The close of the summer term marked the end or an era for three long serving members of Woodham Academy staff, all of whom have retired following extensive and successful careers at the school.
Ian Bickerdike, Joan Robson and Sue McTague between them have amassed 86 years at the school.
Given their length of service it is likely that they will have reached many families in the town.
In recent years both Ian and Joan have taken a leading role in training the next generation of teachers by leading subject areas of the Durham SCITT programme in their specialist areas of Maths and English.
In Sue’s role as SENCO (Special Educational Needs) she showed great compassion in giving much appreciated support to those students who required it during their time at the school.
“Everyone at the school, colleagues and students past and present wish them all a happy and well deserved retirement,” said the school.