Mary is Meadow Well's first lady

Dec 31 2004 By Hilary Clixby, The Journal

A headteacher who led a school to excellence after the Meadow Well riots on North Tyneside has been made a Dame of the British Empire for her services to education.

Mary Macdonald (pictured above) was one of a host of people across the North-East to be recognised for their outstanding achievements in the New Year's Honours List published today.

Mrs Macdonald joined North Shields' Riverside Primary School 11 years ago when it was known as Meadow Well Primary.

The school, housed in a run-down 1930s building, was just a mile from the Meadow Well Estate which had been left in crisis after two nights of riots in 1991.

The school - which moved to new purpose-built premises three years ago - has since gone from strength to strength, recognised nationally for its excellence in numeracy and literacy skills, the quality of its teaching and relations between staff, pupils and parents.

It was the first primary school on North Tyneside to achieve the basic skills quality mark and it also has the Investors in People Award.

An Ofsted report in November 2003 gave the school one of the best reports in the country. Mrs Macdonald, 54, who lives in Cramlington, has three children, Angus, 29, Alistair, 24, and Isla, 21.

She moved to Tyneside from her native Isle of Bute in 1987, teaching at primary schools in Newcastle's West End before moving to her present post.

She said last night: "When I received the letter On Her Majesty's Service I thought it was a tax demand.

"Even when I read the letter I could not really take it in.

"I am absolutely thrilled to be selected for this honour.

"I have been privileged to learn my trade at the hands of some very experienced people and I enjoy working in the inner city socially disadvantaged areas.

"I do not feel children's progress should be held back by social disadvantage. I think it is very important to show them they can be the next academic generation, but it is also about achievements in different areas.

"I think the key to my success has been I didn't have an advantaged background. My parents separated when I was three and I was brought up by mother who instilled in me that education is the ticket to the world. I have enjoyed my work enormously, particularly now my school can stand up with the best schools on Tyneside. It has made all the graft and anxiety worthwhile."

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