Mixed feelings on early retirement for Sidmouth teacher

INFANT teacher Linda Ambrose has been in two minds over taking early retirement, because she loves the school she has worked in for 18 years so much.

At Easter, children in her Year One reception class will say goodbye as she leaves All Saints Infants, Sidmouth, on Friday, April 17.

Also going at the end of term is teaching assistant Sandra Legg from Sidford, who joined the school in 1978 and retires at 65.

Linda, 55, from Temple Street, Sidmouth applied for early retirement a year ago.

She said: "It seemed the right thing to do. I wouldn't want to still be doing this job at 60, they (her 29 pupils aged five and six) are exhausting!

"I do have mixed feelings about going. This is just a lovely school, with fantastic staff and children, and the parents are wonderful and supportive.

"The job has changed over the years and Governments keep changing the goalposts. "As fast as you get over one initiative they bring in another. That is one of the main reasons I am going, I am fed up of having to plan and re-plan."

Linda, who hails from Birmingham, has no doubt she will miss the children and the whole school fraternity and will be on hand for supply work when needed.

She trained as a teacher 30 years ago, not always teaching infants.

She has worked in junior and special needs teaching in secondary schools, taught adults to read and worked at Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary as a teacher.

"I also worked for the RSPCA as a teacher, going into schools promoting pet care," said Linda.

"I have done all sorts, care home work and I've been a chambermaid at Sidholme, but teaching is my first love. This is the longest time I have worked in a school.

During her time at All Saints, Linda has helped it achieve a Healthy Schools award under PHSE - pupils' health and social education - and is the school's PE co-ordinator.

There have been more than 50 applications for her job and some 67 for Mrs Legg's post.