Liz Bassett joined Ely St John’s Primary school in Ely in January 2012, having previously been the Head Teacher of Fen Ditton Primary school from 2007.

Liz began her teaching career in 1988 and Cllr Bryony Goodliffe, Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee said: “I know I speak for the whole of Children’s Services when I say a huge ‘thank you’ to Liz for her tireless work over so many years. Hundreds of children have benefited from her caring and inspirational leadership, emerging ready to face the adult world and the challenges it brings. Her contribution to the local authority and the wider community will be missed too – her influence has stretched far beyond the school gates. I wish her the very best for her retirement.”

Liz’s contribution to Ely St Johns has been considerable and she has ensured a strong focus on student well-being as well as student academic attainment and has pioneered a nurture programme and positive approach to behaviour management within the school. Liz is a musician and member of the local Morris community and her focus on music has impacted not only the school but the wider Ely community.

Liz has supported instrumental learning in the school with all students in year 3 learning the recorder and many going on to learn another instrument and continue this into their secondary school education. For the final school concert, Helen Allen, a peripatetic music teacher who also organises the local youth orchestra arranged for past pupils who had started their musical journey at St John’s to return to the school with their instruments and play ‘The Final Countdown’ as a fond farewell. Helen noted that ‘Liz has been the driving force behind music in St John’s throughout her time in the school’. 

Matt Leach, Chair of Governors at Ely St John’s said “we wish to thank Liz for her fantastic contribution to the Ely St John’s school community over the last ten years.  We wish her all the best for her retirement, although we are pleased to hear that she will be continuing to support local education as a governor of a local school.”  

Liz will be succeeded in September by John Henson, the current Deputy Head.

Press release from Ely St. John’s Primary School

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Eight different workshops were set up, during the week long event, covering road safety, the internet, railways, animal safety, water awareness, fire safety, buying of safe goods and antisocial behaviour.

The special programme, known as the Schools Safety Zones Challenge, was attended by about 500 year five students between October 17 and 21.
Schools taking part were Ely St John’s, Kings Ely, Ely St Mary’s, The Lantern, Littleport Community School, Millfield School, Wilburton, Little Thetford, Robert Arkenstall, Mepal and Wicham Schools.
Delivering the safety message to the students, who were aged between nine and ten years old, were the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Road Safety Partnership, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, British Transport Police, Wood Green Animal Charity, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and Trading Standards.
Watch Commander Dave Rees, of Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This has been a great week giving the children a fantastic opportunity to learn some potentially life saving messages.
“I would like to express my thanks to all the agencies involved for supporting the event, the volunteers and the firefighters at Ely for all their hard work in making this annual event a great success, particularly firefighter Darren Fox who led on the organisation of the event.”

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