FOR one Flintshire headteacher the working day is about to undergo some major changes.
Sian Hilton, head at Ysgol Bro Famau near Llanarmon-yn-Ial, will be leaving her post tomorrow to take up a new role at a school in Africa, which could involve some unusual means of transport.
Miss Hilton, from Mold, who has been head at Bro Famau for nearly five years, said: “Instead of getting to work in my Ford Focus I’ll be doing it on a bike or a horse."
Miss Hilton will be part of a six-strong team of teachers from Wales visiting the landlocked country of Lesotho over a six-month period from January.
The trip has been organised by Dolen Cymru, a charity which fosters links between Wales and Lesotho.
Prince Harry is patron of the charity and played a key role in setting up St Joseph’s, the school where Miss Hilton will teach.
There are hopes that with the forthcoming football World Cup being held in South Africa, which completely surrounds Lesotho, a royal visit could be on the cards.
Miss Hilton said: “We’re hoping that with the World Cup coming he may be in the area and come and see us.”
The focus for the Welsh teachers will be on passing on their skills to both the children and the teachers currently at the African school.
Miss Hilton said: “The idea is to exchange skills and ideas so that when we leave the school is in a better position.
"The temperature out there at the moment is about 33 degrees C so it will be very different, although from Easter to our summer time it’s going to be very cold.”
Although excited about the trip Miss Hilton did admit she would miss a few home comforts.
She said: “There is hardly any electricity and hardly any hot water so I will miss my daily bubble baths – that’s not going to be possible.”
Back at Bro Famau the pupils are looking forward to following their former head’s travels and to learning more about Africa as well as making some new friends.
Miss Hilton said: “We are going to link up as schools as part of a global citizenship project.
“We are hoping we may be able to have video conference links and the children back here will all have penpals out there and be getting lots of updates from me and the children in Lesotho.
“After the six months I will go back to see them and talk about my experiences, but it is sad to be leaving. I think the children are excited about it but also a bit sad too.
“They have been doing an Africa project so this will be ideal. We will be keeping in very close contact.”