Pupils, staff and parents at a Coventry school were invited to a special celebration to bid a fond farewell to an inspirational and passionate Principal who puts the children at the heart of everything she does.

Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School held the event to celebrate Debbie Newman’s retirement and her time as Principal.

Families were welcomed to the school, which is part of the Romero Catholic Academy, to enjoy a picnic, bouncy castles, ice creams, games and face painting.

Debbie, who has a teaching career spanning more than 21 years, is now looking forward to spending more time with her family during her retirement.

She said: “Bringing the school together for such a special day of celebrations has been the perfect way to end my time at Corpus Christi.

“I was born and bred in Coventry so to be able to contribute to the community and to Catholic education in this way has been a wonderful opportunity that I will miss greatly.

“The children have been amazing, they are at the heart of everything we do and this was my way of saying thank you and goodbye.

“It has been such a privilege to be instrumental in people’s lives and one of my highlights has been to watch both the children and the staff grow.

“I have made some excellent friends during my time at Corpus Christi and I would like to wish the school and the staff all the best for the future and thank the parish for their support over the last 11 years, it has been an incredible experience.”

Charlotte Miller, Vice Principal at the school, said: “If I could describe Debbie in two words it would be creative and passionate. She puts the children at the heart of everything she does and looks to develop the whole child, not just their academic talents.

“She has transformed the school and is an inspirational leader who goes above and beyond to nurture and support her staff and develop the team around her.

“The celebration has been a lovely occasion for the whole school community to spend time with Debbie. She will be truly missed by everyone.”

Caption: Debbie joins children from Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School to celebrate her retirement.