A HEADTEACHER will wave goodbye to a Carterton school after almost 30 years to start a new life in France.

Gay Hennessy started as a supply teacher at Gateway Primary School, in Netheravon Close, in 1981.

After seeing thousands of children – including her own two daughters – through primary school, Mrs Hennessy is set for a new life and project in Brittany.

She and her husband Daniel plan to renovate a house and turn it into a bed and breakfast.

The 63-year-old, who will leave the school at the end of term in July, said: “It’s quite exciting, as it’s a change that will get me to get up in the morning. I kept thinking what will motivate me to get out of bed in the morning when it’s January.

“We thought about moving to France, but certainly not to run a bed and breakfast, but we fell in love with this house last summer, when it was a wreck, and thought what could we do to justify us buying it.”

Mrs Hennessy started her teaching career at a school in Henley, before moving around the country with her husband who was in the RAF.

After Mr Hennessy was posted to RAF Brize Norton, the family settled in Carterton.

At the same time as eldest daughter Rachel, who is now 33, started at Gateway Primary School, Mrs Hennessy got a temporary job as a supply teacher.

She said: “I got two terms of temporary contract and started teaching Key Stage One.”

Younger daughter Alexandra, now 31, also went to the school and Mrs Hennessy soon became deputy headteacher and then headteacher in 2003.

Mrs Hennessy said she would miss the pupils and staff most.

She said: “The children have been absolutely amazing over the years. They’re fantastic.

“And we have a brilliant staff team.

“They’re very supportive of each other and many have been here for a quite a considerable number of years – it’s a bit like a family.

“I will miss the camaraderie of the staff. People are always having a joke and a laugh which is great.

“When things all get too much, all the paperwork and bureaucracy, my reality check is to go and play for a few minutes with the foundation year children – it’s so wonderful and refreshing.”

She added: “I have seen quite a number of ex-pupils come back. For example I taught the chairman of the governors.

“When you get children coming back as parents, it’s lovely to see them and fantastic to hear what they have done in their lives.”