A Workington headteacher, set to retire this summer, says children have been her life.

Pat Smith will leave Ashfield Infant and Nursery School after 10 years.

The 61-year-old was deputy head between 1995 and 2000, with one year as acting head, then returned in 2006 as headteacher.

She said: “Children have been my life really.

“I’m proud that the parents are very much involved because they weren’t as involved when I came here.

“Working on citizenship has always been a proud thing for me. We’ve been doing it since I started and we do an awful lot about being good people.

“We teach them to be honest, kind and respectful which threads throughout every single day and we talk about it all the time.”

Mrs Smith originally had her heart set on working in a bank, but after going to a talk about teaching, she knew she had found her calling.

She went on to study in Darlington before returning to the area to begin her career in education.

Starting teaching in Keswick in 1977, she has since taught at schools across West Cumbria.

“I have so many happy memories,” she said. “The technology has improved, but the huge changes have been in the curriculum.

“There’s a lot more discussion about teaching, which is excellent, because a talking school is a good school.

“I love children and talking about their learning and how to improve it.

“It’s lovely to see them developing and growing and it’s nice when they come back from their next school to see us.”

After 40 years teaching, Mrs Smith, of Whitehaven, plans to spend more time with her family, singing and tidying the house she shares with her husband Paul.

She admitted it will be hard to break away from education totally and hopes to still be involved with schools.