Mrs Barrett joined the Crescent School back in September 1965 when the school was based at its original Horton Crescent site. At that time there were approximately 60 pupils in the school, in five classes, and she began her career at Crescent teaching the middle class, Class III. In 1971 she took over as headteacher and she then led the school through its move to its current site, on Bawnmore Road in Bilton, in 1988, and on until her retirement, in July 1992.

Mrs Barrett was a much loved and respected headteacher and her philosophy and determination to educate were instrumental in building the school we have today. Back in 1985 she wrote in a school report, “With a school such as the Crescent it is very hard to fit all we would like to do into the school day, even with lunchtimes and after school sessions. We do our best and try to give the children not only a sound academic base but as many opportunities and responsibilities in other fields as we can. We also need to prepare our older pupils for life in the inevitably larger secondary schools and it is good to see the leavers when they visit us and hear of them tackling their new school lives with confidence and enjoyment.” It is interesting to note that much the same could be said of Crescent School today nearly 40 years later, which is testament to the strong foundations laid by Mrs Barrett.

Mrs Barrett visited the school back in September 2018 when the school marked its 70th anniversary and she is pictured in the first photograph then with the current headmaster, Joe Thackway, to her left and former headmaster, Huw Marshall, to her right.

When we shared news of her passing on the Old Crescentians' Facebook group and the outpouring of respect and love was incredible. Rebecca's comment just one of many that moved us all, "She was a inspirational educator, kind and gentle with the strongest of values, an unwavering moral compass and most importantly an absolute belief in each child that came into her care." 

The school celebrated the life of Mrs Barrett and her contributions to the school in its Founder's Day service on Wednesday 12 January.

Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers go to Christine’s family and friends.