A community is in mourning after the sudden death of a school head teacher who had been on holiday in France. Simon Gibbs, the head at New Rickstones Academy in Essex, is said to have died following an accident at the weekend.
Mr Gibbs was described by those that knew him at the school in Witham, as a “much-loved colleague” and a “brilliant” educator in a tribute from his school following the incident on Saturday, February 10.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has confirmed that Mr Gibbs has died, and noted that it has offered support to his devastated loved-ones.
The Sun reports that British authorities are liaising with their French counterparts to learn more details of his death.
The news of Mr Gibbs’ death was broken by regional education director for the Academies Enterprise Trust Johanna Thompson, who informed school colleagues and parents.
In a heartbreaking letter to parents, Ms Thompson wrote: “I am very sorry to be writing with the tragic news Simon Gibbs, our principal, died over the weekend.
“From what we understand there was an accident on Saturday evening while Simon was away for the weekend with some friends in France.
“This is obviously devastating news, and our immediate thoughts are with Simon’s family at this impossible time.”
She added: “Our staff have been informed today and we wanted to make sure you are aware so that you had the opportunity to speak to your child tonight.
“Devastating news like this will take time for everyone to process and come to terms with and our priority is to make sure that students and staff have the support available to help us all through this time.
“Simon was a much-loved colleague and brilliant headteacher and we will miss him enormously. He will be remembered for his integrity and passion for teaching, as well as his dedication to the community of New Rickstones.
“As we come through the next days and weeks, we will find the right way to remember him at New Rickstones and to celebrate his commitment to this community.”
Gibbs graduated with an MA in economics from Cardiff University in 2004, before qualifying as a teacher. He went on to be Head of Mathematics at Maltings Academy, also in Witham, and moved to Rickstones in 2018. He was promoted to headteacher in 2021.
In the wake of his tragic death, Mr Gibbs’ students’ parents have paid tribute to him on social media. One wrote: “Mr Gibbs was a fantastic teacher at new Rickstones academy and always helped with all my children.”
Another said: “He was the person to go to and always got back to you straight away to help. I was only just speaking to him last week about helping one of my daughters. He had such a lovely kind heart and would help anyone.”
“Devastating news like this will take time for everyone to process and come to terms with and our priority is to make sure that students and staff have the support available to help us all through this time.
“Simon was a much-loved colleague and brilliant headteacher and we will miss him enormously.
“He will be remembered for his integrity and passion for teaching, as well as his dedication to the community of New Rickstones.
“As we come through the next days and weeks, we will find the right way to remember him at New Rickstones and to celebrate his commitment to this community.”
