A POPULAR headteacher who taught generations of the same families is set to retire after more than 27 years at an Oswaldtwistle school.
Terry Haslam-Jones, 60, currently has 42 children at Hippings Methodist School whose parents he also taught during his career.
But his time at the Heron Way school is about to end and with it his connection with dozens of Hyndburn families.
He said: "It has been a delight to teach all the pupils but especially nice to teach the children of former pupils. I am going to really miss the children, they are a very special bunch here.
"The school has been a very big part of my life for so long, and you can't do this job half-heartedly. As well as the children and staff, I will miss school life and the family atmosphere Hippings has."
Mr Haslam-Jones, who lives in Rossendale with his wife Pamela, 47, said "paperwork has become more important than the people" in schools and not enough emphasis is put on learning for learning's sake.
He said: "Schools have become very intense over the last 10 years. Lots of things we used to enjoy are now very difficult to do and there is so much emphasis on league tables and inspections. But we hope we have preserved our values."
Mr Haslam-Jones is only the fourth Hippings headteacher in the last 100 years. He succeeded Len Chew in 1978 after 11 years at St Bartholomew's CE School in Great Harwood, where he was deputy head.
From next term deputy headteacher Pauline Porter will take charge until new headteacher Janice Lewer begins in January.
Among many exciting pursuits for the future, Mr Haslam-Jones will buy a Harley Davidson motorbike and intends to write a book about family history.
His own contribution to Hippings' history was significant, said Mrs Porter.
"Everyone associated with the school will really miss him and we are all very grateful for everything he did for us," she said.
