Staff, parents and family have paid tribute to a Bristol primary school teacher who died just before Christmas, after a short illness.

Catherine Holloway, a Year 4 class teacher at Barton Hill Academy, was described as ‘the soul and the spirit’ of the school, where she had taught for seven years. The 35-year-old battled cancer over the past year, and was still at work in the classroom three weeks before her tragic death on December 14. The school’s headteacher said this showed her ‘dedication to the children’ at Barton Hill Academy.

Now, her family has set up a fundraiser for people to donate to in lieu of flowers or other funeral donations, and pledged that the money will go to the school for projects in Catherine’s memory to create a long-lasting legacy to her work.

Headteacher Matt Poulson said Miss Holloway was a ‘one-off’, who will be badly missed by everyone at Barton Hill. “She’d been poorly for about a year, but she was actually working up until about three weeks before the end of term, and that’s the dedication of the woman really, she didn’t want to spend time away from the children she loved so much and was so passionate about,” he said.

“She was the one member of staff who knew everything that was going on with everyone, she really cared about everyone, was so encouraging and supportive to other members of staff and all the children. She was the soul and the spirit of the school, the lynchpin connecting the children, the parents and the staff. She really held the school together, especially during lockdown when it was such a challenge,” he added.

As well as being a Year 3 and 4 class teacher, Catherine was passionate about PHSE, and making school trips as valuable as they could be. “She was a massive advocate of children know how to stay safe, how to interact with each other positively and she led the subject,” said Mr Poulson. “On top of that, she was a big advocate of out of classroom stuff, she organised all the clubs and did a massive piece of work researching school trips, the quality of them, how to get the best out of them. She was a true one-off,” he added.

Miss Holloway grew up in Henleaze in Bristol, and went to St Mary Redcliffe secondary school. She went to uni in Plymouth, and got a degree in criminology and psychology, and embarked on a career working with young people. “Growing up in a childminder’s household, she had always had a passion for supporting children, and it came as no surprise that she chose a career in teaching,” said her brother Rob. “She directly sought opportunities where she could make the biggest impact on children’s lives, particularly those who had challenges away from the classroom. We are incredibly proud of the woman she was, and that despite her own health challenges, which she had struggled with for 15 years, she continued to put the lives of the children in her care first.

Catherine Holloway, a teacher at Barton Hill Academy in Bristol, who died in December 2024
Catherine Holloway, a teacher at Barton Hill Academy in Bristol, who died in December 2024 (Image: Barton Hill Academy/Holloway family)

She first came to Barton Hill Academy back in 2017 as a cover teacher, but quickly impressed so much, she was taken on permanently. “She soon made her mark with a larger than life personality and indefatigable positivity. Her love of learning beyond the classroom soon led her to become a permanent class teacher, largely based in lower key stage 2,” said headteacher Matt Poulson.

“The impact of her work on the cultural capital map will continue to have a lasting legacy on the incredible range of trips and experiences our children are part of during their time at our school. When the school went through a period of uncertainty, Catherine galvanised the staff team. She was a shoulder to lean on, a comforting presence and a real advocate for staff. This cemented her place as the heart and spirit of the staff team,” he added.

Mr Poulson said when she learned of her illness, she ‘approached it the way she approached everything – with positivity and with the best interests of others’. She continued to give her all to the school and the children in her care. Even in her final hours, she was giving instructions about how the donations she had organised for the Christmas Fair needed to be given to the school and in what order. This is testament to the character and selflessness of the person she was, she always put others first and loved Christmas,” he added.

Mr Poulson said breaking the news of Miss Holloway’s passing to the pupils on the Monday at the start of the last week of term was ‘a very challenging day for everyone’. “The children were obviously devastated,” he said. “But really quickly, the children themselves came to us and said they were really sad and upset but wanted to do something for her, that would honour her memory,” he said.

Catherine Holloway, a teacher at Barton Hill Academy in Bristol, who died in December 2024
Catherine Holloway, a teacher at Barton Hill Academy in Bristol, who died in December 2024 (Image: Barton Hill Academy/Holloway family)

Mr Poulson said he was ‘humbled’ to learn that Catherine’s family had asked for donations in lieu of flowers to be given to the school, and had set up a fundraiser too. “Catherine was passionate about supporting children to achieve their potential and helping those less fortunate than many of us,” said her brother Rob.

“As well as dedicating what energy she had to teaching her students, and supporting them in various ways in her daily life, she went beyond this and routinely undertook collections and charity type events to raise much needed money for school materials and activities. We would like to continue her legacy by taking a collection as part of her funeral arrangements and passing on any resulting funds to Barton Hill Academy so that it will go to help those children who were such a large part of her life,” he added.

“For some weeks, and months, almost all of her available energy had gone into teaching and preparation for both lessons and the many extra curricular activities she was involved with. In her final hours, she was still organising how to get foodbank donations she had collected in Henleaze to the children at Barton Hill Academy, along with activities for the Christmas Festival,” he added.

Family photos of Catherine Holloway, an inspirational teacher at Barton Hill Academy, who died in December 2024
Family photos of Catherine Holloway, an inspirational teacher at Barton Hill Academy, who died in December 2024 (Image: Holloway family)

“She had a challenging life, yet never once complained about her health and simply got on with enjoying the things she could, and making the world a better place in her own unique way. She has left a gaping whole in our family, and her young nieces and nephew will likely never remember what an amazing auntie they had,” he added.

“That she is greatly missed by us family is obvious, that she meant so much, to so many is overwhelming and we have taken some solace in the generous donations already collected to go to the school and continue her legacy. We would ask that anyone who can do so also contributes, you may be shocked how much even a small donation can mean,” he added.

The funeral is to take place on January 3, and the fundraiser has already reached £2,000. Mr Poulson said the school would take time out to consider how best to use the funds raised. “It’s unbelievably humbling for me that the family has chosen to do this, and it’s a really kind offer. We’ve got to think now of something that Catherine would be really proud of for us, something special that would create a lasting legacy,” said Mr Poulson.