Members joined Soroptimists from other clubs in southern England to hear a talk by Cheryl Heron, a radical head teacher who specialises in turning around failing schools.
Organised by Southampton club the event attracted a total of 57 Soroptimists who were enthralled by Cheryl’s amusing, entertaining and enlightening talk about a career spent in a very challenging environment.
She told her audience that after eight years as head at the once-failing Bridgemary school in Gosport she was now looking forward to another challenge as principal designate at the new St Aldhelm’s Academy in Poole.
As an ex international basketball player she began her career as a PE teacher but as soon as she first encountered underprivileged children she knew where her future lay.
Famed for thinking outside the box she established teaching children by ability as opposed to age, gave the students a voice in how the school was run and changed starting times for some to 7am when a free breakfast was provided.
Cheryl is pictured, third left, with Carol Forse, president of Winchester club, Rosemary Coward, our president, Julie Blackwell, president of London Chilterns region, Debbie Rogers, president of Southern England region, Christine Davies, president of Southampton and Liz Morgan Lewis, president elect of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland.