A DEVOTED headteacher will retire this summer after almost 30 years of service to her school.

Val Jago, who has led Ferryhill Station Primary School on the town’s Chilton Lane for the last 19 years, joined the primary as its deputy head and reception class teacher in 1987.

She said: “I never really wanted to be a headteacher because I always loved being in the classroom teaching the children, which I still do.

“But my predecessor went on a secondment for a year so I had no option but to become head. But then I found that I actually quite liked it.

“When he didn’t return, I applied for the headship and was appointed the head in 1997.”

Mother of two and a teacher for the past 43 years, Mrs Jago has seen huge changes in the school over the years, mostly in the technology children use.

“When I first started here there was only one photocopier and one computer per class. Now we have IT for just about every child.”

She added that today’s primary school children learn far more through play and outdoor activities than they did in the past.

She added: “I also think that children now leave primary school with a higher level of education in basic literacy and numeracy.”

Looking back over almost 30 years at the school, she said: “The nice thing is that I’ve seen all these children grow up and now their children are coming to the school.

“This morning, we met the children who will be starting in September and I realised I had taught over half of their mothers. That’s really nice and I shall miss that very much.”

Mrs Jago said she is looking forward to reading, gardening, doing more painting and continuing her work with Escomb Saxon Church.