A much-loved County Durham headteacher has decided it’s schools out forever as she marks the end of her thirty-eight-year long career and prepares for retirement.

Wendy Gill from Darlington who is the headteacher at Escomb Primary School has made the tough decision to retire after thirty-eight long years teaching, thirty-four of which were spent at the Bishop Auckland school.

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The Northern Echo: Mrs Gill with Jonathan Ruffer DL.Mrs Gill with Jonathan Ruffer DL. (Image: LEANNE COLLINGS)

Joining the team in 1989 after qualifying as a teacher in 1985, Mrs Gill has taught generations of children as colleagues say she has been “instrumental” in building connections with other schools and her pupils have been lucky to have her.

Mrs Gill marked the first end of her career when term ended last week (July 21) in an emotional assembly, where she was presented with flowers by Jonathan Ruffer DL.

Speaking of her accomplished career, Wendy said: “I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I went to St Martins College in Lancaster and originally began my teaching career in London.

“I taught for two and a half years in London then came back to the North East and taught in Billingham and Middlesbrough. Then, I started the job at Escomb and I got the headship in 2010.”

The Northern Echo: Wendy Gill with her colleagues at her farewell assembly.

“Being at Escomb for all of this time I have taught the children of other children I have also taught, so I have seen generations of families which has been really nice.

“Some of the parents then come back as grandparents, so it is lovely to see that and have the connection with the local community.”

However, after all of these years, Mrs Gill has admitted it was a hard decision to retire, but she has received a lot of support from the people around her.

She added: “It’s been a really difficult and emotional decision to retire. The jury is still out, as it still doesn’t feel real to me at the moment.

“I have felt very loved, humbled and overwhelmed by all the celebrations and good wishes from parents and staff past and present.”

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The Northern Echo: Wendy Gill with her colleagues at her farewell assembly.

For Deputy Head Leanne Collings who has worked with Wendy for twenty years, her retirement is bittersweet.

She said: “Mrs Gill is going to be a massive miss to the school and to all of us. I think this school is her legacy and we have to carry on and make sure we do our best to continue that.

“It is hard, really hard, because she is a colleague and her friend.”

Mrs Gill will officially end her time at Escomb on August 31, as she now prepares to hand over to a new headteacher who certainly has “big shoes to fill”.