Brendan Chorley, 59, is retiring as deputy headteacher of All Saints Catholic High School in Kirkby after 18 years of service. When he first joined the school in September 2007, he faced significant challenges but was drawn to the warmth and friendliness of the community. Over nearly two decades, he worked alongside headteacher Tony McGuinness to oversee the school's transformation into a place of pride.
From Languages Teacher to School Leader
Chorley began his teaching career in 1991 as head of modern languages at Archbishop Temple School in Preston, later becoming assistant headteacher at Bankfield School in Widnes. His passion for languages was sparked by an inspiring teacher, Dave Holmes, at Holy Family School in Thornton. He recalled bumping into Holmes at Liverpool John Lennon Airport earlier this year, where they recognised each other immediately.
Speaking to the ECHO, Chorley said: "The end of the 80s was a strange time, we were at the forefront of a brave new world of Europe. I knew I wanted to do something with languages when I finished French, Spanish, and economics at university, so it was either a career in London or a look at teaching, which became the preferred option, and here I am 35 years later."
Transforming All Saints Catholic High School
Chorley described his first impressions of All Saints: "There was so much that needed doing. I remember thinking, ‘This is going to be a challenge,’ but even then, the school and the community had something about them. There was a real warmth and friendliness, and that's what hooked me. It had real charm and something about that gets under your skin."
Together with McGuinness and the wider staff team, Chorley helped lead the school's transformation over 18 years. He said: "It’s been on a long journey. There have been difficult times and plenty of challenges, but together we’ve done a great job, and the school is now really a place everyone can be proud of."
The Heart of the School: Its People
Chorley believes the greatest strength of All Saints lies not in inspection reports or exam results, but in the people who fill its classrooms and corridors. He noted: "Things change frequently, there’s always new ideas or new things on the horizon, whether it's new challenges to face or adaptations to make, so no two days are the same. When you walk through the door at 8am, you're always hoping for a smooth day. Quite often it isn't, but when you sit down on a Friday evening, you get a real sense of achievement. It's never dull."
He added: "It’s the friendliness and the community and how the staff, kids, and families look after each other and look out for one another. I think that’s the thing I’ll take away the most from my time here."
Rewarding Moments and Personal Support
Chorley found rewards in everyday moments, from watching pupils collect exam results to seeing former students return to share their achievements. He said: "The most rewarding part of the job can be from seeing any kind of little success during the day to results day, where you’ve got 200 kids and most of them are happy with their results, and you get to see them come back for awards evening and they want to tell you what they’re doing. You always feel you're making a difference. Hopefully, in a small way, you're helping to shape people's lives."
Following the death of his wife, Gill, Chorley received overwhelming support from colleagues and the school community. He said: "I've been totally overwhelmed by the love and support I've had from the people in this community. Particularly my colleagues, who are friends as well as people I work with. It’s the camaraderie and the pulling together on the good days and also the not-so-good days. I was all set not to go back to work last September, but I was talked around. Looking back, it was 100% the right decision, but now I recognise it's time to move on."
Looking Ahead: Retirement and Legacy
Chorley looks forward to spending more time on the golf course and lowering his handicap. He will miss the daily conversations and laughter but believes the school is in safe hands. He said: "I will really miss the people and having a chat and banter and things like that, but it’s time for other people now to take up the baton. I just hope the school continues on its journey. I'll always keep an eye on what's going on. I'm sure the new leadership team will continue the same ethos and take the school on to even greater things."
He paid tribute to headteacher Tony McGuinness, who is also retiring: "Tony has been the best thing to happen to the school during my time here. He's led from the front, worked his socks off, and all the plaudits he gets are totally well deserved. When I was going through the loss of Gill, he was absolutely brilliant throughout. I'd call him a friend, not just a boss."
Reflecting on his time at All Saints, Chorley concluded: "It sounds cliché, but it really is a special place. People told me that when I first started, and it took me a little while to believe it. Now I know exactly what they meant."
