Services

I only have good memories of attending St Julians Primary School. I loved all of my teachers and was so pleased when Mrs Evans taught my son as she was certainly one of my favourite teachers! I used to love Sports Day on the huge playing fields and always remember wishing the swimming pool was still in use. I was quite shy in school, so was pleased when I was chosen as the May Queen. I got to wear a princess dress, a crown and sit on a big chair whilst watching the pupils dance around the pole with ribbons! Miss Coombs was my year 6 teacher and I remember my favourite topic with her was learning about World War 2 and getting the chance to see a gas mask. I spent play time on the yard and remember the two large walls on each yard! They were used as football goals! I made lots of friends in school and I’m still friends with a lot now! Mr Draisy was the Head Teacher and Mr Drewitt was the Deputy Head Teacher. I was lucky enough never to get in trouble by either! I remember assembly time with Mr Draisy and singing so many songs as well as always finishing with the school prayer.  When my son attended the school, more memories came flooding back especially during school concerts! I was always an angel and I still have the video recording which my son & niece and nephew love to watch!!  I have such good school memories and I’m so glad my son & other children in my family have got to make their own memories at St Julians Primary.

I went on to attend St Julians Comprehensive School and left in 1996 where I then went on to study at Cross-keys College. I then attended University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC) and achieved a HND and Degree in Hospitality & Business Management. During my degree, I worked in America & Dubai on a work placement. My son was born in 2004 and I started working for a large bank. I have been employed at the Banking Group as a Team Manager for 12 years. This year, I have enrolled at Newport College and am in my first year studying Access to Healthcare and Nursing. Once I finish this course, I’m hoping to go to university to study Paediatric Nursing.

I recall Mr Brain was the headmaster. Mr Shotton had a model of the QE2 cruise liner in the vestibule. He once tried to float it in the pool. It was left to its own devices for the afternoon and during Mr Shotton’s lesson, a pupil ran in and shouted, “Sir, Sir come quick, the QE2 is sinking”. Needless to say the entire class erupted in laughter. Mr Shotton aided by some of the lads managed to rescue the ship. Mrs Watts was my teacher when I first went to the school.

When I first left school, I worked in The Stardust Cabaret Club as the stage manager. When that closed, I took a temporary porters job in the Royal Gwent Hospital. I then went on to train in endoscopy. Twelve years later I moved to Velindre Cancer Centre and trained as a Clinical Technologist in Nuclear Medicine where I currently am. Going to university in my late forties was quite an experience but I need a science qualification (Biomedical Science) to be registered. I have just completed twenty five years in The Ermine Street Guard, a Roman re-enactment society. I have visited St. Julians in the past in kit to give a talk on the Romans. I am a film extra also having turned up in Dr. Who, Casualty and countless documentary reconstructions. I have a radio program on Celtica Radio. I have also recently directed and acted in a short film about equality funded by Big Lottery Wales. So all in all, I haven’t done much🤗

I just remember Mr Davies and his guitar.

I now have a 10 year old child and work as an admin manager.

My strongest memory of being in the junior school was the above ground swimming pool that we had. We loved it but it was always so cold. I have two swimming certificates that I was awarded by the school, for learning to swim at Maindee Pools. My first teacher I had in the junior school was an art teacher and he let us draw a lot (maybe that is where my love of art started) he might have been called Mr Webb but I am not 100% sure. I then went upstairs to Mr ? Class and I remember loving history. Then I went to Mr Davies’ class (who also taught my son) – I remember doing pottery with him – I might still have the pot. He also taught us Welsh songs such as Sosban Fach. Then my last teacher was Mr Pugh. I remember having stuffed animals from the museum, such as badgers in class for a few weeks. I also remember school trips to St Fagan’s, Longleat and Dodington Park (nr Bath although it is not there now), it had an amazing adventure playground. We used to do old time music shows, where we dressed up in old fashioned long dresses and bonnets. Also we had residential trips to places such as Forest Coal Pit and Hilston Park. There was also a bomb scare when I was at St Julian’s Junior school. We were all kept on the top yard until it was safe. Mrs Owen was a very strict teacher but she was great at keeping our spirits up.

I have since worked mostly in administrative roles until I had children, working for Newport County AFC and then in the motor trade. After my children were born, I became a civil servant working in the Passport Office and then the Office for National Statistics. All this time, I was still living in St Julian’s until Feb 2007, when I moved to Sydney, Australia with my family. Returning to St Julian’s at the end of 2009, I went to Coleg Gwent to study Art and Design, which led me to a degree course at Cardiff Metropolitan University. I graduated in July 2016 with a BA(hons) degree in Artist Designer: Maker, at the age of 50! I have been working on various creative projects since graduation to gain experience, working predominately on participatory art projects.

My son currently attends St. Julians Primary School and is in reception. His classroom is the same classroom I was taught in in year 2. I had Mrs Wilson in reception and year one and loved her and Miss Rutledge in year 2. I cried when I left as I had such a lovely time in primary school. I remember playing the recorder, singing all the songs in assembly, playing outside in the summer and have many happy memories from school. This is why I wanted my son to go here as I know a lot of the teachers who taught me are still there and in the juniors. Fantastic school and have nothing but happy memories!

I have two sons, aged 4 and 2. I got all my GCSE ‘s in high school then I went on to work as a waitress and then on to work in domiciliary care. I then had my two boys and during that time, I completed an access to higher education diploma and currently waiting to see if I have gotten into university to study Midwifery at Cardiff.

I remember playing rounders on the school playground, times table quizzes, Summer Spectacular (Summer fete), playing various games on the school playground during break time, biscuits and squash at break-time, Sports Day and Chocolate Crunch with Pink Custard!

I graduated University with a Computer Science Degree, now working as a Software Developer.

Performing ‘The Owl who was afraid of the dark’. Learning to play the flute and playing in assemblies. Mrs Coombes’ inspiring assemblies. Setting up our own bric a brac shop during break and lunch times. Handstands on the field and cross country running. Playing marbles in the guttering. Returning as a trainee teacher with my mentor being the lovely Mrs Gabica.

I achieved a BA (hons) with QTS at Caerleon University. Currently working as a teacher advisor for the Education Achievement Service.

I remember school shows, parties/discos in the assembly hall, Mr Davies and Mrs Hollings.

I’m currently studying an MA in Creative Writing, just finished my BA in English and History at the University of Southampton. (2017)

I remember my first infant teacher; Miss Tiley. Junior headmaster was Mr Braine. I remember Mr Marsh, Mr Price and Miss Owen. I sang the first verse of “Away in a manger” solo at the school Christmas concert when I was about 8 years old.

I went on to become a qualified motor mechanic up until 1976, then I joined Gwent Police where I served for 30years. I am currently the caretaker at a primary school not so far away. I would love to come and have a look around the school. I loved my time there.