Ann Dwulit

TEACHERS and pupils have praised their headteacher for her friendship and support as she retires after two decades of leadership.

Ann Dwulit, of St Luke’s CofE Primary School, is saying goodbye to her pupils after a 23-year stint as headteacher which saw her teach generations of Islington families.

Ms Dwulit reflected on her tenure as being “a real privilege”.

She told the Tribune: “I’ve loved it to be honest. I’ve loved working with the children more than anything. I’ve always been very led by them and their world, how they see things.”

Speaking about the school she has led for more than two decades, Ms Dwulit said: “St Luke’s is a really special school, we really do serve our local community. There is a great family feel about the school, and a very high level of care.”

Ms Dwulit will perhaps best be remembered for continuing the school’s rich tradition of “lively and interesting” services by introducing a donkey called Bayleaf as a staple of the school’s Easter celebrations.

She described it as a “way of bringing the story to life and enabling children to remember it”.

One of the Easter visits from donkey Bayleaf

In recognition of her outstanding leadership, Ms Dwulit was named headteacher of the year in 2007 at the National Teaching Awards. Recently, however, she has faced challenges over cuts in funding which were heightened by the Covid pandemic. “That’s the biggest thing, everything else you can prepare for,” she said. “Managing Covid was a huge challenge, but we did get through.”

As Ms Dwulit’s last week as headteacher ends, pupils have been reflecting on her departure with sadness and awe. A Year 2 pupil said ‘I don’t want her to leave because she is the kindest headteacher”, whilst a Year 6 student said she is “the most motivational and inspiring person I’ve ever met”.

Angela Major, who has been Ms Dwulit’s colleague throughout her 23 years at St Luke’s, shared the sentiments of the pupils but added that the school must move “onwards and upwards”. “It’s a loss for us, but you have to move on,” she said.

Reflecting on her imminent departure from the school, Ms Dwulit said she would like to “stay in the world of education, but not work such long hours.”

“I’ve still got something to offer, and more of me to give,” she said.