the new ASD base, narrowly missing the ramp and falling down half a meter. The AA needed to come with a car trailer to scrap it. Probably my most embarrassing moment here!
I started in the library and a funny moment in my early days was we were selling stationary. A pupil asked for some pens and I thought he asked “do you have some pence Miss.” I told him I didn’t have money. He asked again and again, until another member of staff said, “For goodness sake, this child wants to buy a pen to write with!” That happens when you are not a native speaker, we laughed all day.
I have loved all of my time here. First, the years working in the library and reading soooo many books and then 7 years as an assistant in the continuously growing Learning Support department with the nicest “boss” I can ask for (and will certainly never get again if I go back to work). I’ve enjoyed helping pupils, teaching them to knit, helping Alona with her textiles, taking them on trips, and seeing a completely different side to them.
I am now moving back to The Netherlands to finally live in our tiny cottage and spend most of my time in the garden . I might go back to work but I will see! Who knows what the future will bring!
A farewell from Mr William Sargent, Science Technician
I have worked at Llanishen High School for 16 years now. One of the funniest moments that I can recall was whilst assisting in the setting up of a Biology A Level practical with Mrs Griffiths (Biology technician). One of our other technicians wasn’t present to help with the setting up, so I went to find where he was. He was in the lower school prep room having a cup of tea. When I asked him to help us set up the practical, his response was “I got to have my cup of tea first.” That was Mike down to a T (no pun intended).
One of my fondest moments here was back in 2015-16 when I gave a sixth form student, Hannah, my engineering books as she was going to study engineering at Uni. Hannah contacted Mrs Wallington a few years later to ask her for my email address to thank me, as the books really helped her in Uni. I thought that was lovely of her.
What’s next for me? I will pick up my fly-fishing rods and enjoy some quiet time by the river. I intend to do some voluntary work to keep myself active. I have three grandsons, two of them are young so they will keep me very busy!! I will also be carrying out DIY projects for my two daughters.
It has been a pleasure to work at Llanishen High School. I have really enjoyed it and I will greatly miss all my colleagues and staff. Very fond memories.
A farewell from Mrs Carol Murphy, Teaching Assistant in our HIRB and ASD SRBs
I have worked at LHS for 24 years!
One of my funniest, and favourite memories has to be a few years ago. Mrs Govier and I accompanied a group of students with Mr Moore and Mrs Richie on a Geography trip to Porthkerry Park. Prior to the trip students had been advised to wear appropriate footwear, as we would be on a very pebbly beach looking at cliff formations.
To keep a long story short, the night before, the ‘heavens’ had opened and it had rained continually all night. The ground was sodden and muddy. A pupil (a girl), had turned up wearing a pair of brand new, flat ballet pumps that were the height of fashion at the time. As we made our way to the beach from the car park it became obvious that the shoes were not going to last long.
We reached a particularly muddy patch and yes, you’ve guessed it, the poor girl slipped and fell into the mud! she was covered from head to toe. After we had made sure she wasn’t hurt, Mrs Govier and I looked at each other, and we were finished. We had tears running down our faces. The more we tried to help the poor girl, the muddier she got and the funnier it became.
Eventually we got her onto her feet and took her to the facilities to get the worst of the mud off. Returning to the bus at the end of the trip we had to find bin bags for her to sit on, because Mr Moore wouldn’t let her sit on the seats. Luckily for us the girl in question found the whole thing hilarious too, and admitted she should never have worn the shoes.
The only thing I won’t miss is having my life governed by bells!
What will I be doing in retirement? I’m sorry to say that I will finally be taking advantage of cheaper holidays (and more of them) and when I’m not holidaying, I will be baking and gardening.
Bon Voyage!
We would also like to extend our thanks to Mr Rhys Peters who has worked in the school as a Welsh Rugby Hub Officer for the last two years. We are devastated that the scheme has ceased (especially since Welsh rugby needs this more than ever!). Mr Peters has been an amazing asset to the school and students and we wish him every success in his new school in Brecon in September.
Ultimately, any words for those who are leaving reminds us that it is the people around us that matter. Our lives are determined by the school day, time in the classroom and routines. But the relationships between students, between staff and between students and staff, forged over months and years are what make it meaningful. So, as you depart on your onward journeys, the very best of luck to you all.
Bon Voyage, Hoyl Fawr and Godspeed.
Key dates for summer 2025 and the start of the new autumn term in September 2025
Before we sign off, here are the key dates for the summer and for the start of the school term in September:
- We will wave the students off for the summer at 12:45pm on Friday 18th July
- A-Level results day is Thursday 14th August – doors open at 8:00 am
- GCSE results day is Thursday 21st August – doors open at 8:00 am
- Monday 1st September is an INSET day
- Tuesday 2nd September is an Induction Day for Years 7, 11 and 12. They will receive their planners and timetables as well as a full induction for the year ahead. Individual Year 13 students will have 1:2:1 interviews with the Sixth Form team
- On Wednesday 3rd September, Years 8, 9, 10 and 13 return (in addition to the other year groups). Further induction activities will run for the first two hours of the day. The normal timetable will then commence from lesson 3
- Wednesday 3rd September is also school photo day for Years 7, 10 and 12
- Wednesday 17th September (4:00 – 5:00 pm) is a settling in evening for Year 7 Parents. Come and meet the form tutor and check that your child is settling in to high school
All that remains is for me to wish all of our readers a very happy and healthy summer break. Switch off the morning alarm. Rejuvenate your bodies, minds and souls. Take care. We’ll do it all again next year…
Thank you for reading/Diolch am ddarllen,
Mrs Sarah Parry, Headteacher