SUSAN Robb loved being a pupil at Leverington School so much she returned as a newly-qualified teacher. On Friday she retired after 39 years service. There was a grand picnic on the school field for past and present pupils and their families, a meal for

SUSAN Robb loved being a pupil at Leverington School so much she returned as a newly-qualified teacher.

On Friday she retired after 39 years' service.

There was a grand picnic on the school field for past and present pupils and their families, a meal for staff and governors, and a presentation of gifts.

Miss Robb, pictured left, with some of the school's pupils, was given a garden bench by staff and governors, a digital camera from pupils, a framed photograph of the whole school and a special memory book covering her time at the school.

Also retiring on Friday, after completing 33 years' service was teaching assistant AN associate headteacher has been appointed to run the Queen's School in Wisbech following the resignation of headteacher Stephen McKenna.

Tony Cooper, head of Cottenham Village College near Cambridge, will take up his duties immediately as associate head on a year's secondment.

Mr McKenna announced his resignation at a meeting between Queen's School staff and representatives from Cambridgeshire County Council last Wednesday.

His departure follows a highly critical report by OfSTED - the Office for Standards in Education - which placed the school in 'special measures' because it was failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education.

Following the inspection findings and as a result of the county council's own assessment of the school, the governing body was replaced by an interim executive board (IEB), which took up its duties this week.

The IEB is chaired by Councillor Jill Tuck, Cambridgeshire County Council's cabinet member for inclusion and County Councillor for Waldersey.

Other IEB members include Peter Stewart, principal of the College of West Anglia, Gordon Jeyes, deputy chief executive (children and young people's services) of Cambridgeshire County Council, Helen Whiter, the county council's new director of learning, and Catherine Jenkinson-Dix, former principal of Bassingbourn Village College.

Cllr Tuck said: "I am delighted that Tony Cooper has agreed to lead the Queen's School at this crucial stage of its development.

"He is a highly experienced and successful head who has the energy, sensitivity and commitment to guide the Queen's School through a difficult period.

"Turning the school around is a challenge, but I am confident that with the help and dedication of Tony Cooper, the IEB, staff, parents and the community, we can give the students of the Queen's School the high quality education they expect and deserve.