CAROL Wadsworth is beginning her final day as head teacher at Newport’s Maindee Primary School today – and signing off on a 40-year teaching career in the city.

Mrs Wadsworth began work at the city’s Maesglas Primary School in the early 1970s, moving after 15 years to Gaer Junior School, where she was deputy head.

She came to Maindee in 1998 as acting deputy head, subsequently becoming head teacher ten years ago, and has steered the school through three inspections.

“This is a very happy and caring school, with incredibly committed teachers and governors, and I am proud to have been able to have a leading role here,” she said.

“We are a team, it has been a team effort, and the strengths of the school reflect the strong community that Maindee is, and the links we have with it.”

Mrs Wadsworth has seen many changes in education during her career, with the National Curriculum and the introduction of the Foundation Phase in Wales being among the most important.

Originally from Ardrossan in the west of Scotland, she moved with her family to North Wales as a child, and later trained as a teacher in Cardiff. She has two grownup children and lives in Chepstow.

“When it comes to rugby I am still torn (between Scotland and Wales) but I have lived in Wales for most of my life,” said Mrs Wadsworth.

“There have been huge changes in education over the years, but a big part of being successful is about managing change.”