Well-loved Blackrod Primary School headteacher retires

Ian Dryburgh is calling time on his tenure at Blackrod Primary School, having been the head teacher there since 1987.

Now aged 70, "Mr D", as he is affectionately known, is in the midst of his last week at the school, with various activities going on to celebrate his tenure.

On Wednesday, the school had a "Mr Dryburgh Day", where students either dressed up as him, with a shirt, tie and affected facial hair, or in red to represent his beloved Liverpool FC.

He went to each class in the school, where they took part in different activities, and then at the end of the day the children and staff performed a poem they wrote for him with poet Paul Cookson called "That’s Our Mr D".

Mr Dryburgh with the staff of Blackrod Primary School

The poem, which was an ode to him, finished with the children chanting "the best headteacher ever" numerous times, with children presenting a framed copy of the poem to him.

Reflecting on his time at the school, Mr Dryburgh said: “This school is full of joy, every adult, work experience kids, every child in the school.

“I’m at the stage now where I think you can only ever concern yourself with time and do something about it.

“If I can look in the mirror and say I’ve given it my best shot for 35 years for as many kids as I can and leave confident of that, I can look in the mirror and say I’ve done alright.”

Mr D after staff and children performed the poem

He added: “I’ve been here for 35 years, while the longest serving Secretary of State for Education has been four years.

“Ideas change, politics change, but one thing that doesn’t change is the entitlement of the children to be safe and be given good education.”

Describing what he thinks makes the school special, Mr Dryburgh said: “Say some rubbish happens Sunday evening and I feel pressurised.

“I can walk through the school I can guarantee I walk past some children and they’ll just smile. The child might be a young one or 11, whatever.

“They’ll give eye contact, and say ‘Hi Mr Dryburgh, morning Mr Dryburgh.’

“Within seconds that feeling of pressure, for that moment in time is gone.”

The school partaking in a fitness assembly on Mr Dryburgh Day

He will be succeeded as head teacher by Kath Mead, who herself has been at the school for 20 years.

She said: “My first impressions were that he was really tall! But very patient.

"When he takes visitors on a tour, his pride for the school comes across instantly, a skill I’m going to have to work on.

“He shares what he’s thinking and feeling really effectively.

Erika Burton, aged 7, in her fabulous Mr D outfit with him

“Hearts and minds, that’s him to a T.”

She added: “I’ve definitely got big shoes to fill. But I’m ready to take the school into the future and take everything I’ve learned from Ian to take Blackrod there.

“It’s going to be really different without him, he means a lot to us all. None of us would be where we were if it wasn’t for everything he’s done.

“It’s been a privilege to work beside him and to learn.”