AFTER ten years as headteacher of South Tawton Primary School, Bobby Sutton said her farewells last week before moving on to become headteacher at the newly-established Bowhill Primary School in Exeter. When Mrs Sutton arrived in September 1995, South Tawton School had a pupil roll of around 160 children across five classes. Since then, two new classrooms have been built, allowing class sizes to be reduced, and the school has gained new state-of-the-art ICT facilities. Last Wednesday, children said goodbye to the popular headteacher on her final day at the school. Mrs Sutton said: ?I have loved ever single minute at the school, I looked forward to coming into school each and every day.? She said there was a great local community feeling in the South Tawton area, adding: ?I think the local people are proud of their school.? Mrs Sutton paid tribute to the other people who had helped to make the school a success. ?Parents and carers are really supportive and put their all into the school and always give their best; the governors are incredible and fantastic; the staff are absolutely stunning, they are committed and dedicated and supportive of each other and the children, and not least the children themselves who are so energetic and lively.? Mrs Sutton said in her ten years as head of the school there had been many changes in education but the ?team spirit and very high standards? of everyone at the school had ?held it all together?. The school now has around 190 pupils, with the original five classes expanded to seven classes, with one for each separate year group. Mrs Sutton said she would very much miss everyone connected with the school. The departing head kindly bought a bench as a gift for the school as a token of her happy ten years here. It has been placed at the front of the school by the Year 6 classroom and is made of recycled plastic to complement the school?s green image. The school?s new headteacher will be Mrs Heather Pinner-Poustie who is due to take up the post in February 2006. LEFT: Pupils bid a fond farewell to Bobby Sutton. Picture by Ian Snell