A HEADTEACHER who turned a failing Witney primary school around has been given a send-off to remember.

Julia Hamper, headteacher at Ducklington Primary School, was bid farewell with a parachute display by the RAF Falcons on Thursday.

The school in Aston Road was put into special measures in 2009 after being found ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.

But, under Mrs Hamper’s leadership, the school bounced back and received a ‘good’ rating last year.

Mrs Hamper, who has been at the school for seven years, said: “The display was lovely and quite humbling.

“We have had quite a rocky last couple of years but the whole staff have stuck with it.

“It was an enormous effort, everyone worked so hard, but we never celebrated that success, so it was nice to celebrate today.”

Mrs Hamper said she was going to take a break for a while before deciding what to do with her future.

PTA member Sarah Stanley, who organised the display, said: “She has just been so great and she will be really, really missed.

“I thought it would be a really good thing to go out with a bang.”

She added: “I have got a contact for the Falcons and he pulled a few favours.”

The event was also a send-off to the year six children, who will go on to attend secondary school in September.

Jacob Newcombe, 11, from Park Road, Ducklington, said: “The parachute display was amazing. I will never forget it.”

He added: “I am a little bit nervous about leaving but I think I will have a great time.

“I will miss Ducklington Primary School. It has been a big part of my life.”

Hannah Parker, 11, from Curbridge, said: “It was a really good send-off. We can always remember this. But I am going to really, really miss it here and I will probably start crying.”

Both Hannah and Jacob will go on to attend Henry Box School in Church Green, Witney.

Thursday’s event also marked the end of teaching assistant Kath Luce’s 18 years at the school.