A DEDICATED headteacher has bid farewell to nearly two decades as headteacher at a Bicester primary school.

Robert Pearson has lead Bure Park School since it opened in 1999 but is now retiring after 41 years in the profession, 17 years of which were at the Lucerne Avenue school.

Staff and pupils marked the occasion with a surprise gift to Mr Pearson, which was a bench carved with designs from the students, presented on Tuesday, the day before the pupils headed off for summer holidays.

The father-of-two said: "It was a complete surprise, I genuinely had no idea.

"They created a commemorative bench carved with designs from every class with things they associate with myself and the school, like assembly stories for example.

"There was a deer on there from stories I have told and a hedgehog was in there too.

"I really had no idea and the whole school came out for the unveiling, I felt very spoilt and blessed.

"I have been very fortunate throughout my time here. There has been great staff, really pragmatic leadership from the governors and a fantastic PTA."

Mr Pearson said he would enjoy his retirement with his wife and fellow former teacher Sue – who retired last year as headteacher of Fringford Primary School.

He said: "I have mixed feelings about leaving as I am looking forward to my retirement but I obviously have a lot of emotional ties to the school.

"When I started we had about 54 pupils in the main school and 17 in the nursery, and now we are at about 535 pupils.

"I think what we have tried to do all the way through that time is keep it interpersonal, warm and friendly – whatever the size of the school.

"It has just evolved from the beginning but kept those underpinning values that we hold right through."

Mr Pearson, who also worked at Woodstock Primary School, is looking forward to a family trip to Bali to mark his retirement.

The holiday destination is close to the family after he taught at a school in the Jakarta, Indonesia, before he came to Bicester in 1999, and has visited frequently.

Mr and Mrs Pearson will head out to the South East Asian country for a month and will be joined by their children, friends and former colleagues.

He added: "I am looking forward to a little bit of calm and seeing family and friends in Bali for the month.

"It will be a nice way to start my retirement and I know the school will be in very safe hands of the current deputy head Yvonnne Hewson who will take over in September."