A PRIMARY school head teacher who has chalked up 36 years in the profession is ready to retire.

Paul Gardner has been at the helm of Kendal’s Heron Hill Primary School for the last 12 years.

He started his teaching career in Burnley, Lancashire, taking his first headship at a school in Walton-le-Dale, Preston, before moving to his current post.

“Although I’m retiring I haven’t been watching the clock. I’ve always enjoyed my job right up to this stage. I will be quite sad to go but I felt the time is right now to move on,” said Mr Gardner, who will turn 60 in August.

He said the enthusiasm of the children and working with good staff and supportive parents were the reasons behind his love of the profession.

Some of Mr Gardner’s highlights at Heron Hill, which caters for around 440 children and 60 staff, have included the opening of the school’s nursery in 2001, which he described as a “big achievement”.

He was also pleased with the school’s close international links with a primary school in Kendal’s twin town Rinteln, Germany, and another in Tanzania.

“It is very interesting for the children,” he said. “They get to learn about other countries and we’ve had German and Tanzanian teachers come into school and some of our staff have gone there.”

He was proud of the school’s efforts to raise money to build a foster home for street children in Kiev, Ukraine, through the local New Beginnings Charity as well as awards achieved during his time, including a joint training school status and a healthy school award.

Mr Gardner said while he will miss working, he was glad to leave behind the increasing demand on school staff’s time.

Apart from an around the world trip with his wife, Hazel - which will take them to Hong Kong, New Zealand, Cook Islands and Los Angeles - Mr Gardner does not know how he will spend his new-found time.

“I’m going to take some time to think about what I’d like to do now. It’s a new chapter in my life,” he said. “I like going out walking, seeing friends and I’d like to travel around the country a bit more.

“I’ve had a wonderful time working at Heron Hill. It has been a big part of my life and I’ve worked with some fantastic staff, parents, children and governors.”