Hunstanton teacher celebrates 30 years at school

Steve Chapman joined Smithdon High School in September 1996.

As the new academic year kicks off, one Hunstanton teacher is celebrating an impressive milestone.   This month marks Steve Chapman's thirtieth year of teaching at Smithdon High.

Now Assistant Headteacher at the school, Norfolk-born Mr Chapman did a degree in Geography and Economics at Reading University before completing a PGCE at the University of Anglia.

He says he wanted to teach as, "I have always enjoyed meeting people, which education allows you to do. I had been inspired by my own teachers, who showed passion for their subject and used teaching techniques which allowed me to enjoy learning."

“I remember my first day at Smithdon,” he continues, “I was given a very friendly Year 8 form who were with me until they left in Year 11."  

Career highlights include outings to Disneyland Paris, London, Brighton and Birmingham, along with a visit to Alton Towers, complete with rollercoaster ride.

During the three decades Mr Chapman's held a variety of roles, becoming Head of Sixth Form from 2002 to 2018, “It was an amazing job, allowing me to work with ambitious, young people, supporting them towards their goals of fantastic university careers."

In 2022 he became Assistant Headteacher adding, "I really enjoy working with our excellent staff team. It is humbling that I can offer support to staff.  Working in a school is never dull, days go quickly, and you never quite know what might happen."

He says the best thing about his job though is the students, "Who I honestly believe are the best you can work with.  Only last month, I saw an ex-student who also started Smithdon in 1996, who told me that my lessons were the inspiration for her career.  She also told me that I had not aged – I was very pleased with that compliment!”

Headteacher Amanda Gibbins says, “Steve is a stalwart of Smithdon and lynchpin in our Senior Leadership Team. Calm, consistent, and widely respected by students and staff alike, he is an inspiration to us all, not least in having dedicated 30 years of his life to one school – which is a rarity in today’s education world."  

Adding, "I look forward to continuing to work with him for years to come.”