Mary Hennessy Jones, retiring from Pear Tree Primary, hits out at fines for parents

A primary headteacher who has led her Nantwich school since it opened has announced her retirement.

Mary Hennessy Jones (pictured) took over at Pear Tree Primary in Stapeley when it was built and opened on the Cronkinson development nearly 13 years ago.

Now she has announced she will retire at the end of the current school year, after leading the school to become one of the most successful in the area.

In a letter announcing her retirement, Mrs Hennessy Jones, 59, said: “This summer will be my last term in teaching as I have decided it is time to pass on this wonderful school to another lucky person.

“All of a sudden, it seems, I will be 60 in July.

Pear Tree School has been the very best project of my professional life and I have loved every single minute of it.

“It has been a privilege and an honour to work with all staff, governors, parents, grandparents, friends and best of all, children.”

Governors at the school are now looking to recruit a new head by the end of April.

“I look forward to working with the new head during the summer term so they know what they need to know to take Pear Tree on to the next chapter in its story,” added Mrs Hennessy Jones.

She reflected on her time at the school, which didn’t have any pupils when she was first appointed back in 2003.

“There was a building, of course, but with no carpet, furniture, books or even a telephone,” she recalled.

“I was given the key for the door, I dragged a chair out of the builder’s skip and used my mobile to order a telephone… and that’s how it all started.

“Thirteen years later, Pear Tree School is full of chairs, telephones, computers and best of all, people.

“Our first reception children from 2003 have taken their GCSEs and moved up to sixth form and our first year 5 and 6 pupils are grown up, in jobs, and soon will be thinking about schools for their own children.”

Mrs Hennessy Jones had worked at nine other primary schools during her long successful career before arriving at Pear Tree.

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