Suffolk’s longest-serving headteacher cites mix of hard work and fun as key to reaching 25-year milestone at Nayland Primary School

The longest-standing headteacher in Suffolk has attributed her longevity to a balance of hard work and fun after marking a quarter of a century at the same school.

A day of celebrations took place at Nayland Primary School on Friday, in honour of headteacher Raegan Delaney’s 25 years in the role.

The event included the planting of a commemorative tree by county councillor James Finch, a picnic lunch with parents and guests, and special activities for the pupils – culminating in a colour run.

Miss Delaney, 60, stated it was “a bit of a shock” to arrive at the 25-year milestone, but that it was great to mark the occasion with a fun day for the children.

She told SuffolkNews that she had not planned to stay so long when she was first appointed on her 35th birthday, which itself came just six weeks after she began applying for headteacher roles.

In her 25-year stint, Miss Delaney explained that she seen the school change enormously, growing from fewer than 100 pupils at the start to approximately 220 today.

Speaking about what has kept her in Nayland for so many years, she said: “It’s the people – the little people being the most important.

“We’ve had such fantastic children, and I still get such a kick out of it, because they always know things you don’t expect, and their thoughts and creativity are so different.

“I love being with the children. I’m not a headteacher who stays in her office – I’m always around them, so if I come into a classroom, they come and ask me things or get me involved in what they’re doing.”

Miss Delaney, who previously worked overseas prior to starting at Nayland Primary School, explained that, while a lot of staff had changed over the last 25 years, some colleagues have remained for her entire tenure.

They include a teacher who began on the same day as her as a classroom assistant, and another staff member who retired eight years ago, but continues to volunteer in the school library to this day.

“Whereas some schools are ever-changing, here, the staff do tend to stay for a long time,” she said.

“I’ve always worked with a fantastic team of colleagues. The teachers, the admin team, the assistants, the support staff – they all know how to work hard, but also how to have a laugh.

“We look after each other when times are tough, and I think that’s why people stay together.

“I’ve also worked in consultancy roles, and I’ve written a book with an eminent professor, but Nayland has always been my base that I come back to. I now work four days a week, and have a fantastic deputy headteacher.

“When you have given a quarter of a century to something, the idea of giving it to a stranger would be quite hard, but I’m working closely with the person who will hopefully take over one day.”

Reflecting on memories of the past 25 years, Miss Delaney revealed that it is the “little funny things” that stand out most.

She added: “There was one summer when we turned on the garden sprinklers and let the children run around in them. Someone asked me why, and I said ‘it’s nothing to do with learning – it’s about having fun’.

“I remember all the little things where the children say, ‘this is great’. It’s got everything to do with the ethos of the school. This is what I’m most proud of.”