Sheila Naylor building opens at The Castle School, Taunton

The Castle School's new Sheila Naylor building was officially opened on May 2.

The new building, funded from a successful Government capital grant bid, provides two large design and technology classrooms for theory and design work as well as practical lessons.

The first floor offers two spacious classrooms as well as a new computer suite.

Sheila Naylor started on the board of governors in January 1994.

25 years, and three headteachers later, she is set to abdicate her role at the end of the academic year as the school enters a new era.

Headteacher Sarah Watson gave a speech at the opening ceremony to thank Mrs Naylor for her time and effort.

She said a school is 'more than just buildings', and Mrs Naylor had helped shape the supportive community of the academy.

"The school has transformed, and I am really proud to show parents and students around," The proud headteacher said.

"It's thanks to all of you and I am grateful.

"Sheila has been a governor here since January 1994. That's 25 years. She's worked with three different headteachers, keeping us on the straight and narrow.

"I speak for all those headteachers, I feel like they are standing behind me in spirit if not reality.

"The things that governors do, people don't know about.

"The obvious things like award ceremonies, prize givings, you're always there for the staff leaving at the end of the year. Countless concerts, openings and closing and all sorts of things like that. Governors meeting, hours and hours of them.

"It's all the extra things that governors do as well."

HELLO, GOODBYE: The new building, named after parting chairman of governors Sheila Naylor 

Ms Watson said everything Sheila does is 'in the pursuit of what's right' and conducts herself with 'absolutely integrity and moral purpose'.

She claimed Sheila's actions helped shape her into a better headteacher.

"I think governors such as Sheila and the reason why The Castle School has been so successful," she added. "Because governors of Sheila's quality are really rare and we are really fortunate.

"The other thing Sheila does is go out of her way to recruit governors and to train them to make sure we all do what we are supposed to do.

"The preparation, your preparedness to put in significant hours of your time, to support the children of the school for 25 years - unpaid.

"Governors are unsung heroes, like yourself.

"I know I can always go to Sheila about anything, and I am always going to get support, always a kind listener, but also challenged, and I have to say the way Sheila challenges is the most subtle way, you don't feel you're being challenged, you just feel like someone has given you a really good idea.

"She's a superb role model for me, it's a privilege and an honour to have worked with her."

Mrs Naylor still intends to be involved with the school, but will be a 'member' instead of a governor.

The trust which runs the popular secondary school, The Castle Partnership Trust, has other schools in the area under its umbrella.

It looks after Wellington schools Court Fields Secondary School and Wellesley Park Primary School, and soon the new Isambard Kingdom Brunel primary school set to open next year.

Mrs Naylor said given the school is about to start a new chapter, and having completed 25 years, she feels it's the right time to let someone else have the opportunity to be chairman.

She said: "It's been a long time and I am here until the end of the year. "It's also been a privilege for me.

"Working with such wonderful people, it's a real community in the school, and in the other schools we've now got.

"The whole thing has been hard work but it has been lots of fun.

"We have had lots of difficult things to do as well, but that's life.

"It has been really wonderful and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

"I would always recommend to people to become a governor because it is well-worth doing."