We’ll miss you! Hampstead School pupils ‘gasped’ at news of Andrea Smith's departure

Published: 01 July, 2010
by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS

SHE’S been a part of Hampstead School for more than 20 years, and at the helm of the secondary school’s successful sixth-form for a decade.

But come the end of this summer term, it will be all change for Andrea Smith.

In just four weeks, the history and politics teacher, who also took on a role as assistant headteacher, will walk through the West Hampstead comprehensive’s gates for the last time.

Describing the moment she told Year 13 pupils she was leaving, Ms Smith said: “There was a spontaneous gasp of astonishment, which made me appreciate that I’m so much a part of the fabric of the school, that even though they were leaving, part of the fabric was going as well.” 

Welsh-born Ms Smith began her career in the 1970s teaching at the UK’s first purpose-built comprehensive school, Kidbrooke in Greenwich, and initially began on a temporary, part-time basis at Hampstead as she raised her two children, Megan and Martin, with historian husband Gary Smith. But the charm of the school meant she soon found herself pushing to stay on.

“Hampstead has this sense of dynamism and vibrancy and that sense of opportunity for all,” said Ms Smith.

“People are accepted at face value, not for where they live or where they’ve come from.”

Under her guidance, Hampstead’s sixth form has done increasingly well in exams, coming in the top 7 per cent of schools nationally last year, once value-added had been taken into consideration. 

Her students have also shone in a debating programme.

Ms Smith is now set to move into a part-time role with a company that coaches experienced teachers in how to become headteachers.

And although she is looking forward to also spending more time on her allotment,  she says she will miss teaching.  

“It’s enormously rewarding,” added Ms Smith.