YOUNGSTERS have said farewell to their popular headteacher, who has retired after a 37-year career in education.

Elizabeth Ditton had been head of Nacton Village Primary since 1999, a period in which the school has been extended and modernised, won national awards, and celebrated its centenary.

Of her 37 years in teaching, 23 had been in Suffolk, teaching firstly at Sidegate Primary, then as deputy at Hollesley Primary before taking up the headship at Nacton 13 years ago.

Mrs Ditton has taught all ages including literacy and Italian to adults and music to infants.

She taught in Italy prior to becoming the Scottish representative in the Overseas Information Office of the British Travel Authority.

She said she had thoroughly enjoyed her time at Nacton, and thanked staff, governors, pupils and parents for their co-operation, hard work and for making it such a joy to work at the school, one of the smallest in the county.

During her headship, the school had been transformed with three building and refurbishment projects, the earliest replacing the oldest mobile classrooms in Suffolk, then 34 years old. The school has become well-known for its success in winning national recognition, among its many achievements gaining the Artsmark Gold Award twice, being one of the first in the country to be recognised with the Food for life Partnership Bronze and Silver Awards and as a Flagship School for the campaign.

The school was judged “outstanding” by Ofsted in 2008.

At a special concert joined by colleagues and community representatives, pupils and staff showed a film they had made sharing their thoughts on Mrs Ditton’s contribution to making the school both fun and successful.

Chairman of governors, Melanie Munday, said: “It has been a privilege working with Mrs Ditton, and I would like to thank her for her hard work and commitment, making Nacton Primary School such a success. She is an outstanding headteacher, and we wish her a long and happy retirement.”