Whitley Bay teacher retiring after five decades at school

Glynis Bateman said she will still be "popping back" to the school for visits

A nursery teacher is finally retiring after almost half a century at the same school.

Glynis Bateman has taught thousands of pupils since she joined Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay in 1976.

The 66-year-old said it was time to move on after she began teaching the grandchildren of her first pupils.

Hundreds of people have been invited to attend an afternoon tea at the school on 9 March to say goodbye to the "backbone" of Rockcliffe.

'Heavy heart'

"Forty-seven years of talking to and listening to three- and four-year-olds, what more joy can you have than that?" she said.

"I have mixed feelings about retiring. I'm up one minute and down the next.

"When I do leave it will be with a heavy heart because its been a huge part of my life, but I will be popping back in and out."

Pupil Grayson, aged eight, said Mrs Bateman was "very kind" and always cheered pupils up when they were sad.

Nine-year-old Nancy said her teacher was always "fun" and loved dancing to songs with all the children.

The nursery teacher began her career at Rockcliffe School in 1976 when she was 18

Glynis Olive, as she was then, started work at the school in September 1976 at the age of 18.

"My first day feels like yesterday, when I walked through the doors in 1976, and now those children are in their 50s," she recalled.

"I always said, once those children would be coming with their grandchildren I would give up.

"That's been happening for the last three or four years so it's time to go."

'Devastated she's leaving'

Sharon Colpitts-Elliot, headteacher at the school, said Mrs Bateman was an "absolute phenomenon" and the "backbone" of the school.

"She remembers children she taught decades ago and of course is currently teaching grandchildren of those she taught," she said.

"She puts the children at the heart of everything and is totally focused on them and their families.

"I'm devastated she's leaving, but I respect all the years she's given and that she wants to pursue other interests and relax a little bit more."

Mrs Bateman now plans to holiday in Cornwall in term time when it is cheaper.

She added: "I've never woken up and thought: 'Oh another day at work.'

"I'll miss the children."