A DARWEN headteacher is saying goodbye to pupils and colleagues after 24 years.

Janet Grime’s last day at St Cuthbert’s Primary will be on Friday with a special assembly held in the afternoon ahead of the school closing for the Easter break.

Born and raised in Darwen, Mrs Grime joined the school in 1990 and will hand over the reins to a new headteacher, Michelle Smith, after the holiday.

Mrs Grime is retiring after acting in a variety of roles at the 205-pupil St Alban’s Road school, including headteacher, deputy headteacher and head of infants.

She said her pupils had been drawing pictures and farewell cards as her last day drew closer.

She said: “I will miss the children so much and the staff here are amazing.

“It is definitely the people I will miss the most.

“I am looking forward to a long and happy retirement but it has been wonderful working here and leading this school.

“You can feel the really positive atmosphere as soon as you walk in.

“It isn’t just a school, it is a community and we have lovely close links with the wider community.

“The children have been having a lot of fun whispering and getting ready for my last day.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone who has made my time at St Cuthbert’s so rewarding.”

At its last inspection in 2012, Ofsted said St Cuthbert’s was a ‘good’ school.