Buxton PE teacher of three generations retires after 36 years

Jan Heron, 58, took her first teaching job at Buxton Community School - then Buxton Girls’ School - in 1983 aged just 23.

Assistant headteacher Jan told how she had hoped to have left before having ‘taught someone’s grandmother’.

However she recently found herself teaching the granddaughter of a former pupil - admitting ‘it made me feel a bit old’.

Jan trained as a PE teacher in 1979 - having enjoyed playing hockey and netball herself and being inspired by her own PE teacher.

However she progressed onto more pastoral roles as head of year then assistant headteacher - often working to safeguard struggling pupils with outside agencies.

Mum-of-two Jan said: “What’s been special for me is I’m in a position where I’ve taught generations of pupils - particularly mums of pupils.

“Because my job’s changed so much over the years it doesn’t feel like a long time.

“It’s been a lovely place to work - a pleasure and an adventure.”

Now Jan, who describes herself as ‘fit and active’ is planning her next steps in a ‘new era’ of her life.

She is planning a hike to the source if the Ganges River in the Himalayas with a friend next year and many more adventures with her husband when he retires in February.

The veteran teacher said she had an ‘emotional’ final week at the school - with various colleagues old and new taking the time to give her a ‘nice send-off’.