AFTER nearly 40 years in teaching, the headteacher at Ridgeway School hopes his students might consider a career in the profession he loves, as he prepares to bid farewell to them at the end of term when he retires.

Steve Colledge first joined Ridgeway back in September 2006 and was just one term away from celebrating his tenth anniversary at the school.

But after 38 years, he will be hanging up his headteacher hat to enjoy a well-deserved retirement break with his wife Anna.

“Everyone advised me it would be in my interest to leave as I would have been one of those people hit badly by government pension changes,” the 60-year-old said.

“It did take me a long time to think about retiring but I’m also an Ofsted inspector and so I will carry that on as well as help or advise people if they should need it.”

Mr Colledge, who grew up in Nuneaton in Warwickshire, said he hopes his students think about the idea of teaching after he was first inspired for his career path while at school.

“I remember standing in the playground at my school in the Midlands when I was about 14-years-old and I thought I would love to be a teacher,” he said.

“I attended a secondary modern school which wasn’t easy and a lot of people told me I couldn’t be a teacher but that is what made me more determined really.

“It is when people say you can’t do it that makes you work harder.”

Throughout his teaching career, which started in 1977, Mr Colledge has taught in schools in Essex and Cirencester and became headteacher at The Grange School and Sports College in South Gloucestershire before moving to Ridgeway.

“When I left training, I applied to wherever they had jobs because when I came into teaching, there was a lack of jobs around the country at that time,” he said.

“Ridgeway is a really good school with nice students and it needed a bit of a change which is what I like to do.

“I think it is quite hard to pinpoint one highlight over the years of things I have been proud of. Ridgeway is the sort of school where something happens monthly to make me proud of students and staff.

James Povoas, who is currently deputy headteacher, will be taking over in the role following Mr Colledge’s retirement on March 24.