Memorable last day for retiring school head (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Memorable last day for retiring school head

8:50am Friday 25th December 2009 in

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DALES headteacher Judy Leeming headed into retirement in dramatic style – thanks to the snow.

On her penultimate day at Horton-in-Ribblesdale Primary School she accompanied a group of children to the pantomime in Kendal and then spent three hours on the A65 trying to get back home.

And her final day was thrown into disarray when she was forced to close the school because of the bad weather.

But parents were determined to give her a send-off and arranged for a fleet of 4x4 vehicles to collect her and other guests for a farewell party in the afternoon.

“The parents were fantastic,” she said. “We have re-arranged our carol service for the first week of next term and I will certainly be there.”

Mrs Leeming, 55, started her career in 1976 at a middle school in Warwickshire. She then moved to a school in Kent, where she met her husband Chris.

The couple spent several years in Suffolk before moving to North Yorkshire in 1991. Initially Mrs Leeming worked part-time at Austwick School and then got a second part-time job at Kildwick School. She also spent a spell as deputy head at Hawes Primary School.

Mrs Leeming became head of Horton-in-Ribblesdale in 2003 and last year took on the additional responsibility of head of Clapham School.

“I have loved it,” she said. “There have been many changes, but I have loved being with the children. I will miss the staff and the busyness of it all.”

Mrs Leeming and her husband – who retired as deputy head at Ingleton Middle School in the summer – are planning a trip to New Zealand and Australia and have bought a camper van for their travels in England and Europe.

But she will keep her ties with the educational world, serving as a consultant head in North Yorkshire and as an approved inspector for SIAS (Standard Inspections of Anglican Schools).

“I will still have a finger in the education pie,” she added.