It was with great sadness that we heard of the death of Kate Spiller, the headteacher of Sweyne Park School. She has died at the age of 53, after a long and brave battle against cancer. The Evening Echo reports on the tributes to her here.
It’s likely that the two people with the most influence on the quality of life in Rayleigh are the heads of our two secondary schools. Under her leadership, Sweyne Park School certainly rose in popularity and reputation, and the town as a whole greatly benefited from her efforts. If you look at the Ofsted report for 2001, it was simply glowing: “…. The school is very effective….. the leadership and management of the school are excellent…..the management of change has been achieved under [her] inspired leadership”
But right now it’s the sense of personal shock and loss that will be uppermost in peoples’ feelings. Our thoughts tonight are with her family.