A LONG serving and much-loved member of staff at Queensbury School has said her emotional farewells after three and a half decades at the school.

Theresa Battye has been at the Deanstones Lane school for 35 years and has been assistant head teacher at the school since 2006.

In total she has been teaching for 41 years and this week she retired from the school that has been such a big part of her life.

As well as being assistant head, she also looked after the school's year seven and is a maths teacher.

Headteacher Liz Heart said she was an excellent role model to the hundreds of young people she has taught over the years.

"Theresa is a much loved colleague well respected by staff, students and parents. Her contributions to the school over the years have been significant and deserve acknowledgement. She will be missed as a senior leader and I will personally miss her professional support but wish her well for her retirement and her future," she added.