A much-loved Irlam primary school teacher is set to retire after 32 years of teaching children in the community.
Mrs Lara Tiernan, formerly Miss Scott, is set to take early retirement at the end of this academic year after teaching at Fiddlers Lane Primary School since 1990.
The news of Lara’s retirement was made public yesterday (Monday 26 June), after a heartfelt message was posted on the school’s Facebook page.
With retirement only three weeks away, Lara said: “There’s been lots and lots of lovely messages and I’ve had a little tear in my eye, but also had a little laugh. It’s been really nice to read comments from people saying their children have gone on to do incredible things.
“All the staff are a big family and the support we’ve had, particularly over the past few years, has been fantastic. We all pulled together for the best for the students.”
The key stage two teacher has taught at the school since leaving college at 22, when the school had no uniform, no photocopiers, no computers and one TV.
Since then, Lara has organised Drama and French clubs for pupils to gain confidence, and gone on to teach the children of her original class. She explained: “Primary education is so important it’s the grounding for all the children’s learning. Every child has got something they can shine with. It’s not always English and Maths, but Music and Art and other subjects.”
Lara is set to begin her retirement by travelling to Italy’s Lake Garda with her husband to celebrate their Silver wedding anniversary. She continued: “We haven’t got any major plans so far, we just want the freedom.
“I think the last week of August and first week of September will be quite strange, knowing I don’t have to come in and sort my classroom and get up early. It’s also going to be quite strange have lots of information for working with children in my head and its going to be strange not using that on a day-to-day basis.”
“One thing I’ll really miss in the school year is the lead to Christmas. We’ve had traditions of pantomimes, Christmas trees and decoration making and I’m really going to miss that.
“I’ll also miss the community. We have families from a broad area and it’s nice to have been able to help those young people and give them a good foundation for learning and see them achieve incredible things.”
Floods of messages of memories and thanks from Lara’s former pupils have been shared across social media. One commenter, Lauren Gardener wrote: “Oh wow Miss Scott!!! If I remember rightly me and my year group were the first class you taught at Fiddlers Lane which would have been I think Yr4 and maybe around 1991ish…I remember doing French in your class 
wishing you lots of luck, love and happiness in your retirement.”
A former colleague and parent of pupils of Lara, Jude Collinson, also wished the teacher luck in her retirement. She wrote: “Oh wow you will be missed by so many wishing you well in your retirement I had the privilege to work with you and you also taught my 3 not so little babies I do believe you had a hand in there successful adult lives so thank you.”
Lara’s one piece of advice for her students past and present is to “Follow your dreams and always be kind”.
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