It is with very heavy hearts that we are saying “Goodbye” to Mrs McGibbon this summer as she jets off to a new challenge overseas. She has finished the final page of this chapter of her school journey and brings this volume to a close. We wish her every luck on the next episode of her story in a new setting with a host of new characters!
Mrs McGibbon started teaching at PGHS an incredible 17 years ago and has become an intrinsic part of school life – it is hard to imagine school without her and she will leave a huge gap. It has been an eventful time personally and professionally for Mrs McGibbon. Mrs McGibbon’s career has flourished here; she began as a newly qualified teacher but her enthusiasm for, and commitment to, vulnerable students and SEND quickly became apparent, leading her to develop her role as SENDCO in addition to being an exceptional English teacher. In this role, she has supported many students to achieve their very best and enabled them to move onto to fulfilling and successful roles after high school. Mrs McGibbon has always dealt with the challenges that her role as SENCO has presented in a professional and caring manner. Student wellbeing and success has always been her priority and Mrs McGibbon’s commitment has been demonstrated time after time, year after year. Countless students are successful and happy because of her dedication. Mrs McGibbon hasn’t just supported students in her care, she has supported the careers and wellbeing of many staff members. She always been a calm and consistent presence in school that provides stability and common sense to many of us.
She has been an intrinsic part of the life of the school and has always given her time generously. Personally, I have many happy memories of working together: on school shows; residentials in London; “hike to help”; our “Old Lady Day Out” in Ambleside (which consisted of sampling numerous tea rooms and then a “Nanna nap” on the coach home); enrichment days; theatre trips (including a very memorable one to a workshop and performance of “Matilda”); ASDAN trips; and the most ridiculous of all, our Lady Gaga tribute filmed on Southport beach.
Looking back at Mrs McGibbon’s time here, there have been 15 Education Secretaries, 8 Prime Ministers, 4 Heads of English, 3 Headteachers, 2 Assistant SENCOs and 1 COVID pandemic – an eventful time! Throughout all these changes, Mrs McGibbon has always been positive and optimistic about the new challenges ahead. I have no doubt that she has the same positivity about the adventure ahead.
It goes without saying that we are going to miss Mrs McGibbon enormously and she leaves a huge legacy behind her. It is going to be difficult to imagine school life without her and her new school is exceptionally lucky. We wish her every success in the future, in all the stories yet to be told, all the adventures that await for her and her family.
Mrs C Woodhouse
Senior Assistant Headteacher
