A TEACHER will be retiring from a Darwen school today after 25 years of service.

Catherine Fletcher, 55, will be making an 'emotional' departure from St Edwards RC Primary School in Blackburn Road after teaching there for a quarter of a century.

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Mrs Fletcher said that teaching was always her dream and leaving the school in her hometown will be difficult to swallow.

She said: "It's been a really happy school to work in, we're all just like a family here.

"The staff who work here always stick around for a long time because it is such a lovely place to work.

"It's amazing that I have been lucky enough to work alongside people I once taught at the school and I have also been teaching the children of people I used to teach.

"Teaching is what I always wanted to do with my life and I am so happy that I have been lucky enough to be able to do it for a long time.

"We had a fantastic Ofsted report recently and that was just the perfect way to finish off my time here.

"I will definitely be keeping in touch, leaving is going to be emotional. I will miss it so much."

Mrs Fletcher's retirement comes after the school was upgraded by Ofsted from 'requires improvement' to 'good' in an inspection last month.

After starting out her career in Preston at St Anthony's Primary School, Mrs Fletcher began by teaching infants at St Edwards in May 1991 before moving on to teach older students in Year three and four.

For the past year she has been a planning, preparation and assessment teacher for Year three and four.

Along with teaching she has been heavily involved with the religious life of the school being an RE co-ordinator and ensuring that the school maintained a strong relationship with the parish.

Headteacher Gerard Keane said Mrs Fletcher has given her all to the school and will be sad to see her go.

She said: "She is a fantastically committed and dedicated member of staff.

"She has had a vocation and that has shown in her work and through the are she has given the children over the past quarter of a century.

"She is a kind, fun-loving person and she has had a great relationship with staff, students and parents.

"Her hard-working attitude will be missed at the school."