A POWYS headteacher has described the school she spent more than 30 years at as “a special place” following her retirement.

Helen Nixon spent 33 years at Newbridge-on-Wye Church in Wales Primary School, 30 of them as headteacher, before retiring last December.

Helen joined the village school in 1990 and has very fond memories from her more than three decades spent there.

“It’s a really special place,” said Helen.

“Over that time we saw the construction and opening of the new building in around 2010.

“The school was also very successful. We had a range of staff going on to headships elsewhere, so that’s been very rewarding.”

OTHER NEWS:

The continued bond between pupils she taught, including ones who left and then came back to the village, is something she believes is truly unique in local, rural schools.

“Seeing the pupils going off to high school and then university and then coming back to work in the community and doing well for themselves is something I’ve really enjoyed,” added the 58-year-old.

“There’s a number of people that I taught and they now have their children in the school and have gone out of their way to bring their children to Newbridge because they want for their children what they had themselves; that village school, with a sense of community, and providing a decent education.”

It was something of a homecoming for Helen, being appointed deputy head at Newbridge; having grown up in the Bleddfa and Knighton areas and attended John Beddoes School in Presteigne, before moving to north Powys in her teens and attending Llanfyllin High School. She returned to Radnorshire and then assumed the head position a few years later.

Asked about her favourite memories, she added: “The lovely children who were fab. My own children went through the school. And we really had good governors and lovely chairs.”

Helen said she felt it was the right time to retire in December, for both herself and the school, which she expects to go from strength to strength.

County Times:

“I suppose the main thing I thought about was family life really, and thinking it was the right time,” she said, reflecting on her decision.

“There are other things I want to pursue and I want to help my husband at home on the farm.

“I still have links with the school and will pop in and visit. When you get to 58 you begin to think there’s only so many years ahead of you.

“I had a very good deputy who’s now been appointed head, and I also had a very strong team around me, so I felt it was the right time for me personally to step away, and it was a good time for the school because they have a strong team there.”

Upon her retirement, pupils posted a heartwarming thank you video on Facebook, in which they sang a song to their departing head. Sam Williams is acting as headteacher, at least until this summer.