AFTER a career spanning 34 years a Suffolk headteacher has decided to put away her chalk for the last time at the end of term.Sally Green, 58, will retire as principal of Ringshall County Primary School after devoting 12 years to generations of pupils.

AFTER a career spanning 34 years a Suffolk headteacher has decided to put away her chalk for the last time at the end of term.

Sally Green, 58, will retire as principal of Ringshall County Primary School after devoting 12 years to generations of pupils.

She said: "I shall miss the children and staff very much. You get used to having children around you all day long but I shall leave with a wonderful collection of stones, rusty nails and dead insects they have brought to me over the years.

"I have been fortunate to work with wonderful governors and parents who have all made my life easier. The staff are strongly motivated to improve the educational diet we give the children and to set high standards to get good results."

Her career started in the late 1960's at Sexton's Manor Primary School in Bury St Edmunds.

She then moved on to Halifax Primary School in Ipswich before taking a year to study for an advanced diploma at Cambridge Institute.

After a year at Tower Ramparts Secondary Modern, Mrs Green became deputy head at the brand new Broke Hall Community Primary School, where she stayed for 12 years.

She took a break from teaching children with a year's secondment working with governors and early-years teachers then took up and advisory role helping teachers implement the national curriculum.

But when the position of head at Ringshall became vacant, Mrs Green was only too happy to step in.

Janine Johannessen, finance secretary, said: "Sally has always been energetic and enthusiastic with a good sense of humour. She comes alive when she is working with children."

During her retirement Mrs Green plans to spend a lot more time with her family, travel, but still plans to do some supply teaching.

She said: "I am looking forward to my retirement, it will be like being a teenager again. I want to see what the world has to offer and would love to go to the Galapagos Islands."

Mrs Green will be replaced by Jill Grosvenor, formerly of Chantry Infants School, in September.

N The governors and staff of Ringshall primary would like to invite all old friends, ex staff, Governors and pupils to say a fond farewell to Mrs Green on her retirement at the school on July 17 between 3.30pm and 5pm.