PUPILS and staff paid a fond farewell to popular headteacher Clare-Marie Burchall today.

She leaves the top job at a Swindon school after 10 years.

Clare-Marie, 62, initially started as headteacher at St Mary’s, but has spent several years serving as executive head with both St Mary’s Primary School and St Catherine’s Catholic Primary Schools, which serve the St Mary’s Parish, in Tovey Road.

A special assembly commemorating her hard work was held at St Mary’s with the children thanking her.

The popular teacher was showered with gifts and cards as she brought the curtain down on her career.

She said she was particularly entertained by the youngsters’ impressions of her.

“It went brilliantly, four young men did impressions of me while every class did their own tribute,” she said.

She started teaching in Scotland, in 1973, moving to Swindon with her husband Phil, in 1985, as he took the role of deputy head at St Joseph’s.

Clare-Marie started at St Mary’s in 2006 and she took on St Catherine’s in 2012.

She said: “It has been a privilege to serve St Mary’s parish as headteacher of both St Mary’s and St Catherine’s and creating a strong, collaborative parish federation between the two schools has been extremely rewarding.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed being a headteacher as it is a job where one can affect change for the better and that has always been my purpose.

“There is no greater gift than being able to improve outcomes for children and to make young people realise that learning unlocks the key to success.

“I would like to thank my governing body, staff and parents for their unfailing support, but particularly so the children of St Mary’s and St Catherine’s for bringing such joy in my life.”

The schools’ new executive headteacher will be Andrew Henstridge, from Peatmoor Community Primary School, who starts today.

Claire-Marie is looking forward to her retirement and spending more time with her loved ones.

She said: “I’m not rushing to fill my diary. It will be nice to get off the rollercoaster.”