Many things have changed since 1990, but until now the headteacher at St Agatha’s Catholic Primary School had not.

After 23 years in charge, Paddy Monk is retiring at the end of the summer term, bringing to an end a teaching career spanning five decades.

Mr Monk started teaching in 1975, working in Battersea, Roehampton and Surrey before joining St Agatha’s, in St Agatha’s Drive.

In that time he has watched several generations of children pass through the school, although some have returned as parents, while others have followed in their old headteacher’s footsteps.

“One of my ex-pupils is teaching here now and another is a teaching assistant,” said Mr Monk, 59.

“It was a reasonably small school when I came here in 1990, but now we have almost 500 children, and the school’s expanded to two forms of entry.

“I think when I came here, the normal thing is you like to see a generation of children through – so maybe seven years.

"But in that time we had an opportunity to see the school expand, and I wanted to see that through, and then you fall in love with the school, the families and the children.”

Mr Monk, a father-of-two from Walton, said one of the highlights of his time at St Agatha’s was in 2008, when the school was graded “outstanding” in all categories.

“I would say the fact the school achieved outstanding in its last Ofsted was great,” he said.

“It’s a brilliant school. The children make me laugh every day.

“I will miss the children, as most headteachers will tell you, but I’ve also got such great staff for that social interaction you don’t get when you retire.

“Just to see young staff come through and watching them develop into great teachers has been lovely.”

l Do you know an unsung hero? Call the newsdesk on 020 8744 4273 or email jon.sharman@london.

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