Diamond headteacher (From Your Local Guardian)

Diamond headteacher

2:35pm Friday 25th May 2007

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When we launch a new Kingston's Best competition, it usually takes a while for the word to get around and for the nominations to start trickling in. Not so with Kingston's Best Headteacher.

Quick off the mark with their letter just days after the new competition opened were the pupils of Christ Church Church of England Primary School in New Malden, who nominated their headteacher, Brenda Mitchell.

“The deputy head and I have bicycles that we use to ride between the two sites, one in Elm Road and one in Lime Grove. It started as a joke with our road safety team but they then presented us with two bikes last year and we use them as much as we can now.”

Brenda Mitchell

They said: "Our headteacher Brenda Mitchell is the best in Kingston because every person matters to her. She is dedicated to the school and totally committed. All the children love her. She is the diamond in our crown."

Mrs Mitchell, 60, has been headteacher of Christ Church Infant School for six years. When the infant school and junior school merged in 2006, Mrs Mitchell took on the headship at the junior school as well and now runs both schools from two different sites.

She said: "The deputy head and I have bicycles that we use to ride between the two sites, one in Elm Road and one in Lime Grove. It started as a joke with our road safety team but they then presented us with two bikes last year and we use them as much as we can now."

Mrs Mitchell, who lives in Raynes Park, came to teaching in her late 40s after working as a school secretary for over 10 years. She said: "I decided that this was something I wanted to do so I went to Kingston University and did a four year teaching degree. When I graduated, I got a job at a school in Merton and six years later moved to New Malden."

As headteacher for two schools, Mrs Mitchell has little time for teaching herself but likes to maintain a close relationship with both pupils and parents. "I am challenged by the amount of paperwork because it can keep me out of the classroom, but I maintain an open door policy with the children and keep a high profile with the parents."

• To vote for Brenda click here. To nominate your favourite headteacher click here.

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