Two teachers with almost 50 years' experience between them have retired while another two are leaving to teach in the Far East.
Exeter Primary School, Corby, deputy headteacher Sheila Parslow has left after 27 years and Trudi Taylor has retired from te town's Beanfield Primary School after 22 years.
Yesterday, both schools held ceremonies to say farewell.
Mrs Parslo
w, 59, from Kettering, said: "I originally came to do two weeks' supply teaching and have just stayed since then. I've mainly been teaching nursery and Years 1 and 2. There's been lots of changes and lots of things going on.
"The basic principles of teaching have not changed. There's a lot more paperwork now ,but the most important thing is that the children are still learning.
"I'm looking forward to doing some gardening, DIY and spending time with my family because you don't get much time to do that as a teacher."
After receiving flowers and presents at a lively assembly at Beanfield Primary, Mrs Taylor, 60, of Desborough, said she hoped to continue her interest in writing during her retirement.
She said: "I've written three Mills and Boon style books and would quite like to do some children's books.
"It's been lovely working with the children. My last class has been really good. I received some really lovely things from the children and we had a good sing."
But while Mrs Taylor said goodbye to teaching for good, the story was a different one for two young members of staff who are leaving Beanfield Primary to take up the challenge of teaching abroad.
Lisa Beckett, 26, from Kettering, is flying out to Malaysia on August 14 to teach for two years at an international school.
She said: "I've been teaching for four years now.
"This is a two-year contract and I'm really looking forward to it. But I will miss all the children and staff from Beanfield."
Colleague and friend Joanna Martin, 28, of Desborough, is taking up a two-year post at an international school in Bangkok, Thailand.
She said: "It's very exciting. Thai children learn English from the age of two so there shouldn't be too much of a problem with language. I will miss home but I think we're going to meet up in Malaysia."
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