A WELL-LOVED principal waves goodbye to the school she has helped to transform as she retires from teaching in Harefield.

Lynn Gadd has been principal of The Harefield Academy in Northwood Way, Harefield, since it opened in 2005. She has celebrated many successes at the school, including the school’s best GCSE results yet last summer.

At a Community Retirement event held in the Cafe at the school on Wednesday, July 10, parents, teachers and local supporters of the school went along for high tea and a chat with Mrs Gadd to celebrate her time as principal and wish her well for the future.

Mrs Gadd has been praised by local people and staff alike, who say she has been instrumental in building a successful school for the village, with community governors Wendy Rice-Morley and Richard Barnes telling the principal she had ‘put Harefield on the map’.

Students Marie Edoa, Rosie Coker, Callum Davies, and Jordan Sprague sang, Sian Jones and Eve Middleton played the piano, and Aideen McHugh accompanied her singing sisters Meave and Diane on the harp while Luis Dzidzornu’s magic tricks charmed the crowd throughout the evening

Catering students presented Mrs Gadd with a celebratory cake decorated with the school’s logo and the words ‘Farewell and Good Luck’.

Mrs Gadd said: “The event was truly memorable. It was wonderful to see so many friends of The Academy joining together for my retirement.

“Harefield is a very special place and I have always felt supported by so many members of the community and our parents.

“I will certainly miss everyone.”

Harefield Academy was built on the site of the failing John Penrose School, and has enjoyed steady improvements across all subjects over the past eight years.

When Mrs Gadd announced her retirement plans in January, she told the Gazette: “We greatly enjoyed moving into the new building and opening the boarding house, but the highlights have always been about the successes of the young people.”

Mrs Gadd has donated two new benches to the school upon her retirement to be enjoyed by students for years to come.