Teachers' 25 years of fun

Iris Fox was originally a short-term appointment at Sytchampton Endowed First School, which had just 15 pupils, to oversee its closure at the end of the 1979/1980 academic year.

After a desperate battle, parents and staff managed to keep the school open and Cynthia Evans joined Mrs Fox at the helm later that year.

Twenty-five years on, with 115 pupils now at the school, the duo are still working together to blend "old-fashioned" values with the best equipment and methods of modern teaching.

"It's been a lot of good fun," said Mrs Evans, headteacher at the school, near Stourport-on-Severn.

"I originally thought I'd be here for about two years and use it as a stepping-stone to another headship but I loved it, so I stayed.

"There are wonderful staff, pupils and parents and, of course, Mrs Fox and I feel like we are part of the furniture here now.

"We are both quite determined people and have forged an excellent working relationship together. We are also great friends."

Other teachers at the school presented the pair with Royal Worcester plates, while parents clubbed together to buy silver pens to commemorate their efforts over the years.

The county council also presented plates to recognise their 25 years.

"We didn't know the staff and parents knew how long we had been here so the gifts were wonderful surprises," said Mrs Fox, deputy head at the school.

"Over the years we have taught the children of those pupils we had when we first came.

"It means we have built great relationships with families and parents and it's lovely to see them when they come back and tell us what they are doing now.

"Over the 25 years I don't think Cynthia and I have ever really fallen out. She's a wonderful headteacher who has led the school through some tough times."

Both Mrs Evans and Mrs Fox plan to continue at the school for the foreseeable future, and are confident the Sytchampton school has adapted to education in the 21st Century.