'It sounds corny, but Howell's is like a family and I did shed a tear'

Sally Davies is stepping down from top independent school Howell's, in Llandaff, after 33 years, the last 17 as headteacher. Education editor Abbie Wightwick reports

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THE HEADTEACHER of one of Wales' best-known and oldest independent schools has retired after 33 years.

Sally Davis said she shed tears as she left Howell's School, in Llandaff, where she has spent half of her life.

Over more than three decades at the school, Sally, 66, saw Howell's transform from an all-girls boarding school to a day school admitting boys.

During her career, Sally, who grew up in Newport, navigated huge social changes from social media to the effects of the pandemic and smartphones on teaching and the lives of her pupils and staff.

The former geography teacher came to Howell's aged 33 after 10 years teaching in tough inner-city comprehensive schools in London, where she was also deputy head of a state technology college.

Arriving at the fee-charging school as deputy head, Sally only ever intended to stay for a few years, but said: "Howell's gets into your bones - it's like a family."

She has been headteacher of the now 600-pupil school for 17 years.

Sally, whose father was a butcher, attended Bassaleg Comprehensive before heading to Bedford College, London University, telling her parents: "I won't be back from the bright lights of London."

But as time went on she said "hiraeth" called her home to Wales, and she applied for the job at Howell's with no experience of fee-paying independent schools.

She said: "It was a culture shock arriving at Howell's. It was fabulous but very different and new.

"I arrived and it was just a joy to teach because in London it had been all about behaviour control.