Southam teacher’s farewell after 39 years

He’s conquered cancer, taught at an RAF base and led his house to championship victory - but now this Southam College physics teacher is retiring after 39 years at the school.
MHLC-10-07-13 Robert Burley Jul151
 Robert Burley,Physics teacher is retiring after 39 years.
 Pictured, with all the pupils (250) in the Webb Ellis House.MHLC-10-07-13 Robert Burley Jul151
 Robert Burley,Physics teacher is retiring after 39 years.
 Pictured, with all the pupils (250) in the Webb Ellis House.
MHLC-10-07-13 Robert Burley Jul151 Robert Burley,Physics teacher is retiring after 39 years. Pictured, with all the pupils (250) in the Webb Ellis House.

Since 1974 ,when Robert Burley joined the school straight out of teacher training college - where he met his wife Rosemary - he has loved it so much that he has never wanted to leave.

But at the age of 61, the grandfather-of-four - who has taught at least two generations of pupils - is now ready to take some time out to spend with family and pursue a few neglected hobbies.

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He said: “Southam College is just such a nice school to work in. The students are really nice and the working atmosphere has been really good. I found a place I really liked so I stayed here.”

Mr Burley recalls the rather strange phone call to tell him he had got the job back in 1974 - when he was told he would not be teaching in Southam as he had thought. The school had to unexpectedly move to RAF Gaydon for a year due to a suspected problem with the concrete in the building.

Later, in 1986, the father-of-two was forced to give up his much-loved job after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. But remarkably, he returned after just one year.

He said: “Fortunately, it was one of those cancers they could cure and I made a full recovery very quickly.”

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Having studied physics at teacher training college, Mr Burley was pleased to move from his role as science teacher to physics A-level teacher when the school developed a sixth form - and he has maintained that role to this day.

A few years ago, after the school introduced a system of houses, Mr Burley became head of the Webb Ellis house, which he oversaw win the school house championships last year, which rewarded pupils for excellence in schoolwork and sport. He has also contributed to organising house fundraising activities and this year, the school’s four houses raised £3,141 for Cancer Research UK.

Although Mr Burley said he has seen “an awful lot of changes” during his 39 years at the school, including big expansions and new sports facilities, he said: “It has always been a good school - we have never had any problems. That’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed. A couple of years ago we were rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, which was fantastic.”