Tanbridge House School is mourning the loss of hugely popular History teacher, Stephen Head.
Stephen, 38, died on Saturday, after a road crash in Saddlescombe Road, Hove, on Tuesday, 6th October. His Vauxhall Corsa was in collision with a tree.
He was appointed as second in the History department at Tanbridge House School just over 12 years ago.
Bob Kew, Head of History at Tanbridge House School, said: “From the day he arrived we knew we had someone special.
“As teachers we are expected to meet a set of criteria to establish the quality of our teaching and of our students’ learning. In this regard Stephen was never less than outstanding in every respect.
“However some teachers are greater than the sum of these parts and Stephen was such. The briefest of glances at the tributes written by former and current students at school, on websites and Facebook make it clear that it was as the most friendly, generous and warm human being that he was able to reach into the hearts of all who knew him either as a teacher, colleague or friend.
“For some of us it was as all three.
“This was a man who invested his whole person into his work and his life. Hundreds of young people and dozens of colleagues were the beneficiaries.
“It is said of Sir Christopher Wren that “if you seek his monument look around.”
“For Stephen Head you simply have to speak to the young people that he taught and his monument is revealed.
“We shall all miss his terrible.”
Hundreds of pupils, past and present, have left notices on a tribute page on the Tanbridge House School website.
One pupi, Yasmin, wrote: “I think back to how fantastic it is to have known you! You where such a phenomenal teacher, in my eyes you still are!
“I am totally devastated by what has happened, you will never be forgotten, you made prefect duty and history lessons ever so exciting and interesting. You will be greatly missed xxx”
Another student Amy wrote: “Sir, Gonna miss you so much, your like the best teacher anyone could ask for.
“We had so many fun times with you in lesson, everyone wanted you as a teacher, because your were so funny and stupid (in a good way of course) miss you loads. x
Tanbridge Head Teacher Jules White closed the school on Wednesday, 7th October after he had been informed of the serious accident by Sussex Police.
Police are still appealing for witnesses and anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999, quoting Serial 1264 of October 6th, Operation Portaferry.
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