Children, staff and parents at Fitzmaurice Primary School have bid a fond and festive farewell to its headteacher of ten years.

Shiel Taylor, 60, is retiring after 37 years of teaching and was given a warm send-off.

Each child wrote her a letter and signed a graffiti board, which Mrs Taylor said she would hang on her shed.

Children played instruments and sang and a slideshow illustrated what the school had achieved this year.

Mrs Taylor said: “I am going to miss everyone. They have been tremendously loyal and supportive. The parents have been fantastic. They do so much for the school, as do the volunteers and staff.

“It will be nice to clear my head, relax and develop my new garden. I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family and friends.”

“I have seen great changes. When I started, we were classed as special measures by Ofsted. We have now reached outstanding. The building has been transformed.”

Mrs Taylor, of Bradford on Avon, will become a school improvement developer to assess future headteachers.

Tracey Dunn, the head at Heddington CofE Primary, will take over in January.