Joanna Starkey is a Liverpool-based teacher and headteacher who has dedicated 36 years of her life to St Paul and St Timothy’s Catholic Infants School. She started her journey there as a pupil, only to return later as a teacher and eventually lead the institution. Over the years, Joanna has become a symbol of the school, promoting kindness and creating a family atmosphere for pupils and staff. She has also worked to solve traffic problems around the school, promoting safer and greener transport solutions. Find out more on liverpool1.one.
From Pupil to Headteacher: A Journey to Success
Joanna Starkey’s story at St Paul and St Timothy’s Catholic Infants School is a perfect example of dedication and love for one’s school. She began her journey as a pupil and returned in 1988 as an infant teacher. Over three decades, Joanna witnessed significant changes but always maintained a strong connection to the school community. In 2010, she was appointed headteacher, the culmination of her long journey, allowing her to play a key role in the school’s development.
During her time as headteacher, Joanna Starkey ensured the school’s stability and prosperity by fostering a family spirit that makes people want to work there and makes them reluctant to leave. She saw her job as an opportunity to care for every pupil, their families, and the staff.
Life at School: Values and Achievements
Joanna Starkey’s main achievements as headteacher go far beyond simple administrative duties. Under her leadership, the school has become a real community, distinguished by its unique spirit of support and cooperation. Starkey was known for her attention to every pupil and their individual needs. She introduced new educational programmes aimed at fostering a child’s individuality and ensured a supportive environment for learning and development.
Thanks to her efforts, the school actively participated in social and environmental initiatives, such as the School Streets programme, which aims to improve safety and reduce pollution around schools. The implementation of this initiative helped improve the environmental situation and encouraged pupils and parents to opt for walking, cycling, or scooting instead of traditional transport.
In addition, Starkey always stressed the importance of teamwork, motivating teachers to remain part of this family school. Her dedication and ability to bring people together helped preserve the spirit of the school community and significantly strengthen the institution’s internal culture.
Safety and Active Travel: Caring for Pupils and the Community
Joanna Starkey was a strong supporter of initiatives to improve safety for children, especially after the tragic death of a boy near the school. She enrolled her school in the “School Streets” programme and other projects aimed at closing off streets during the school day. But why was this necessary?
Just picture the scene: about half an hour before school started and ended, a large number of cars would flock to the school. There wasn’t enough room for all of them, and sometimes they would block access to the school gates or to the neighbours’ driveways. Several cars would wait with their engines running, with the exhaust fumes rising to the height of a child’s head. Families had to squeeze between parked cars, and some small children would get lost among these metal giants.
The school also worked with the organisation Sustrans to promote active travel – walking and cycling routes. These initiatives help combat air pollution and traffic jams, and also encourage a healthy lifestyle for pupils and teachers.
Saying Goodbye to a Beloved School
Joanna Starkey stepped down from her position in 2024 with a great sense of pride and gratitude. She said the school had become a second home to her, where every day brought new achievements and the community grew and strengthened. One of the most memorable events in her honour was the JO FEST celebration, which took place in June 2024. The event was an opportunity to show gratitude for her years of tireless work.
Joanna emphasised that one of the most valuable moments of her career was seeing the school change for the better. During her leadership, she managed to create an environment where pupils felt safe and could develop as individuals. Over this time, the school not only adapted to the problems of 21st-century society but also became an example of active cooperation and the implementation of modern approaches to teaching and development.
Starkey also noted that her work as headteacher had a significant impact on the community. She expressed gratitude to parents, pupils, and colleagues for their shared efforts that helped create an atmosphere of support and mutual understanding. Good teachers who have done so much to improve the education system in Liverpool should be respected and remembered. Another great example is Maurice Tickle, who we wrote about here. You might also be interested to learn about the history of female education in the city.