This year, James Hunt retires after 28 years as principal of St Patrick’s Primary School, Burrenreagh. Here he explains what the school means to him and shares some of his favourite memories.
JAMES Hunt has retired after spending 28 years at St Patrick’s Primary School, Burrenreagh and he has been reflecting on his time at a school that has a special place in his heart.
He was appointed as teaching principal in September 1996 and began teaching on the same day as his son, Matthew, started at the school in Primary 1.
His years at the school will always be special.
He told the Mourne Observer: “Burrenreagh was indescribably special for me. I loved being a teaching principal there.
“The pupils, parents, staff and governors are simply incredible.
“There is a real caring, family atmosphere and all the pupils look out for each other and help them along each day.
“I always said St Patrick’s Burrenreagh was a small school with a big reputation. Although we were small, we thought big and were very determined to achieve great things.
“I have so many happy memories of teaching that I feel very fortunate indeed. I truly loved teaching and I was thankful to be a teaching principal right through to the end of my career.
“I loved the times when I knew that through my teaching and the work of my colleagues, we were making a difference, giving children confidence and belief in themselves and helping them find and develop their talents, whatever they might be.
“I have always been aware that we do not always remember everything we are told but we will always remember how people make us feel. I tried to apply this to my teaching throughout my career.”
Many local people will remember when the greatly valued and respected rural school was threatened with closure in 2013.
James recalled that experience: “We took on many challenges throughout my years in St Patrick’s, Burrenreagh.
“Many years ago, we were threatened with closure, but the most incredible thing was the way that a threatened closure had the opposite effect.
“Our parents, governors and the community rallied behind us. We made news headlines as we were determined to keep our beautiful school open.
“One of our governors compiled a report on statistics to present to councillors and MLAs. It made compelling reading and was highly influential.
“Our then MP, Margaret Ritchie, did so much to save the school. In fact, it would take a book in itself to describe her actions.”
But James also played his part in helping the school fight to stay open, harnessing the passion of the pupils.
“I organised a trip for Primary 6 and 7 pupils to visit Parliament and Downing Street, as I often did and I arranged a private meeting with the Chief Whip of the House of Commons, who was also Prime Minister David Cameron’s personal adviser.
“Our pupils recorded a version of One Direction’s ‘You Don’t Know You’re Beautiful’ and we called it ‘Burrenreagh is Beautiful’. Parents still talk about that song today.”
James said that the campaign to save the school illustrated how much the local community cares about the school.
“I think our campaign captured the unique spirit of Burrenreagh, with pupils and parents who are proud and passionate about their school. The proposal to close the school all those years ago had the opposite effect.
“Throughout the campaign, our numbers actually rose and the school was saved. I think there is no school quite like St Patrick’s, Burrenreagh.”
James actually began his teaching career in the French department at St Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan, but after a year took up a post in Dundrum at Sacred Heart Primary School, where he stayed for nine years.
After that he moved to Burrenreagh, where he took on the challenging role of being a teaching principal.
He explained what he enjoys about teaching.
“I loved my job, I loved the challenges of teaching, the unique challenges of every child and the fact that, as a teacher, you have a chance to make a real difference in children’s lives, whatever their background.
“Teaching is also a huge responsibility, in that parents and guardians entrust their children to you as you help educate them and prepare them for a fast-changing world.
“I felt very privileged to be entrusted with that responsibility and I always wanted to do my very best.
“I feel very fortunate that I was a teaching principal. Indeed, I felt that being a teaching principal in St Patrick’s Burrenreagh was a privilege.
“The pupils, parents and school community were simply amazing.”
After over 30 years in teaching, James said that he always wanted to keep improving.
“I think a teacher has to be open to learning themselves, always wanting to build on their personal professional development.
“I developed a particular interest in special educational needs and the ways in which the needs of pupils can best be met in the classroom, with the assistance of parents, assistive technology and outside agencies.
“I really enjoyed training to assist pupils with literacy needs in my career.”
During his time teaching he also experienced the massive development in technology, and the local school embraced those changes.
“Technology certainly influenced my teaching. During my later years at Burrenreagh, all pupils had a personal Chromebook laptop which we used to develop our learning and teaching each and every day.
“When the first lockdown came as Covid arrived, this was particularly useful as I was able to teach my class each day through video classes and current technology right from the start of lockdown when the pupils could not actually attend school.
“I think this was vitally important for the pupils that were able to keep in touch with the others in their class in this way during each school day, where they still had video lessons and could see and talk to each other.”
He also pointed out that he was always keen to promote physical education at the school.
“As a primary school teacher, I quickly became aware that pupils need their daily exercise if they are to reach their full potential in the classroom.
“I always took my class for a daily run each day throughout the year. I have been fortunate at St Patrick’s, Burrenreagh as we have excellent outdoor facilities there.
“I also brought my class to play football, both boys and girls, in our sports field, during their break times and lunch times.
“This exercise in the great outdoors helped the pupils focus in class, it promoted their overall health and helped provide some very positive experiences.”
Does James hope the school will remember him for anything in particular?
“I hope I will be remembered for helping pupils and staff alike realise their full potential.
“I hope the pupils will remember me for helping provide happy memories of their days at primary school and that they were well-prepared, academically and socially, for their transition to secondary level education.
“Two former pupils, now aged 18 and 21, wrote me notes reflecting on their days in my class for my recent retirement presentation.
“They reflected on my class’s trips to London where we visited Parliament, Downing Street and went shopping on Oxford Street.
“We used to do these trips in a single day.
“One pupil thanked me for embracing every child’s uniqueness and every child’s craziness.
“I think it was one of the greatest compliments I could ever have received as a teacher!”
Now, facing into retirement, the question is how James will spend his time away from school?
He explained that he wants to spend more time with his family.
“In my retirement, I want to focus on developing a healthy lifestyle for myself and my wife, Louise. Louise has been my rock throughout my career and through more recent times when I have not been in such great health.”
He did have a final word for those at the school who recently held a party for him.
“I am so grateful for a wonderful retirement party for me which was organised by the school.
“The children performed songs, dances and entertainment which we all enjoyed so much!
“It was wonderful to spend time with pupils, staff, governors and parents.
“Baroness Margaret Ritchie was a surprise guest at the event and Dame Judi Dench provided a lovely video tribute.
“It was a very moving occasion, and the children really were the stars of the day in the way that they always are in the special school that is St Patrick’s Primary School, Burrenreagh.”
