Tributes to a great head

Well respected. . . . Former North Chadderton School head teacher Philip Hayes.

TRIBUTES have been paid to the former head teacher of North Chadderton School, who has died aged 60.

Philip Hayes, who retired in March 2006, had been unwell for some 12 months.

He died last week and chairman of governors Leonard Hindle said: “He was well-respected and liked by students, staff and his colleagues. He was a nice guy to be working with.

“He was instrumental in the school getting business and enterprise specialism and he was instrumental in helping to raise standards as well as maintaining the ethos that we have.

“The governors are all upset. They had a great relationship with Phil and it’s just a sense of sadness for him and his family.

“He loved education and he loved the children — he loved the job that he did. It is just so sad when somebody works all their life and they do not get a chance to enjoy retirement.”
Mr Hayes became head teacher at North Chadderton in May 1998 and described his time there as an “immense privilege”.

He had previously taught in Leeds and Castleford and had been a science inspector for Wakefield council and a senior schools’ inspector in Tameside.

Married to Carol, he leaves two sons, Mark and Tim, and had recently become a grandfather.

Tony Harrison, joint branch secretary of Oldham NUT, added: “We always found Mr Hayes a most co-operative head teacher. He was always keen to include the union in discussions and he always had the best interests of staff at heart.”

The funeral will be in Denby Dale on October 13. Details are available from the school on 0161 624 9939.